Hiking News - April 2010

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What's in a Name?

Thursday, 22 April 2010

Once upon a time, in the mid 1700s, a learned Swedish botanist/physician named Carolus Linnaeus sought to simplify and clarify a complicated, confusing situation. For years, naturalists from many countries had been attempting to chronicle, organize and make sense of the world around them. New types of animals and plants were constantly being discovered and named, most frequently, in the language of the discoverer. All too often, however, any given animal was likely to be "rediscovered" by a researcher from another country and renamed in another language. International communication among scientists was much slower and more difficult in those days, and much confusion arose from different researchers referring to the same organism by different names, often not even realizing they were doing so.

Linnaeus' idea was to assign each species a two-part name using Latin. The first part would refer to the animal's genus (a group of creatures to which it was most closely related) and the second part would refer to the creature specifically (the specific epithet). Latin was a largely "dead" language, but was widely known and used among scholars worldwide. Using Latin exclusively would not only provide a relatively familiar basis for international communication, but would avoid, for the most part, petty, nationalistic bickering regarding whose language to use. Over time, with considerable expansion, modification, and refinement, Linnaeus' system has been accepted and is now used worldwide among scientific circles. The trouble is, Linnaeus' "binomial nomenclature" (a fancy way of referring to the aforementioned two-part naming system) hasn't yet filtered down to the common folks.

Once upon a time, in the late 1900s, an eager, if naive, young researcher (who shall remain nameless) was dispatched from the confines of Auburn University into the wilds of LA (Lower Alabama). As he attempted to integrate himself into the social circles of the region, he learned that trout fishing was a favorite pastime for many of the local people.

The trouble for the young researcher was that he was unaware of any species of trout (properly named in Latin, naturally) existing in extreme southern Alabama. A thorough search of various reference books supported his surprise at the popularity of trout fishing in the region. None of the ranges for any known trout species extended nearly far enough south. Further intrigued was the young scientist when a bit more subtle snooping revealed that the full name (in English, anyway) applied to this unknown southern fish was "green trout" and that they were apparently common in the ponds, lakes, large streams and rivers of the area. The naive young scholar was embarrassed to find that the "green trout" in lower Alabama were just plain largemouth bass in east central Alabama.

Such is the problem with common names. People living in the region where an animal occurs may have a very different name for the creature than even the accepted common name (in English) used in reference books, textbooks, field guides and other "official" sources. Examples are many and varied. For most people in most places, the word "salamander" brings to mind an amphibian, more or less shaped like a lizard, having smooth, slimy skin, which lives in the water or in other moist places. In parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, however, the term "salamander" refers to a fur-covered mammal having large, exposed front teeth, which lives and burrows underground. It is believed that the name "salamander" may have been derived from "sandy mounder," a reference to the piles of sand the Southeastern pocket gopher pushes up in the process of building its burrows.

Wait a minute. Did I refer to "gophers" as furry mammals living in underground burrows? There I go again, causing more confusion. While that description is pretty close to the image raised for most people, in parts of the Southeastern United States a very different animal comes to mind when "gophers" are mentioned. For many in this region, gophers are not furry or mammalian at all, but hard-shelled, beaked, scaly-skinned reptiles. These gophers are actually gopher tortoises, which in fact, do spend a good deal of time in burrows.

So, what can be done to relieve this continued confusion? Observe, inquire, pay attention and don't assume too much. Once upon a time, in the 1500s (well before Linnaeus' time) William Shakespeare wrote, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet." That's a nice thought, but what if roses in some remote location are black and white and furry all over? Take care with "common" names.

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.

Boating Safely Saves Lives

Wednesday, 21 April 2010

Spring is here and the water is warming up. With 1.3 million acres of recreational waters, Alabama is a boater's paradise. Unfortunately, each year there are a few easily preventable boating deaths and injuries that occur. In 2009 there were 13 fatalities on Alabama waterways. Each person lost was a tragedy that could have been prevented with proper boating safety.

