Outdoor notes: Loess Canyons landowners band together to confront eastern redcedar

Mark Alberts’ dad could recall going out with his grade-school teacher to cut down a cedar Christmas tree, and they had to hunt to find one.

Today things have changed, and the Loess Canyons, a roughly 338,000-acre landscape south of North Platte, is overgrown with eastern redcedar, a hardy, drought-tolerant invasive species.

While once looked upon favorably, the hardy, drought-tolerant invasive species is now recognized for its harmful effects on the Great Plains, including increased wildfire risk, diminished wildlife habitat, reduced streamflow and rapid spread. The Loess Canyons is one of the most infested areas in Nebraska, according to experts, with tree coverage of more than 75 percent in some areas.

The tree is well adapted to the area’s fertile soils and crowds quickly into valuable grazing pastures. Studies show that in areas where grasslands have converted to a cedar woodland, livestock production decreases by 75 percent.

For the landowners in the Loess Canyons, the situation became clear. Doing nothing and lose the ability ranch in the area, said Scott Stout, a landowner and cattle producer, or do something.

After identifying prescribed fire as the best way to beat back the invasive eastern redcedar, they created two prescribed burn associations to conduct burns on each other’s properties. Each association has close to 60 paying members, and the larger of the two groups, the Loess Canyons Rangeland Alliance, has burned more than 85,000 acres since 2002.

Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have taken notice.

“This is one of the few examples where we’ve seen a community come together to confront this issue head-on,” said Dillon Fogarty, a doctoral student researching eastern redcedar at the university. They’re also the only group in the Great Plains that has successfully halted the tree’s spread in a hard-hit region, he said.

Prescribed fire wasn’t the first solution landowners turned to, though. They first used mechanical methods to cut trees back, said rancher Tell Deatrich, but the trees came back quickly and in greater numbers than before.

They then turned to prescribed fire, pooling their resources together in what has turned out to be an effective management technique and a cost-efficient one. Fire, Fogarty said, can stop an invasion before it becomes a problem, but also can restore the landscape after cedars establish.

“If you look around at a burn, you will see half a million [dollars] in equipment and labor being shared,” Deatrich said, so while burn prep can be expensive, the actual burn is cheap.

To participate, association members are asked only to do mandatory prep work on their property before a burn, provide lunch and water for the workers, and help at other burns.

“I help you, you help me, we both go help somebody else,” Alberts said. “That’s just the way it works.”

Through it all, safety remains paramount. “We’re all volunteers, we all have families, we all have operations at home,” Stout said. “Being able to go to a burn, do this burn safely, and then go home to our families is the utmost priority on all of our burns.”

Their efforts have paid off: Neither prescribed burn association has experienced any fire-related injuries.

While they initially encountered skepticism from other landowners and the public, the groups now have the local community’s support and both associations continually gain new members.

“Being successful has been, I think, the key to getting new members – people noticing what’s going on,” Deatrich said. The landowners themselves have noticed healthier grass, improved soil health, increased wildlife habitat, and a rejuvenated water cycle – natural side effects of reintroducing fire to the landscape, he said.

Asked what landowners in other parts of the state should know, Alberts said, “The cedars are coming. Take care of them now while they’re small.” He advised talking to local Natural Resources Conservation Service office, as well as to landowners who have managed redcedar.

“The best time to control cedars was 20 years ago,” he said. But that hasn’t stopped him from moving forward.

“I don’t want my kids or grandkids to say, ‘Why didn’t Dad take care of those when he could?’ ” he added. “The time to get them is now.”

Six state recreation areas will allow fireworks on July 4

LINCOLN, Neb. – Visitors to six state recreation areas will be allowed to touch off fireworks on July 4. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is urging them to be especially careful this year.

Visitors should always use caution when lighting fireworks, but should be mindful of the dry conditions that exist across the state this year. Additionally, guests should follow recommended social-distancing, gathering-size and hygiene recommendations in light of the COVID-19 health crisis.

The areas that will permit fireworks from 8 a.m. until midnight on July 4 are Branched Oak (Liebers Point only), Fort Kearny, Memphis, Fremont Lakes, Pawnee and Wagon Train.

Signs at recreation areas will point the way to designated fireworks sites and boundaries will be clearly marked. Use of fireworks elsewhere in state areas or at other times is prohibited.

Only fireworks approved for sale in Nebraska by the state fire marshal are permitted, and visitors must pick up expended fireworks and deposit them in appropriate containers. Minor children must be supervised when discharging fireworks. Use, possession and the discharging of fireworks is at the sole risk of the users.

A park entry permit is required for all vehicles entering state recreation areas.

Nebraskans respond with enthusiasm to Nebraska Bird Month Challenge

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraskans are interested in birds and community science, as the results of the Nebraska Bird Month 2020 Challenge show.

Normally celebrated with statewide birding events, Nebraska Bird Month in May looked a little different this year. To safeguard against the spread of COVID-19, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission took events online, and offered bird lovers a new way to celebrate: by using the crowd-sourcing community science app iNaturalist to record bird observations. Five bird observations were needed to complete the Nebraska Bird Month 2020 Challenge.

More than 350 people participated, using the app to photograph and identify birds across the state.

