Hiking News - March 2010

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Site Network Overhaul

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

The Camping and Caravanning Club has revealed exciting re-development plans which will position its Site network amongst the best in the country by 2015.

After 18 months of thorough investigative research, The Friendly Club will invest £29 million over the next five years to bring its 110-strong Site network up to Club benchmark standard.

The project, which has seen a 100 p er cent increase in investment compared to the previous five years, is being self-funded and will follow a strategically considered growth plan.

Re-development work has already begun in earnest at eight of The Club's Sites (Cannock Chase, Crowden, Hayfield, Oban, Scone, Tarland, Theobalds Park and Winchcombe) whilst the finishing touches are also being put to the new Site at Gulliver's Milton Keynes ahead of its Easter opening.

Sites Director Bob Hill is understandably excited about the five-year plan and said: "As The Club has evolved, we have seen huge growth in terms of pitch nights sold, which in turn has placed extra demand on Sites and generated more wear and tear."

"At the same time our members' expectations are greater than ever and that is why we want to continue to provide Sites with first-class facilities, which we can all be extremely proud of."

The Club has seen an 18 per cent increase in pitch nights sold over the last two years.

The majority of the work, which will include improvements to hard-standings, electric hook-ups, road surfaces, amenity blocks and staff facilities to name but a few, will be undertaken during the winter with minimal disruption being caused in the summer season.

Hill added: "The Club is in an extremely healthy position at the moment and whilst we have been sensible with our financial projections, now is the right time to act and take our Site network to that next level."

Last year, The Club recruited over 64,000 new members - a 24 per cent increase on 2008, whilst The Friendly Club's highest ever monthly recruitment figure came back in July, when a staggering 9,570 new members signed up.

The Club now has over 480,000 adult members, and reached a landmark membership figure of 250,000 households in August.

Bats in Your Belfry

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

Bats are a tremendously misunderstood group of wildlife. Consider some of the clichés often applied to them - "blind as a bat," "gone batty," "crazy as a bat," or "like a bat out of hell" - and you can likely think of several others. In reality, bats are not blind at all. Though they can carry rabies, just being around them does not cause craziness or stupidity. Nor should they be associated with evil or categorized as "bad" wildlife. Countless Hollywood horror films like Dracula, Nightwing and BATS!, as well as popular children's stories like The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Beauty and the Beast, have often misrepresented these fascinating mammals - falsely presenting them as evil and aggressive, blind, dirty, bloodsucking and harboring excessive levels of rabies.

How about the cliché, "Do you have bats in your belfry?" a quote often meant to imply ignorance or stupidity. The quote actually refers to bats in manmade structures such as attics, barns and steeples (sometimes containing bells, hence "belfry"). These empty, airy upper domestic structures are an allegory for empty, airy human brains.

Some folks literally do have bats in their belfry - or more precisely, in their homes, eaves or attics. These structures can be the perfect habitat for some species of colonial bats. This is particularly true each spring when they are having their young. For about a two-week period, from birth to fledging, these young bats can’t fly and often are encountered crawling around in walls, attic, chimneys - even inside rooms.

This often results in frantic telephone calls to municipal animal control offices, wildlife agencies or commercial pest control companies. Regrettably, most pest control companies are very reluctant to deal with bats and often refer the caller to a wildlife agency. Wildlife agencies can suggest steps homeowners may take to control problem bats. Agency input often is limited to advising a homeowner how to deal with their problem. Usually the last resort is a commercial wildlife control business. Depending upon the homeowner's situation (number of bats, size of building, etc.), this can be an expensive option.

So, what else should do you do when faced with bats in your belfry? First, in almost all situations, the bats need not be killed or eradicated, but can simply be excluded from the building. Exclusion is always preferable to eradication. In rare instances when eradication is recommended, it is best to use a professional wildlife control business.

In most cases, bats are entering and exiting a building at a specific location. By preventing access at this location, you effectively and simply solve the problem. Proceed by waiting until the evening when all the bats have exited the building. Locate the entrance site, and then cover it with boards, wire or hardware cloth. If flightless young are present, it is best to wait until they are flying and have also left before covering the opening. It is extremely important to wait until all bats have left or you may trap bats in the building. If you have ever had the stink of a dead mouse in your house, then you appreciate the wisdom of not trapping bats and causing them to die within your house. If you have more than one opening, you may have to close off all of them. In addition, there are devices that can be installed that act as one-way doors - allowing bats out, but not back in. Sometimes the problem is not just the bats but also their guano (bat droppings) that has accumulated over a long period. For health and sanitation reasons, guano should be cleaned up.

In very rare instances where the bats are so numerous, the guano so extensive, and/or exclusion is impossible due to the nature of the structure, the entire building has to be razed or destroyed. This usually happens in abandoned buildings where the problem has developed over a long period.

Though bats can occasionally cause problems within buildings, they generally should not be viewed in a negative way. Alabama's bats are indeed highly beneficial creatures eating a prolific number of insects each night. Worldwide, bats provide notable health benefits by controlling some disease-causing insects. Some tropical bats disperse plants seeds in their droppings, which is very important for reseeding tropical forests. Some bats are pollinators and are critical to the very existence of some plants including mangoes, dates, breadfruit, figs, bananas, and organ pipe and Saguaro cacti.

Next time when you’re asked, "Do you have bats in your belfry?" perhaps you can say, "Not anymore. I've managed them very well - thank you very much!"

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Gulf State Park Burn

Monday, 29 March 2010

A prescribed burn on 24 acres within Gulf State Park is planned for March 2010, weather permitting. The Alabama State Parks Division, in conjunction with the Alabama Forestry Commission and the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores will conduct this burn as part of a Pitcher Plant Bog/Longleaf Pine Management Plan. The burn will take place on two separate small tracts of land located east of the Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail.