According to Lt . Erica Shipman with the education section of the Alabama Marine Police, wearing a life jacket is the best and easiest way to stay safe on the water. "Here in Alabama most of the boating fatalities are the result of capsizing or falling overboard where people actually end up in the water without a life jacket on," Shipman said. "Most of these boating-related deaths could be prevented if the person had just worn their life jacket. Boaters need to make sure that the life jacket fits properly and that it’s in good condition, and above all they need to remember that it doesn't work if they don't wear it."

Here is a brief check list boaters should go through before hitting the water. Doing so could be a lifesaver.

* Boat Maintenance: Make sure your boat is in good working order before taking it out for the first time.
* Safety Equipment: Make sure all required safety equipment, including life jackets, are on the boat and in good working order.
* Take a Boating Class: An informed boater is a safe boater, and in Alabama if you drive a boat you must have an operator's license.
* Courtesy on the Water: Remember the "golden rule" while on the water.
* Be a Weather Watcher: Keep an eye to the sky; it could save your life.
* Don't Drink and Drive: Just like on the highway, drinking and operating a boat is against the law; and on the water it can be even more dangerous.

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.

Crappie Masters' Alabama State Championship

Tuesday, 20 April 2010

When the Crappie Masters tournament trail visited the Alabama River last year, conditions were ideal and the final leaderboard indicated such with numerous stringers with a two-pound per crappie average.

Those crappie anglers couldn't heap enough praise on the central Alabama fishery. Fast forward a year and the same tournament series made a return visit to Millbrook. However, fishing conditions were much, much different. Would that praise continue faced with a high, muddy river with water temperatures hovering about 10 degrees below last year's event?

After the last event, the answer is a resounding yes. Even with the less-than-ideal conditions, the tournament competitors had to work a little harder but still managed to find seven-fish stringers that are unrivaled anywhere else on the circuit.

Whitey Outlaw of South Carolina and Mike Parrott of North Carolina weighed in a whopping 15.71-pound stringer for a 30.12-pound total. The team of Randy Jenkins of Georgia and Duard Hulgan of Fort Payne couldn't hold their opening-day lead and settled for second at 28.51.

Paul Alpers, Crappie Masters president, still had a hard time believing that many two-pound crappie live in the Alabama River.

"There's no better crappie fishing than right here in Alabama," Alpers said. "You can't find a better average anywhere in the whole nation. And the hospitality is No. 1, too."

For the most well-known crappie angler in the bunch, Wally "Mr. Crappie" Marshall of Texas, the week didn't pan out as planned but he did have a large consolation. He finished 23rd in the Alabama event but he qualified for the year-end classic at Truman Lake in Missouri.

I spent a few hours on the water with Marshall during the practice fishing before the event, and this is definitely not the crappie fishing I experienced growing up.

"This is not the old cane pole with the bobber on it, that's for sure," Marshall said as he watched the sophisticated electronics display to determine where the fish were holding. "That old cane pole still works, but crappie fishing has come a long way since them."

Marshall tried out several fishing methods including what he calls the "tight-line troll," which is also called a spider rig because of the number of poles positioned around the bow of the boat looks like spider legs.

"You're using two sets of rod holders," Marshall explained. "In the tournaments, we can use eight poles per boat. Depending on the situation, the length of the pole depends on the clarity of the water and how far you want the baits away from the boat. When I'm trying to cover a lot of water, I'll mix it up with 12-foot, 14-foot and 16-foot rods and have them staggered. I used 10-pound test line and the weight depends on the current and how fast the boat is moving. You may have a half-ounce weight all the way up to two ounces."

"It's called a tight-line troll, but really it's a stroll. You're not going over a half-mile an hour most of the time. You ease along the break lines and catch the fish off the drops."

Unlike last year, Marshall soon found out that the Alabama River crappie were really not in a biting mood with the current conditions.

"We've had one of the coldest winters we've had in a long time, and I don't think it's over, yet," he said. "Last year, the water temperature was already 64 degrees and those fish were suspended two feet deep out over 20 feet of water. The first thing in the morning when it was low light conditions, you could ease along with your baits just barely hanging underneath the surface and you could start catching those fish left and right."