“We had amazing participation,” wildlife educator Jamie Bachmann said. “Our top observer made 299 observations of more than 100 different species of birds.”

In total, participants logged more than 4,530 bird observations, creating a snapshot of the bird species found in Nebraska in May. The most commonly observed species was the American robin, with 295 observations. Lesser-observed species were the scissor-tailed flycatcher, blackpoll warbler, blue-headed vireo and evening grosbeak.

By using iNaturalist, participants also contributed to science.

“When at least two people from the iNaturalist community confirm or refine an identification, it becomes a 'research-grade' observation,” Bachmann said. “Research-grade observations can help scientists understand population ranges and species diversity.”

She was excited to see Nebraskans’ participation in the Nebraska Bird Month Challenge. “While we needed to change the format this year, I think this challenge helped us all stay connected as a statewide community of wildlife watchers,” she said.

While Nebraska Bird Month is over, the chance to have fun observing birds is not. There are many community science projects to get involved in, such as Celebrate Urban Birds, a year-round project allowing diverse urban audiences to gather data on bird populations. Try NestWatch and monitor nests to help experts understand the reproductive biology of birds. Looking for a winter community science project? Look into Project FeederWatch and survey the backyard birds that come to your feeder from November through April.

To find more bird-related community science opportunities, visit scistarter.org.

Camp At Home, Nebraska, winner announced

LINCOLN, Neb. – Carey Hofmeister and her family soon will be re-creating their Camp at Home, Nebraska, adventure during a free three-night camping stay at a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission state park or recreation area.

The family was randomly selected from more than 360 participants in the social media challenge issued by the Commission during the height of the coronavirus closures across the state. Outdoor-lovers were encouraged to look to their own home or backyard as the ultimate outdoor getaway.

Creativity was not an issue. Game and Parks fans submitted dozens of photos of tents pitched in their backyards, basements or living rooms; recreation vehicle “getaways” on the front driveway; firepit-roasted and microwaved s’mores; tinfoil dinners cooked on the grill; and yard games galore.

Hofmeister and her children set up camp in early May and submitted their photos to the Game and Parks Instagram.

“When hot days lead to cool nights, it’s the perfect camping weather,” the Ashland woman wrote. “The girls set the tents up in the backyard. If the tent bed gets too lumpy, there’s a cozy one inside not too far away. Perfect scenario for Mom since I got talked into sleeping with a little fella.”

“This is the stuff they’ll remember when they grow up,” she continued. “Not so much the toys, but the experiences. It will totally be worth all the clean-up. I’ll try and remember that tomorrow."

Making memories while bringing a familiar outdoor tradition closer to home was the goal.

“We’re grateful to each and every participant in the challenge,” said Jim Swenson, parks division administrator. “It’s been wonderful to see so many happy families and faces enjoying the outdoors and sharing joy and strengthening their family bonds. Congratulations to all who accepted the challenge and facilitated the next generation of outdoor adventurers.”

With camping opportunities available again at 76 parks or recreation areas across the state, everyone can find the perfect spot to suit their adventurous spirit. Find yours at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Commissioners approve mountain lion season recommendations

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved recommendations for a 2021 mountain lion hunting season at its June 19 meeting in Lincoln.

Staff recommended a mountain lion season in the Pine Ridge that will have a maximum harvest of four mountain lions, down from eight in 2020. In addition, the number of permits available will be reduced by half compared to 2020.

The 2021 Season 1 in the Pine Ridge Unit, which no longer is divided into subunits, will be Jan. 2-Feb. 28. Before Feb. 28, the season will close immediately if either the annual harvest limit of four mountain lions or sublimit of two female mountain lions is reached. There will be 320 permits issued via lottery only to Nebraskans, and hunting with dogs will not be allowed.

If the harvest limit is not reached in Season 1, an Auxiliary Season will be held March 13-31. The season will close immediately if either the harvest limit or sublimit is reached. Unsuccessful Season 1 hunters may apply to convert the permit to an Auxiliary Season permit. There will be one permit issued for each mountain lion remaining in the harvest limit. Hunting with dogs will be allowed.

The bag limit for each permit is one mountain lion of either sex.

The objective of the season is to provide a harvest opportunity for mountain lions that allows the population to remain resilient and healthy while halting growth or moderately reducing the population. The proposed mountain lion regulations can be viewed at nebraska.gov/nesos/rules-and-regs/regtrack/index.cgi.

Mountain lions are native to Nebraska but were extirpated by the early 1900s due to unregulated hunting, trapping, poisoning and decimation or prey species. As prey populations recovered in the 20th century due to protection by game laws, mountain lions did as well. They expanded from the Mountain West into parts of North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.

Population estimates from a May-June 2019 genetic survey indicate approximately 34 mountain lions were present in the Pine Ridge at the time of the survey, down from an estimate of 59 in a 2017 survey. While resident populations of mountain lions also exist in the Niobrara Valley and Wildcat Hills, there are no population estimates for those areas.

The commissioners also heard a budget report and an update on the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, which has a mission of refining and implementing a blueprint for conserving Nebraska’s flora, fauna and natural habitats through the proactive, voluntary conservation actions of partners, communities and individuals.