Life

An Outdoor View: On being skunked

Getting skunked is an all-too-frequent result of having participated in the activity known as “sport fishing.” Yet, being skunked is seldom talked about, and almost… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Aaron Dupuis carries a king salmon caught in Deep Creek on the opening day of king salmon fishing on Memorial Day weekend Saturday May 22, 2015 near Ninilchik, Alaska.

Tight Lines: King opener draws mixed success on south peninsula streams

Like so many anglers before them, fishermen braved intermittent rain and chill for the opening weekend of king salmon fishing on three southern peninsula streams.… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Aaron Dupuis carries a king salmon caught in Deep Creek on the opening day of king salmon fishing on Memorial Day weekend Saturday May 22, 2015 near Ninilchik, Alaska.

Tight Lines: Kings make an appearance, lakes heat up

Enough fish were caught during last weekend’s king opener on the southern Kenai Peninsula’s salmon streams to keep things interesting, and other options for catching… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Matt Bowser/USFWS. The remains of a chaga mushroom that was harvested near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, March 16, 2015.

Refuge Notebook: The chaga warriors

“Seeking the name of person who cuts chaga from private property and trails established by locals. Blatant disregard for posted signs and trail cameras. Seen…mutilating… Continue reading

Photo courtesy Matt Bowser/USFWS. The remains of a chaga mushroom that was harvested near the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center, March 16, 2015.

An Outdoor View: Fishing and luck

(Author’s note: Because 2015 marks the 30th year that a Kenai River king salmon has held the IGFA, all-tackle world record, let’s consider what it… Continue reading

Anatomy of the worst fire year

In a gorgeous warm May this year, we have not yet sniffed the bitter scent of flaming spruce. When we do, many of us will… Continue reading

Tight Lines: Anglers gear up for fishing season

Memorial Day weekend marks the traditional start of salmon season on the Kenai Peninsula, and while numerous conservation measures are in place, there have been… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Charlie Smith, of Anchor Point, hauls two buckets of hooligan up the bank on Monday May 18, 2015 near the Warren Ames Bridge in Kenai, Alaska.

Gangs of hooligan invade Cook Inlet

Blink and you’ll miss one, but several thousand clouding the water is hard to miss.The spring run of eulachon, or hooligan, have hit the southcentral… Continue reading

Photo by Rashah McChesney/Peninsula Clarion Charlie Smith, of Anchor Point, hauls two buckets of hooligan up the bank on Monday May 18, 2015 near the Warren Ames Bridge in Kenai, Alaska.
This Eurasian Collared-Dove, the third record of this species on the Kenai Peninsula, was photographed by Mark and Cindy Glassmaker at their house along the Kenai River near Soldotna.

Refuge Notebook: Exotic dove continues a steady march north

Bird watchers come in all flavors from the hardcore lister to the person who casually watches birds at their backyard feeder. One connection that seems… Continue reading

This Eurasian Collared-Dove, the third record of this species on the Kenai Peninsula, was photographed by Mark and Cindy Glassmaker at their house along the Kenai River near Soldotna.
In this October 2012 photo provided by the National Geographic Channels, Dr. Brian Hare kneels with Finley the dog in Durham, N.C. On the weekend of May 15, 2015, Nat Geo Wild will air a three-part series called "Is Your Dog a Genius?" It will be part of the network's inaugural "BarkFest" weekend with one show after another dedicated to dogs. Hare, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and a member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, part of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, will host the show. (Christer Berg/Dognition via AP)

Don’t let the slobber fool you, your dog could be a brainiac

LOS ANGELES — When her muscles locked and left her unable to move or speak, Wallis Brozman was glad she had a genius for a… Continue reading

In this October 2012 photo provided by the National Geographic Channels, Dr. Brian Hare kneels with Finley the dog in Durham, N.C. On the weekend of May 15, 2015, Nat Geo Wild will air a three-part series called "Is Your Dog a Genius?" It will be part of the network's inaugural "BarkFest" weekend with one show after another dedicated to dogs. Hare, associate professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University and a member of the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, part of the Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, will host the show. (Christer Berg/Dognition via AP)
This Monday, May 4, 2015 photo shows pea plant seedlings on display in New Paltz, N.Y. A lot of "six-packs" of pea transplants would be needed for a row of peas, so just plant seeds instead. (Lee Reich via AP)

Believe in seeds: They’ll expand your gardening horizons

“Plant seeds” may seem like an inane suggestion for a gardening column. But I’m serious. More and more people who garden these days put plants… Continue reading