"What we're doing now with the water temperature of 54 degrees, these fish are staging up off the shores and break lines in 15-20 feet of water. They're biting real light, but it's getting ready to bust loose."

Another technique tournament anglers use is to pull long-line jigs behind the boat with rods staggered out the stern of the boat instead of the bow. The rig consists of two 1/32 ounce jigs or two 1/16 ounce jigs tied on each rod and they're 35-40 feet behind the boat. Boat speed determines the depth the baits will run.

"Long-lining works real well in clear water where you can't sit over the top of the fish or if the fish are scattered because you can cover a lot of water," said Marshall, who has designed a variety of crappie fishing tackle for Bass Pro Shops. "In long-lining, instead of strolling, you're trolling at close to a mile an hour and sometimes the crappie like the bait moving faster."

"Pulling crankbaits for crappie is kind of like long-lining except the crankbaits dive down anywhere from six to 15 feet deep. You pull the crankbait about 75 to 100 feet behind the boat and you troll from 1.5 miles per hour to two miles per hour, depending on how the crappie like it. Pulling crankbaits is a lot of fun. You can do it from April through October."

Marshall was unable to fish what he considers the most productive water – ledges on the Alabama River – because of the high water and swift current.

"I love pulling jigs and tight-line troll along the river ledges," he said. "Those black crappie love to hang out on the river. If you find some slack water, you can wear out the crappie. The tight-liners go with the current and get the right speed. Going with the current is better than going against it on the river."

Although the Alabama River and its connected creeks were conducive to multiple-pole fishing, there are some tournament venues where that rigging is not feasible.

"Where I’m from in Texas, we have so much brush and timber, it's pretty much single pole year round, whether it's shooting docks with a spinning rod or using a 9-foot rod on standing timber," Marshall said. "I love to fish that standing timber."

Marshall fished his first crappie tournament in 1987 when he said he "didn't have enough money to go across town." Since, he’s won 27 tournaments since 1987, including the Crappie Masters Classic in 2003 on Fort Gibson Lake in Oklahoma.

"I enjoy fishing crappie tournaments," said Marshall, whose best career crappie weighed in at 3.25 pounds. "I like the competition. We were fishing back then for a $5,000 prize pot and now we’re fishing for $150,000 in cash and prizes in the Classic. The problem is that the price of eggs has gone up since then, too. It takes a lot of money to compete on the circuit."

The one thing he's sure of is that he'll be back for any tournament that is held on the Alabama River.

"The Alabama River has some of the best crappie fishing in America," Marshall said. "The locals don't know about it. They go out and fish with one pole, catch their limit of fish and go back home. They don't target the bigger fish. It's not that you can't catch big fish on a single pole, but with the multiple poles, you cover more water and give yourself a better opportunity to catch the bigger fish. This place is a diamond in the rough."

Alabama's Wildlife Habitat is Being Invaded

Monday, 19 April 2010

Alabama's physiographical regions vary from the Coastal Plains north to the Cumberland Plateau. These different regions provide a vast diversity of wildlife habitat. Many of these habitats have been invaded by nonnative plant species that have displaced native wildlife food sources. These invasive species range from trees to forbs and affect each physiographical region differently.

The re is only one species of tree that is recognized by the Alabama Invasive Plant Council (ALIPC) to have extensive infestations in Alabama. The Chinese tallow tree, commonly called popcorn tree, was introduced as an ornamental in the 1700s due to its attractive fall foliage. It produces a lot of seed that is used by birds as a food source and as a result, the seeds are deposited elsewhere. In drainage areas, the seed are transported by water, which results in heavy infestations along the stream banks. Tallow trees can be controlled by multiple herbicide applications.

Three shrubs are invading wildlife habitats. The thorny olive has been sold as a supplemental food source for wildlife. It is typically planted in wildlife openings where it creates localized infestations. ALIPC lists it as a category two species, which produces scattered and localized infestations. Birds heavily seek the fruit of the thorny olive as a food source. The fruit is digested by the birds, leaving a scarified seed. When this seed is defecated by the birds in other locations, starts additional infestations. Multiple herbicide applications are used to control the rate of spread.

