Winter colors

Summer, Fall, now Winter to see the life cycle of change that Nature gives to a special Wildlife Refuge at this latitude.

We missed all the water fowl that migrated further South only days before.  Every body of water has been sheathed in the Winter barrier.
No water means no life for the aquatic feathered , and no time is wasted in traveling to better places.

Dissapointed ? No never ! The Planet always provides wonders, We just had to look in the sky. Migrating Snow Geese provided the wonder by flying in large formations calling the calls in a language only the Snow Geese speak.

Harriers and Short Eared Owls provided the acrobatic thrills as they hunted the fields for their next meal. Making flight look simple, a talent I wish I possessed.

A hop, skip and a few steps put us in a great position to view another wonder. A nest of a Bald Eagle. Always unmistakable the mansions in the forest. A good place to raise a family, and keep  your innocent away from those that would harm them.

Empty now, but it is the time that love is in the air, literally . After mates decide who they want and the dance of ages begins. In a short time the family will be on their home making sure their special ones survive until they are ready to leave. Almost all species do it.... Parenting.

But the thing I found most interesting on a warm winter day is how freezing and then melting ice makes holes in the mud. Leaving only the holes as the water escapes. I know I am a dork, but if only I could give you what I feel when the wonder takes hold of my soul .

(See older post for more about Clarence Cannon  NWR )

Air Superiority

  There was a battle raging over the skies of the Missouri river. A dogfight in the skies. Two masters of the air twisting and turning to see who could edge out an advantage to become the victor !

  The Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge is 11 units stretched accross the State of Missouri. What makes them unique is that they feature North America's longest river the Missouri. Managed in different ways by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and named after the long used nickname of the river," The Big Muddy."

  On a gorgeous summer day my favorite South African and American in training traveled to the Overton North unit of the Big Muddy NWR to see what we could be thrilled by. 

  Walking along a levee, a couple of stone throws from the river we were enjoying the heat of the summer and happy with the breezes and low relative humidity Missouri and its' rivers are infamously not known to produce. Great flying weather !

  This is when it happened ! While I was looking in the opposite direction, the future American let out an excited "Oh ! Oh!" and pointed skyward. 

  Flying from the direction of the river, two seasoned, hardcore veterans of the the air, a mature Red-Tailed Hawk clutching something in its' talons being sharply pursued by a mature Bald Eagle located just off the Hawks' 4 o'clock. 

 The Hawk banked hard to the left with the pursing Eagle matching its maneuver.  The Hawk released its' grip and a single bird, a prize of the hawks hunting, dropped into the sky. As fast as it was dropped the Eagle grabbed it in the free fall.

  The Hawk not taking kindly to being so tested, became the pursuer. Staying off to the Eagles 9 o'clock,the skilled flyer jinked several times in the direction of the Eagle. The Eagle banked into the direction of the Hawk, enforcing its'  "Air Superiority" over the the smaller bird of prey.

 The Eagle executed a perfect landing in a tall cottonwood tree. The Hawk not giving up yet, flew several quick figure eights in front of the tree evaluating if the tactical advantage had turned in favor of this russet colored fighter. It had not, and the brave Hawk, who in his daring challenged his pursuer, retired from the battlefield. 

Celebration !

2014 the Chinese year of Horse is reason to celebrate.  It is the 50th anniversary of Congress enacting the Wilderness Act of 1964.

Drafted by Howard Zahniser of the Wilderness Society, and later signed by President Johnson, an act of brilliance on the part of  the government to  preserve our public lands with little influence by man.

In a nutshell, they wanted to keep it wild !

I have been so fortunate to put one foot in front of the other while strapped to a pack in places such as the Golden Trout Wilderness, the Rockpile Mountain Wilderness,  the San Gabriel Wilderness, Death Valley and so on.

Wilderness areas excite me. They thrill me like no other public land. Stepping into them, sleeping in them, listening to them fills me with true joy.

The great thing is they attract very little people. The family of four rushing through the South Rim of the Grand Canyon grocery store will not be found in a wilderness. Just others who cherish a place just left alone to it's wildness. That is if you see anyone else at all.

In celebration my loves the outdoors experienced daughter and my most trusted four paw drive wilderness hiker decided to pack what was needed to make a six day backpacking trip into the Bell Mountain Wilderness of the Mark Twain National Forest of Missouri. An area called locally, the Ozarks.

The Ozarks were once home of the Osage people. Wildlife was trapped and hunted by French and Spanish alike. And later scenes of nasty guerrilla warfare waged by Americans against Americans.