This Monday, May 4, 2015 photo shows pea plant seedlings on display in New Paltz, N.Y. A lot of "six-packs" of pea transplants would be needed for a row of peas, so just plant seeds instead. (Lee Reich via AP)
In this March 30, 2015 photo, a lawn is fertilized before rain falls near Langley, Wash. One of the most common mistakes in lawn care is over fertilizing which can burn the plant roots and contaminate area water supplies. A good time to fertilize is just ahead of a soaking rain. (Dean Fosdick via AP)

Lawn-care basics: how much to cut, irrigate, fertilize

Well-managed turf care means more than simply firing up your lawn mower and buzzing around the yard.There’s cutting at the right height, irrigating with the… Continue reading

In this March 30, 2015 photo, a lawn is fertilized before rain falls near Langley, Wash. One of the most common mistakes in lawn care is over fertilizing which can burn the plant roots and contaminate area water supplies. A good time to fertilize is just ahead of a soaking rain. (Dean Fosdick via AP)
Jacob's ladder in all its spring glory. (Courtesy Mary Stensvold, US Forest Service)

Refuge Notebook: Nature’s first green is gold

Many of us are engaged this week in the annual spring sport of watching the birch trees begin to leaf out, and anticipating early spring-blooming… Continue reading

Jacob's ladder in all its spring glory. (Courtesy Mary Stensvold, US Forest Service)

An Outdoor View: New twists on fish and shrimp

New twists on fish and shrimpbyLes PalmerIt happens now and then, and a few days ago, it happened again. I was overwhelmed by an urge… Continue reading

An Outdoor View: Everything is about fishing

Author’s note: My favorite outdoor writer/humorist, Ed Zern (1910-1994), left a legacy of ridiculous and hilarious stories. His ghost sometimes visits me, causing me to… Continue reading

Joe Donohoe measures a wolf track found along the Continental Divide near Canyon Creek, Mont., in March, 2015. Donohoe and other volunteers met in early March to run one of the transects and see what animals were using the Continental Divide as part of a project to recruit and train volunteers under the tutelage of wildlife researchers at Bozeman-based Wildthings Unlimited with data generated going to the Helena National Forest as it develops a new forest plan. (Tom Kuglin/The Independent Record via AP)

Researchers track elusive wolverines

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Much of the Continental Divide in winter remains a place seldom visited by people — a harsh environment, windblown and seemingly… Continue reading

Joe Donohoe measures a wolf track found along the Continental Divide near Canyon Creek, Mont., in March, 2015. Donohoe and other volunteers met in early March to run one of the transects and see what animals were using the Continental Divide as part of a project to recruit and train volunteers under the tutelage of wildlife researchers at Bozeman-based Wildthings Unlimited with data generated going to the Helena National Forest as it develops a new forest plan. (Tom Kuglin/The Independent Record via AP)
Participants in the 2015 Youth Game Warden Camp learn to navigate in the woods with GPS units and compasses. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Learning to be a game warden

 This past weekend, the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge hosted the 2015 Youth Game Warden Camp. This camp is a collaborative effort between natural resource agencies… Continue reading

Participants in the 2015 Youth Game Warden Camp learn to navigate in the woods with GPS units and compasses. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)
In this Sunday, April 19, 2015 photo, in addition to being pest resistant, Chestnut is a crabapple variety good enough for you to enjoy it eating fresh, right off the tree in Geneva, New York. (Lee Reich via AP)

Crabapples come in many varieties (some aren’t even crabby)

Crabapple branches drenched in white, pink or red blossoms are a strong enticement to go out and buy one of these trees. First, however, put… Continue reading

In this Sunday, April 19, 2015 photo, in addition to being pest resistant, Chestnut is a crabapple variety good enough for you to enjoy it eating fresh, right off the tree in Geneva, New York. (Lee Reich via AP)
Spraying downward and in front of a charging bear is good technique for using bear deterrent spray. Bear spray only works if you keep it handy so wear the holster on your belt or attached to a pack shoulder strap, but don't stuff it in a pack. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

Refuge Notebook: Tips for using bear spray

Bear spray is a weapon. Just like any weapon, you’ve got to know how to use it so it stops what you want it to… Continue reading

Spraying downward and in front of a charging bear is good technique for using bear deterrent spray. Bear spray only works if you keep it handy so wear the holster on your belt or attached to a pack shoulder strap, but don't stuff it in a pack. (Photo courtesy Kenai National Wildlife Refuge)

An Outdoor View: Fish board

I was disappointed Sunday when state legislators voted against confirming Soldotna resident Robert Ruffner’s appointment to the Alaska Board of Fisheries. It would’ve been so… Continue reading