Both Chinese privet and multiflora rose have a spot in Alabama's top 10 invasive weeds. They both form heavy infestations and create problems for wildlife managers. Privet spreads by birds eating the seeds and by root sprouts. Birds aid in starting new infestations whereas root sprouts help already established infestations to get bigger. Multiflora rose creates a dense thicket that nothing can enter. Herbicide treatments are the best means of control for both species.

Kudzu and Japanese climbing fern have also made the ranks of Alabama's top 10 invasive plants. Japanese climbing fern’s spores are spread by both wind and water. Prescribed burns as well as multiple herbicide applications can control this species. Kudzu is well known throughout the south. It spreads along rights of way, power lines and fencerows. It covers anything and everything that gets in its way. Control methods may include over grazing, herbicides, or simply pulling up its rootstocks.

Cogongrass is the only species of grass that really stands out. It too, is one of Alabama's top 10. This species could easily hold the number one spot as the worst invasive in Alabama. It forms circular patches that spread in two ways. Each patch can spread outward by its rhizomes (roots). The rhizomes have a sharp point that is used to penetrate the rootstock of already established plants. Once above ground, the foliage shades out all of its competition creating nothing but cogongrass on the forest floor. Each seed head produces approximately 200 wind-born seeds that may be dispersed up to 100 feet. In high winds, the dispersal distance may be further. Cogongrass is particularly bad for wildlife habitat because not only does it out compete native vegetation, but it also creates a fire hazard. This species is very flammable and burns at very high temperatures that will consume not only the litter, but the duff layer as well. The duff layer is a layer of decomposing vegetation that is just above the soil. Cogongrass also rebounds very well after a fire. This species can be controlled by herbicide treatments before flowering in March and April and another treatment during September before it goes dormant. These treatments will need to be repeated every year for as long as the grass is still appearing. It can also be controlled by a combination of herbicide treatments and disking. Treating cogongrass as a young patch is easier so don't wait.

The above-mentioned species are only a handful of invasive species in Alabama. Many more affect aquatic habitats, rights of way, pastures, urban areas, and even well managed forest. A full list of invasive species in Alabama can be found on ALIPC’s Web site, www.se-eppc.org/alabama, along with other useful information. Another helpful resource is the USDA-Forest Service General Technical Report SRS-62 "Nonnative Invasive Plants of Southern Forests" by Dr. James H. Miller. This guide is very useful in identifying invasive species. It also lists recommended herbicide treatments for each species.

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.

Proposed Fee Reduction May Close State Parks

Sunday, 18 April 2010

A bill introduced by state Senators Ted Little and Zeb Little has Alabama State Parks officials concerned about the future of the parks system. SB532 proposes a 50 percent reduction in lodging rates and entrance fees for Alabama residents between May 15 and August 15, 2010.

Alabama State Parks Director Mark Easterwood says this reduction in revenue would be devastating to the 22 p arks, which generate 94 percent of their income from user fees. "The summer revenue lets the parks operate at a profit during those months. Those revenues are then used to carry the parks through the winter months. The parks operate at a loss between September and March each year," he said.

According to Parks Operations Director Tim Wishum, 56 percent of park expenses are related to personnel costs. The loss of revenue would require a significant reduction in personnel, which would cause portions of some parks and even some entire parks to close. "Much of our business is from in-state residents, so we would lose a significant portion of our income during the busiest months."

Parks officials estimate that approximately 90 percent of day-use fees are generated by Alabama residents. Alabama residents generate between 55 and 78 percent of lodging and camping revenues.

Many cities and local tourist boards receive money from lodging taxes generated by the parks. Because of the potential loss of this revenue, several communities near state parks have expressed their opposition to SB532. The city of Pelham has passed a resolution opposing the bill. Fort Payne Mayor William H. Jordan also opposes the bill. In a letter to Senator Lowell Barron, Jordan states that the bill would be detrimental to the local economy because of a reduction in lodging taxes.

"We feel our rates are reasonably priced," Easterwood said. "Lowering them just isn't feasible when we receive no General Fund appropriation. The parks won’t be able to continue operating."

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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