The Bell Mountain Wilderness is small compared to other Wilderness areas. A scant 14.1 square miles. It ties into the Ozark Trail System running through the Ozarks.

Bell Mountain, named after a family that farmed here is a part of the St. Francois mountain range. No stunning Sierra Nevadas or Rocky Mountains here. Just the quiet beauty which is the Ozarks.

The Wilderness designation did not dissapoint. In fact Missouri fire breathing thunderstorms and torrential downpours ruled the wilderness for the for the first three days. Sky only gave us but a few hours of respite. Keeping us confined in hammocks for a day and a half as Sky pounded the Earth, causing all in the forest to duck for cover as it lashed out its dangerous beauty.

Despite chaotic springtime storms the mountain top glades and deep hardwood forests are a beautiful sight.  Oh the joy at the sounds of the wild ones who make it their home. Yelps of coyotes, calls of foxes, owls, and hawks just really drive the wilderness into in your soul. The serenading of toads will lull you to sleep. Knowing black bear and possibly mountain lions roaming the mountain just make it a place we want to be.

A six day celebration . Happy Birthday Wilderness act ! And many more !

Mountain Lion Study

Here is the Mountain Lion study that has generated so much press. It is fascinating news and interesting article. The study was only until 2008 and verifies what many already are aware of. Fast forward to 2012. Mountain Lions are literally under the gun here in Missouri, South Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska and other States. Some politicians and wildlife managers have worked very hard at trying to destroy this natural occurrence. In Missouri alone MlLs have been tree'd and shot and a Senate bill to shoot them down was introduced to the Senate floor. The legendary Ghost Cat has been marked for destruction. It is going to be up to you to stop the war on Mountain Lions and predators. The time is more crucial than ever to bring State and Federal Wildlife managers, politicians, the media, and the public into the 21st century. Let them know that old ideas, and old ways of management only work at destroying our eco-systems further, and no longer in a modern World............

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jwmg.396/abstract;jsessionid=79698DBAED45E7B5A60F0DACAC9C84BB.d03t04

Mountain Lions win !

Congratulations to you all !

Missouri State Senate Bill SB738 is no longer a threat to Mountain Lions in Missouri !

Due to the furor it created it never left the committee it was assigned to, and a long wait until the closing of the Missouri General Assembly session began. The opposition to the bill continued until 6:00 pm, May 18th, 2012 when the Assembly closed it's session.

Mountain Lions are no longer under the threat of being hunted down like vile, evil monsters.

Mountain Lions can continue to re-colonize the places it was extirpated from so long ago.

The Missouri Department of Conservations' Mountain Lion Response Team can continue their important work of educating the public about Mountain Lions.

It is people like you who made the difference !

It is organizations like:
The Cougar Rewilding Foundation
The Mountain Lion Foundation
The Felidae Conservation Fund
The Cougar Fund
The BI-State Wildlife Hotline
The Natural Resources Defence Council
that made the difference !

Your voices have been heard !

Again Congratulations and I am humbled by the support you gave to this cause !

Long live Puma Concolor !

Craig Lanham
St.Louis ,Missouri

Current status :SB 738 Would allow the killing of Mountain Lions for any reason.

SB 738 has not left the Missouri Senate Committee it was assigned to.

Members of the Natural Resources Defense Council recently went to the Missouri State Capitol and met with a few members of the committee concerning this bill. The NRDC described the meeting as very positive.

May 18, 2012 is the end of the current legislative session. If the bill stays where it is at , this campaign will end on May 19th.

Until then I am recommending some great reading to pass the time as we watch and wait.

William Stolzenburg wrote the excellent book " Where the Wild Things Where ". The book will give you a greater understanding of predators, how important they are, and how humans came to this conclusion.

Here is the link......http://www.thewildthings.net/

And thank you all for signing !

Craig

Mountain Lions as Invasive Species. What a joke !

Senator Stouffer told the newspaper the New American Republic he created SB738 so his constituents would not get in trouble for killing Mountain Lions.
Now that his bill is being reviewed by the Agricultural, Food Production, and Outdoor Resources committee, a committee he sits on , he now wants to define Mountain Lions as an "Invasive Species !" Despite the fact they have been here long before any European saw Missouri. Plus they have not caused damage to the State.
Since Stouffer seems to think he is the new crusader against invasive species I dare him to go after the real invasive species. Asian Carp, fescue, honeysuckle. Trout are not native to Missouri. I dare you to try and shutdown the five trout hatcheries the State runs. See what happens. Why pick and choose ?
It would look great in your bid for Missouri Secretary of State this election year.

