Homer Sea to Ski Triathlon slated for Sunday

Peninsula residents get their annual chance to see what a difference a couple hundred feet of elevation can make Sunday at the annual Sea to Ski Triathlon in Homer.

Participants start by running 5 kilometers over mostly snowless ground from the gazebo at Mariner Park at the base of the Homer Spit to Homer Middle School.

Next up is a 7.5-kilometer bike climb up to winter. Participants take West Hill Road and climb through residential districts until they arrive at the old trail head for Baycrest Ski Trails.

Here, thanks to the bike climb, there's snow. At least 3 feet of it as of late this week, in fact.

Participants take advantage of the snow and finish the triathlon with a 5-kilometer freestyle ski.

The race is organized by the Kachemak Nordic Ski Club and costs $5 to enter. Participants can take on all three legs or find teammates to help them out.

To register, go to the gazebo at Mariner Park from 10 a.m. to noon on Sunday. There is a required safety meeting at 12:30 p.m., and the race begins at 1 p.m. Also, helmets are required for the bike portion.

About 75 to 100 people usually participate in the triathlon, taking advantage of the 23 different categories, based on age, gender and teammates, that participants can enter.

Pet owners should beware of eagles

The biology staff of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge cautions owners of small dogs and cats in the Sterling and Soldotna area to keep a close watch on free-roaming pets. A recent report from the Sterling area indicated a small, free-roaming dog was killed by several bald eagles.

If eagles are commonly observed near areas used by small pets, owners should keep pets under close supervision or in an enclosed area.

If eagles are perching nearby and watching pets as potential prey, owners should keep all pets inside for a few days until the eagles have left. Bald eagles and other large birds of prey such as great-horned owls in the area may be getting more desperate to find suitable prey because the snowshoe hare population has declined on the Kenai Peninsula in recent years.

Bear-baiting clinic scheduled

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game will be holding three black bear-baiting clinics on the Kenai Peninsula. Hunters who have already attended a clinic and been certified do not need to be certified again. The dates and locations are:

n Seward: Wednesday, 6 p.m., Seward High School Room 201

n Kenai: April 10, 6 p.m., Cook Inlet Aquaculture Building

n Soldotna: April 27, 6 p.m. Kenai Peninsula Sport, Rec and Trade Show, Soldotna Sports Center

A hunter may not register bait in Units 7, 14A, 14B, 15, 16A or 20B until successfully completing a Fish and Game-approved bear-baiting clinic.

For more information, call 262-9368.