Refuge officials say the reduction of land-building plants in the blaze will lead to more wetland acres and wildlife when rains raise water levels. Rains have knocked back the fires, but with some still smoldering in deep layers of peat, fire could continue burning for weeks or even months unless more rain falls. Fire is important to the swamp's ecosystem because most of the refuge is open marshes that support an extensive community of plants and animals. Without wildfires, the swamp would...

Their primary threats are loss of habitat through fragmentation and isolation of mature forests by suburbinization and forestry practices. Frequently listed in the top 10 of most sought after birds by birdwatchers, the cerulean is very elusive even to experienced birders. Preservation of this species requires keeping at least 1,500 acres of contiguous forest blocks with an upward goal of 8,800 acre blocks. The best way to know you are being graced by its presence is by listening for its...

LITTLE ROCK - Arkansas parks and tourism officials have partnered with a British marketing firm to test whether the state can boost tourism numbers by appealing to carp lovers of the United Kingdom. Many carp fishermen treat any injuries to the fish that the catch caused with antibiotics to make sure the carp stays strong and healthy when it is released. He says he and the tourism department would need to work together to find a reasonable number of fish in a number of places. The group...

Barry Benson, chairman of the tribes Natural Resources Committee and Twin Buttes representative to the tribal business council, stressed that the mountain lion season is being held to ensure the safety of people and only for communities where there have been recent sightings. Barry Benson, chairman of the tribes Natural Resources Committee and Twin Buttes representative to the tribal business council, stressed that the mountain lion season is being held to ensure the safety of people and...

County officials now charged with designing and building a sewer say California s environmental- review laws require them to look at Tri-W along with other potential locations. The county s sewer Technical Advisory Committee will evaluate those locations, focusing on financial, environmental and technical aspects of a potential project. The report also meticulously outlines potential sewer technology and rough cost estimates for various projects at those locations, as well as the Tri-W...

Florida gives Penn Treaty a yearlong suspension Florida insurance regulators suspended Penn Treaty American corp.'s right to conduct business in that state for 12 months because the Allentown provider of long-term-care insurance did not file its 2006 audited statutory financial results before June 1, the company said. Florida gives Penn Treaty a yearlong suspension Florida insurance regulators suspended Penn Treaty American corp.'s right to conduct business in that state for 12 months...

BAR HARBOR College of the Atlantic awarded undergraduate degrees in human ecology to 68 students from 20 states and 14 foreign countries at the school s 35th commencement ceremony Saturday afternoon. Don t ever believe we will be able to solve our problems if we don t fix our democracy or if any of you sit on the sidelines. Members of the class of 2007 also have had papers published in scholarly journals and have received awards at international conferences in biology and ecology. Her...

Trona is a mineral used in a number of power plants to reduce pollutants, Mirant says its one of the reasons they are able to operate their coal fired plant in densely populated areas like Alexandria. Trona is a mineral used in a number of power plants to reduce pollutants, Mirant says its one of the reasons they are able to operate their coal fired plant in densely populated areas like Alexandria. Moran is pushing a bill through congress that would force the EPA to do a study into the...

Sometimes, it's frustrating when you get outsmarted by a bird. Dressed in camouflage from head to foot, hunters sit motionless, their backs pressed against the hard bark of a tree as they try to fade into the woods. He'd hunted pheasant and deer before, but he became a turkey fanatic 10 years ago after reading magazine articles about how wary turkeys are. But, Pierceall said, turkey hunting gets him outdoors in spring when the forest is coming to life after a long winter. Only then does...