(Anglers ,I am not anti-trout just anti-SB738)

CBS News... http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/03/01/should-killing-mountain-lions-be-legal-in-missouri/

Missouri State Senator Joseph Keaveny

Some may know and some may not.

I have been working hard for some time to change minds concerning an animal that gets little respect due to fear and ignorance here in Missouri. The Mountain Lion.

All I have put into it has come down to opposing a Bill before the Missouri State Senate. Bill SB738 would allow the killing of Mountain Lions for any reason. A bill to destroy a magnificent cat.

A bill must go before a Senate Commitee for review before a vote. The public hearing is today and I am unable to voice my opposition to this Bill.

I was left basically legally blind about a month ago due to the sudden onset of cataracts. I have had one sucessful surgery and will have another Thursday. Due to this it is unsafe for me to drive.

Can you imagine how low I felt not being able to speak for the Mountain Lion ?

I contacted my State Senator Joseph Keaveny via email letting him know of my current condition. I sent him the statement I had prepared.

Very shortly after, I recieved a response from Senator Keaveny assuring me that he would have my statement delivered to the commitee holding the public hearing.

Wow!! Words cannot express my gratitude to Senator Keaveny ! Thank you so much !

To have a State Senator step up and ensure the concerns of one of his constituents is addressed speaks volumes about Senator Keaveny's character. Hard-working, honorable , concerned, and a man who will act on his constituents behalf are in my description.

Thank you again,Senator !
Craig Lanham
St. Louis,Missouri

Senator Keaveny's Missouri State Senate website....

http://www.senate.mo.gov/12info/members/mem04.htm

Oppose Missouri SB738 !

The favorable consideration of this bill would continue to do damage to an intregal part of Missouri's eco-system. The Mountain Lion was stripped of State endangered species status in 2006. SB738 would not only take the Mountain Lions last piece of protection, but would make it a target for destruction in Missouri. 

Mountain lions are an integral part of a healthy Missouri ecosystem.
To single out a specific species of wildlife for destruction harks of a time that the killing of wildlife drove species to the edge of extinction such as the American Bison. Some species such as the Passenger Pigeon were shot from the sky forever. Keystone Species such as Mountain Lions are crucial in the balance and health of our environment.
The Wildlife and natural resources in the State of Missouri were so devastated by the 1920s that the citizens made conservation and the forming of a conservation department a part of their State Constitution. This happened with great fore thought by the leaders of the times.

This selfless act made way for Missouri to better educate its' citizens and the understanding of ecology has grown by leaps and bounds. Keystone Species such as Mountain Lions are crucial in the balance and health of our environment. The preservation and conservation of declining wild cat populations has become an important international issue. The State of Missouri can easily become an international leader in the conservation of the Worlds' wild cats by choosing to be proud of having these amazing animals in its' borders. This would include effective conservation management, that encourages a well rounded and healthy eco-system.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is already engaging in effective mountain lion species management.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has been innovative in its' approach to Mountain Lions with the formation of a Mountain Lion Response Team. The Missouri Department of Conservation is more than capable of handling the Conservation of Mountain Lions.


Fear, ignorance, and myth feeds hatred towards mountain lions. As well as untruths in rumours and folklore.
More honest and factual information is more available on African Lions, and the Worlds Tigers than on Americas' amazing cat.
The Mountain Lion also called Cougar, Puma, Panther, and various other names has been misrepresented in our society and deserves a truthful view. Other States such as Arizona, Florida, and California are proud of their Mountain Lions and manage them effectively.

Truths about Mountain Lions can be found through organizations that work to conserve and truthfully inform everyone about one of the most beautiful creatures that exsist in America.

The Missouri Department of Conservation/Mountain Lion Response Team.

The Mountain Lion Foundation, who opposes SB738

The Cougar Rewilding Foundation, who opposes SB738

The Cougar Fund, who opposes SB738

The Felidae Conservation Fund, who opposes SB738

The BI-Stat Wildlife Hotline, who opposes SB738



Contact: Craig Lanham

Telephone:314-882-9763
Email: shortleafpine@hotmail.com

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-mo-stop-sb738-allowing-for-the-killing-of-mountain-lions-for-any-reas

SB 738 Would allow the killing of Mountain Lions for any reason.

Grassroots campaign aims to stop bill SB738 that will enable anyone in the State of Missouri to kill Mountain Lions for any reason.