Every effort will be made to ensure proper smoke management and safety of surrounding areas during this period. As evidenced in past burns, the cities of Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Fire Departments will assist as needed.

The Pitcher Plant Bog/Longleaf Pine Management Plan is an ongoing restoration project, burning alternate zones on a three year basis. Longleaf Pine habitat is crucial for the sustainability of various species including: bobwhite quail, whitetail deer, eastern turkey, eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise and the Bachman's sparrow.

Recently Gov. Bob Riley designated February 2010 as Prescribed Fire Awareness Month. The official proclamation encourages all Alabamians to learn about the importance of prescribed burning to the stewardship of our natural resources and its role in the protection of our citizens from wildfires.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Cullman Community Archery Park Expands Facilities

Friday, 26 March 2010

The Cullman Community Archery Park will soon have a new 1,500 square foot pavilion complete with restrooms thanks to Archery Trade Association and an Easton Sports Development Foundation grant. The new pavilion, which is currently under construction, will be completed by the end of March. The new pavilion will provide shade and shelter for archers using the park on a day to day basis and during t ournament activities.

A smaller gazebo-style pavilion at the start of the walk-through-range and playground equipment is also slated to be installed later this year. The gazebo is planned for completion on May 1 and will be built by Cullman Parks and Recreation, Cullman Home Builders Association, Heritage Archery Club, and Cullman High School Building Construction classes. The expansion of the Cullman facilities highlights the rise of archery as a recreational activity that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of physical ability.

According to Stuart Goldsby, Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries (WFF) Hunter Education Coordinator for North Alabama, the Cullman Community Archery Park is continuing to gain popularity because of the commitment of the project's partners including: Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR), the City of Cullman Parks and Recreation, the Archery Trade Association, and the Easton Sports Development Foundation.

"The Cullman City and County governments, area schools, local clubs, and retailers in the archery industry have worked together to help this concept come alive," Goldsby said. "All the partners involved in this project understand that archery not only promotes beneficial life skills, but that it is also a very safe and fun family-oriented sport."

To accommodate public interest in the sport, archery lessons, local amateur youth tournaments, and Junior Olympic Archery Division (JOAD) archery programs are now being offered at the park. The Good Hope High School tournament offers schools participating in the WFF-sponsored program to qualify for the state tournament on April 22, 2010 at the Birmingham Jefferson Civic Center. For more information about classes and tournaments visit the park Web site, www.cullmancityarchery.com.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

Ephemeral Wetlands

Thursday, 25 March 2010

Ephemeral or seasonal wetlands are depressional wetlands that temporarily hold water in the spring and summer or after heavy rains. Even though seasonal wetlands are often isolated from other bodies of water, they are ideal breeding sites for many amphibian species. These wetlands are easily located by the numerous breeding calls emanating from these areas in the spring. Ephemeral or seasonal wet lands are characterized by their tendency to completely dry out most summers only to fill up again during the wet season. As a result, fish are usually absent, which allows amphibian populations to flourish with minimal predation.

Many species of reptiles and amphibians are highly dependent on ephemeral wetlands and do not occur in areas where these wetland type habitats are not available. The cyclical filling and drying of ephemeral wetlands, their shallow nature, and the abundant invertebrate prey base make these areas excellent breeding sites for numerous amphibian species. The tiger salamander, blue-spotted salamander, and the wood frog are examples of species that rely on ephemeral wetlands. Several members of the reptile community take advantage of seasonally abundant prey items found in and around these wetlands. For instance, the garter snake, common snapping turtle, and numerous mud turtle species are just a few examples of reptiles that utilize seasonal wetlands.

One critical feature of a healthy ephemeral wetland is the adjacent upland habitat. The surrounding upland habitats are used by reptiles and amphibians for activities such as hibernation and foraging. A buffer area of at least 500 feet wide above the high water mark is recommended as a minimum to provide refuge for many species. Undisturbed uplands are important because they connect isolated wetlands and serve as travel corridors that certain species use to get from one wetland to another. As seasonal wetlands dry out, corridors provide reptiles and amphibians with a means to access more permanent wetlands.

The management of ephemeral wetlands falls into two main categories: protection and restoration. Ephemeral wetlands can be restored but efforts to create them from scratch are usually unsuccessful. Some steps that can be taken to restore an ephemeral wetland include removing existing drainage tiles, filling drainage ditches, and removing fill dirt. These practices help return wetlands to near natural conditions. An integral part of wetland management is the maintenance of natural water-level fluctuation. This can be accomplished simply by protecting these wetland areas from tiling, excavating, and ditching, which would alter the water levels. Amphibians require a few months to change into adult form, so protecting these temporary wetlands is critical for their survival.

The identification and maintenance of ephemeral wetlands, critical surrounding habitat, and functional corridors between them are important steps towards the management and conservation of these habitats for reptiles and amphibians. Other wildlife species also benefit from habitats associated with ephemeral wetlands. Seasonal wetlands are important for a variety of bird species, including ducks, shorebirds, and songbirds. These areas are very important to many species of animals. Enjoy them when possible, and do your part to protect and preserve these unique wetlands for future generations. For more information, contact Little River Area Biologist Tracy L. Nelson at Tracy.Nelson@dcnr.alabama.gov.

The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources promotes wise stewardship, management and enjoyment of Alabama's natural resources through five divisions: Marine Police, Marine Resources, State Lands, State Parks, and Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries. To learn more about ADCNR, visit www.outdooralabama.com.

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