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Roger, working a streamer fly at the head of "a favorite pool."

If you fish a river long enough you’ll learn some of her secrets—but not all. And if you’re like me, sooner or later you’ll find a favorite pool. Many years ago, my good … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 7/25/23

One of two American robin nestlings peers from the bowl of the cozy nest built by its mother...

Don’t be a bird-napper

A large forsythia bush has brightened my life for decades, waving its willowy branches and blooms from the place where it was planted many years ago. I pass by this old friend every time I leave the … more

By SANDY LONG | 7/19/23

The magic touch

Five months, two days and 13 hours. That’s how long it had been since we planted our tomato plants—seeds in the basement under the nurturing climate control of heat mats, fans and … more

By HUNTER HILL | 7/19/23

There are three hens and four poults visible in this image. Several hens may band together during the summer with their poults to form a flock. ..A hen’s head does not have the red of the adult. The plumage appears browner than the almost-black coloration of males, and females do not have spurs on their legs. ....The poults are active almost as soon as they hatch, and will leave the nest in about a day. Turkeys are ground-nesters, and they are vulnerable to predators until they gain flight ability after about a month.

PA seeks public assistance with annual turkey survey

The PA Game Commission is again looking for public help through the month of August for the annual Pennsylvania Wild Turkey Sighting Survey. This is a citizen-science project that counts the … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 7/12/23

The proper angle to hold a fly rod while playing a large trout.

Playing large trout on the fly rod

Readers of this column who are avid anglers and who use a fly rod as their primary means for fishing, might wonder: Why a column about playing fish? My guess is that most fly fishers are more … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 7/12/23 | 1 comment

Dave Eckles is humbled by being on the same stage as legendary beaver trappers Paul Dobbins and Canadian trapper Robert Connor. But this picture of Dave tells a different story.

It’s almost time for the National Trappers Association and Outdoor Expo

ESCANABA, MI — The National Trappers Association Convention and Outdoor Show is being held at the U.P. State Fairgrounds, located in Escanaba, MI. Dates are July 27 through 29, and the … more

7/11/23

Female dark fishing spiders like this one have bodies that are typically about one inch in length, with legs that can measure over three inches long when outstretched. Males are roughly half this size.

A spectacular spider

The other day, as I made my way to the entrance of my favorite grocery store, a movement on the pavement caught my attention. Scurrying toward the building’s brick facade was a super spider of … more

By SANDY LONG | 7/5/23

My amazing wife is my gardener on the night shift with me.

If not for the light of the moon

At the risk of waxing poetic, I caught myself thinking this week where I would be if not for the light of the moon. I was thinking not merely about the things I could take for granted, but … more

By HUNTER HILL | 7/5/23

The common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) is common in waterways throughout our region. When they cross the road, they can get a bit feisty if you try to assist them. (They will stop trying to pick a fight once they get to the correct side of the road. Just walk away.) ..This female was very well behaved, however. She was concentrating on the task at hand: the reproduction of the species.

An awkward place for a snapping turtle nest

On a sunny morning in early June, I had gotten the motorcycle out to visit some folks in Dingman Township. Going down a gentle hill, I saw a car trying to park on the side of the road. At the … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 6/28/23

Heidi hated to leave the water, especially if there were still trout rising.

Hideko

When I began to fish—and I don’t mean fly fish, just good old-fashioned pond, bobber, shiner-for-bait fishing—there were few if any girls or women fishing. At least I didn’t … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 6/28/23

Wildlife rehabilitator Kathy Michell holds one of her study turtles during a walk we took in 2010. Wood turtles have a strong affinity for a home region of roughly 1/4 mile on either side of a favored stream, which makes them easy targets for poachers and highlights the importance of protecting such critical habitat for this threatened species...

Remembering Kathy Michell

There are those who talk, and those who walk their talk. Without question, Kathy Michell was the latter, a fiercely dedicated licensed wildlife rehabilitator whose graceful physical appearance … more

By SANDY LONG | 6/21/23

All for a smile

I get pretty tired. I’m not allowed to say I get more tired than my wife for obvious reasons, but nonetheless, I do run out of energy at least once a day. Sometimes I flat-out run out of … more

By HUNTER HILL | 6/21/23

This is a female gray fox and one of three young, which are called kits, near a den in Shohola, PA. The young are born in March and April, and usually emerge out of the den 10 weeks later. The kits can frequently be seen playing together near the den. The family will stay together during the summer; it disperses when fall arrives.

Youngsters in the wild

Spring into early summer is the time when you might hear the most bird calls and see the most activity in fields and forests across the region. Animals are engaged in courtship and breeding; … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 6/14/23

A parachute nymph, top, and a spinner-type nymph. Can the trout tell the difference?

A viable alternative?

According to the historical record, the parachute dry fly was likely invented sometime in the 1920s. That same record also indicated that the pattern was first patented in the U.S. and England by … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 6/14/23

A macro view of the red-and-gray feathering at the nape of the Northern flicker’s head...

Fallen flicker

When I pulled into a local gas station the other day, I noticed the victim of a collision lying near the entrance. It was easy to identify the species with a quick glance at the distinctive … more

By SANDY LONG | 6/9/23

This little guy was a pleasure to meet, and we helped him on his way to water by bypassing a pesky fence.

Turtles, trout, bears—oh my!

Hunter Hill is taking a column-week off, so this is a story from 2019. A lifetime ago! Enjoy. Have you ever had one of those weeks where you seem to run into more wildlife than you normally do, … more

By HUNTER HILL | 6/7/23

Here is a male American toad trying to attract a female by calling. The call is a trilling sound that could last up to 30 seconds or so. A good description of the call might be a cricket sound that doesn’t pause. If there are many calling toads in a lake or pond, they can be heard a few hundred yards away. To hear the call of one male toad, visit riverreporter.com/stories/toad-timing..

Toad timing

In my travels during the spring, I usually notice the distinct trilling of American toads from early May until early June. I hear the calls from lakes and ponds, but also along rivers; it seems … more

By SCOTT RANDO | 5/31/23

The bridge pool on the upper Clark Fork River, where we used to fish.

Fishing the Clark Fork River

When I arrived in Missoula, MT, with my friend Joe after a long cross-country bus ride, the first river I saw was the Clark Fork. At the time, we were enrolled as students at the University of … more

By TONY BONAVIST | 5/31/23

American robins are the largest North American thrushes, typically ranging from 8 to 10 inches long, with wingspans of approximately 12 to 16 inches. They are characterized by bright orange-red breasts topped with grayish-brown backs, gray wings, and dark gray heads. White eye rings and a white patch under the tail are other notable features of this beloved songbird...

Appreciating American robins

“When the red, red robin comes bob, bob bobbin’ along, along—there’ll be no more sobbing when he starts throbbing his own sweet song,” declared Harry Woods when he wrote … more

By SANDY LONG | 5/24/23

Bovines, baby birds and other beautiful things

I’ve been joking with family and friends that this column has become more of a ‘this week on the farm’ update, as opposed to the well rounded, all-inclusive country-living column … more

By HUNTER HILL | 5/24/23

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