New bill introduced to Missouri State Senate threatens mountain lions.
A new grassroots campaign, spearheaded by an online petition at Change.org titled " The Governor of MO: Stop SB738 allowing for the killing of Mountain Lions for any reason." The petition is quickly gathering momentum, seeks to stop the passing of a kill-mountain-lions-for-any-reason bill. The petition is objecting to SB738 that has been introduced to the Missouri State Senate floor by Missouri State Senator Bill Stouffer. This bill would allow for the killing of Mountain Lions by anyone for any reason. The Mountain Lion was stripped of State endangered species status in 2006. SB738 would not only take the Mountain Lions last piece of protection, but would make it a target for destruction in Missouri.

Mountain lions are an integral part of a healthy Missouri ecosystem.
To single out a specific species of wildlife for destruction harks of a time that the killing of wildlife drove species to the edge of extinction such as the American Bison. Some species such as the Passenger Pigeon were shot from the sky forever. The Wildlife and natural resources in the State of Missouri were so devastated by the 1920's that the citizens made conservation and the forming of a conservation department a part of their State Constitution.
Times have changed and the understanding of ecology has grown by leaps and bounds. Keystone Species such as Mountain Lions are crucial in the balance and health of our environment. The preservation and conservation of declining wild cat populations has become an important international issue.

MDC is already engaging in effective mountain lion species management.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has been innovative in its' approach to Mountain Lions with the formation of a Mountain Lion Response Team. The Missouri Department of Conservation is more than capable of handling the Conservation of Mountain Lions.


Fear and myth feeds hatred towards mountain lions – education is key.
Myths and untruths exsist about Mountains Lions. Information on African Lions and the Worlds Tigers is more available than on Americas' amazing cat.
The Mountain Lion also called Cougar, Puma and various other names has been misrepresented in our society and deserves a truthful view. Other States such as Arizona and California are proud of their Mountain Lions and manage them effectively
Truths about Mountain Lions can be found through organizations that work to conserve and truthfully inform everyone about one of the most beautiful creatures that exsist in America.

The Missouri Department of Conservation/Mountain Lion Response Team.

The Mountain Lion Foundation

The Cougar Rewilding Foundation

The Cougar Fund

The Felidae Conservation Fund

The BI-State Wildlife hotline

Missouri voters can stop this bill by contacting their State Senator and signing a the petition.
Missouri residents who value all species including the Mountain Lion and their place in our ecosystem are encouraged to learn more about their Mountain Lion and the important role they have in our ecosystem. I also encourage them to contact their Missouri State Senator, Missouri State Representative, and the Honorable Jay Nixon to voice their disgust at SB738 and to sign the petition at Change.org titled "The Governor of MO: Stop SB738 allowing for the killing of Mountain Lions for any reason "


Contact: Craig Lanham

http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-mo-stop-sb738-allowing-for-the-killing-of-mountain-lions-for-any-reason

Please sign this petition.. http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-mo-stop-sb738-allowing-for-the-killing-of-mountain-lions-for-any-reason

Why This Is Important
SB738 has been introduced to the Missouri State Senate floor by Missouri State Senator Bill Stouffer that would allow for the killing of Mountain Lions by anyone for any reason. The Mountain Lion was stripped of State endangered species status in 2006. SB738 would not only take the Mountain Lions last piece of protection, but would make it a target for destruction in Missouri.
To single out a specific species of wildlife for destruction harks of a time that the killing of wildlife drove species to the edge of extinction such as the American Bison. Some species such as the Passenger Pigeon were shot from the sky forever.
Times have changed and the understanding of ecology has grown by leaps and bounds. Keystone Species such as Mountain Lions are crucial in the balance and health of our environment. The preservation and conservation of declining wild cat populations has become an important international issue.
The Missouri Department of Conservation has been innovative in its' approach to Mountain Lions with the formation of a Mountain Lion Response Team. The Missouri Department of Conservation is more than capable of handling the Conservation of Mountain Lions

Protect Mountain Lions in Missouri on Facebook

Are you a Facebook user ?  Check out "Protect Mountain Lions in Missouri"

Pelican Rescue

This American White Pelican was suffering from a broken wing and like most wildlife was not detered, and found a small lake with a lot of fish. The decision was made to take it from his paradise because the pond does freeze. This would leave him to starve.  So an armada of two canoes and a johnboat set sail to capture the grounded flyer. Despite one man going overboard (me) in the 18 degree weather, he was soon captured. The WBS Hospital will give him the utmost care and he will probably move to the zoo to live out his life in relative comfort.  Unfortunatly his injuries do not make him a release candidate.

From a Distance

This is how they prefer to be seen, from a distance. They do not trust man enough to allow you to come too close. They know of gunshots, arrows, rocks, poisons, and even man's desire to "Get a closer look". They have learned, and almost always allow you to gaze at their wonder, from a distance.