Rutherford Weekly

Thursday, April 14-April 20, 2022 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 9 Email: Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail or Drop-Off: Mail or Drop-Off: 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 157 W Main St, • Forest City, NC 28043 *Publisher has fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. We Want Your Kids Sports Photos! •Basketball •Baseball •Softball •Soccer •Archery •Equestrian •Etc! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! We Want Your Outdoor Photos! Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Hunting, Fishing, Playing Ball, Etc. Sportsman's Corner Sportsman's Corner Email: events@rutherfordweekly.com Mail: 157 W Main St., Forest City, NC 28043 Phone: 828-248-1408 *Publisher has the fi nal decision of which photos appear in print, per available space. It was the funniest sight the other day. At daybreak a tom strolled down the path to a small fi eld just in front of me. There, he strutted and gobbled and listened for any hen that might be close and interested in watching him fl ex his muscles as if he were in a pose-down at an Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic. He paraded in one direction and then the other as if he were practicing in front of a mirror in anticipation for the real thing. It was not too long until some movement to my left caught my eye. It was fi ve young jakes who had heard his call and decided to team up and try to run him off. That's what they do. The younger males are not fi t enough to take on a full-grown gobbler by themselves so they form a gang and team up to push him away from any hen that might be around. The problem, however, was there were no hens in sight… yet. As I watched I was impressed how the older tom stood his ground. And while the jakes looked formidable, it mostly amounted to nothing but a good bluff. So, there they were, fi ve jakes and a tom bickering among one another in the middle of my little fi eld. And then it happened. She showed up. Yes she did. And she must have looked really good because every one of the boys suddenly stopped and looked, and never fl inched one tail feather. They froze for what seemed like eternity, just watching her saunter across their dance fl oor. It was as if each one had so practiced this moment, but now that it was here, they were totally unsure of what to do. "Do I go over to her? Do I fl ex again? Do I punch one of my friends in the face? I sure hope I don't have anything hanging out of my nose." And while she moved gracefully to the center, they were afraid to budge, fearing a monumental stumble. I laughed at how my feathered male friends were so like me and my non-feathered male friends. I was reminded of my own pursuit of my wife years ago, and how my rehearsals were so much more suave than the actual performance. The deep and handsome gobble that I had practiced was hard to replicate with sweat running down my forehead and a big apple stuck in my throat. To say anything at that moment would give away the fact that my voice was still changing. So, like my turkey brothers, I simply stood still, making sure my knees were slightly bent because I had heard this would keep me from passing out. As she passed by, I gathered up all the testosterone that had been slowly leaking out and fi nally posited the question; "Do you want fries with that?" And we have been together ever since. By By Gary Miller Gary Miller Aiming Outdoorsmen Toward Christ www.outdoortruths.org gary@outdoortruths.org GARY MILLER 2400 Oakland Rd, Forest City 828-429-3129 Monday-Friday 8am-5pm NON CLIMATE CONTROL AVAILABLE WELL WELL LIGHTED LIGHTED with with 24/7 24/7 SECURITY SECURITY OFFERING OFFERING BOAT BOAT & CAMPER CAMPER Storage Storage Mike Marlow General Manager mike@rutherfordweekly.com RUTHERFORD WEEKLY IS HERE FOR YOU! STRIVING TO HELP ALL BUSINESSES SUCCEED! If you're not sure what to do or how to advertise during these uncertain times, give me a call or email. Let's make an appointment and discuss ways we can help! Programs for any budget! 157 West Main St., Forest City 828.248.1408 rutherfordweekly.com • Banners • Signs • Business Cards • Websites • Digital & Print Ads • Graphic Design Much More.... Call TODAY! As opening day of Hatchery S u p p o r t e d Trout Waters started, wildlife biologists at the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission are asking the public, particularly anglers, to report sightings of mudpuppies and hellbenders to the agency. Both species of aquatic salamanders are found in western North Carolina. These two giant salamanders often get confused with one another, but they have distinct differences. The mudpuppy has light brown, smooth skin that is typically speckled with spots, and red external feathery gills it retains through its whole life. It's smaller than the hellbender, averaging around 10 inches in length as an adult. It primarily lives in deep rivers, lakes, large ponds and reservoirs, but also thrives in unpolluted streams like the hellbender. The hellbender, also called a "water dog," "snot otter," or "Alleghany alligator," is the largest aquatic salamander in North America, averaging 16 to 17 inches long. It has a fl at, broad head and fl attened body, wrinkly skin on its sides and is brown – sometimes mottled with dark splotches. It's typically only found in fast moving, clean mountain streams. Both species are listed as species of special concern in North Carolina, and Wildlife Commission biologists want to know more about their distribution in the state and how their populations are faring. "We know less about mudpuppies than we do about hellbenders, but we'd like to know much more about both," said Lori Williams, a wildlife diversity biologist with the Wildlife Commission. "Challenging logistics in lake systems have made it diffi cult for us to conduct mudpuppy population surveys, but those habitats may be hot spots. Mudpuppies are attracted to baited hooks in lakes and deep rivers, so anglers fi shing from boats may catch one. We need anyone who fi shes deep river sites and impounded waters to let us know if they fi nd one." Hellbenders, on the other hand, have been the focus of a long-term inventory and monitoring study the agency has been conducting with partners since 2007. Their populations have decreased mainly due to declining water quality and habitat degradation, and to a lesser degree, ill treatment from anglers who mistakenly think they decrease trout populations. The latter is not true; however, both hellbenders and mudpuppies may go after fi sh on a line or stringer when scavenging for an easy meal. Their main source of prey is crayfi sh, but they will also eat minnows, snails, tadpoles, worms, discarded bait or other injured or dead animals. Game fi sh, like trout and bass, will eat young or larval mudpuppies and hellbenders. Neither the mudpuppy nor the hellbender is poisonous, venomous, toxic or harmful to humans, although they may try to bite as a defensive reaction if someone tries to pick them up. If sighted, they should be left alone and reported. Williams asks that their location be noted (physical location or GPS coordinates), a photo snapped if possible, and any other details shared with her at Lori.Williams@ ncwildlife.org. People can also call the Wildlife Commission's NC Wildlife Helpline, 866-318- 2401, and provide details of the observation. It is illegal to take, possess, transport or sell mudpuppies or hellbenders, or attempt to do so. The violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor, which can result in a fi ne and up to 120 days in jail. If anglers happen to catch one on by hook and line, they should carefully remove the hook if it is safe to do so without harming the animal, or cut the line as close as possible to the hook and return the salamander back to the water. Learn more by visiting the NC Partners in Amphibians and Reptile Conservation's mudpuppy webpage and the Wildlife Commission's hellbender webpage at https:// www.ncwildlife.org/Learning/ Species/Amphibians/Eastern- Hellbender. Article by: ncwildlife.org. Mudpuppy and Hellbender Sightings Requested Neither the mudpuppy nor the hellbender is poisonous, venomous, toxic or harmful to humans. If sighted, they should be left alone and reported. Email news and events to events@rutherfordweekly.com or go to or go to www.rutherfordweekly.com www.rutherfordweekly.com to submit online. to submit online. Have interesting news about your business or organization? Email it to us! Email it to us!

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