Field Guide – Page 2 – Land Between the Lakes

18 Aug 2015

Elk are Shedding Velvet

Elk & Bison Prairie, Environmental Education, Field Guide, Wildlifebreeding, elk, Elk & Bison Prairie, Kentucky, land between the lakes, tennessee, velvet

Submitted by Curtis Fowler, Range Technician at Land Between The Lakes Some of you may notice that several of the elk are losing their velvet, which is the fuzzy growing layer that covers their antlers from spring until…about this time of the year. The elk’s antlers are more brittle during this growth time. Once the velvet stops growing, the elk start to rub it off using branches and tree trunks. The antlers will harden completely in time for the breeding season, well-polished and ready to fight. Come on out and see if you can spot one!

10 Jul 2015

By LBL_Admin

The Ants are Marching

Community, Field Guide, Stewardshipfire ant, imported, invasive species, Kentucky, land between the lakes, mounds, project, tennessee, treatment, wildlife

The invasive species of fire ants officially known as “Imported Fire Ants,” have made their way to Land Between The Lakes. The species first made their way to the United States around 1918 and have spread through the decades. Imported fire ants collectively include red and black fire ants and their hybrids. Damage Caused by Fire Ants Urban and agricultural areas suffer annual losses amounting to almost $6 billion caused by fire ants. This includes about $750 million in agriculture related damage, and $5 billion in damage to households, business, schools, government, and institutions. If left untreated, they can…

09 Jun 2015

By LBL_Admin

Oh Deer!

Customer Service, Field Guide, Nature Station, Stewardship, Wildlifebaby, deer, fawn, Nature Station, newborn, wildlife

Spring means babies all over Land Between The Lakes. At the Nature Station we're excited that one of our white-tailed deer had TWINS! Come on out and check them out. The size of these two tiny deer, with their coats of ruddy brown and ivory spots, compare to the size of dinner plates. Cautiously, their mother hides them at the bases of trees or along fallen logs, blending in with leaves and duff on the forest floor. This serves as a very important life strategy for deer. Their spotted camouflage and lack of any body scent make them invisible…

08 Jun 2015

By LBL_Admin

Osprey Family Finds a New Home

#FridayEd, Community, Field Guide, Nature Station, Wildlifebirding, boy scout, eagle scout, Kentucky, land between the lakes, Nature Station, Nature Watch, osprey, project, tennessee, trail, volunteer

When Daniel Hagan of Boy Scout Troop #422 constructed and put up a nesting platform for osprey in Land Between The Lakes for his Eagle Scout Project in the spring of 2011, he had high hopes. He hoped that a pair of these magnificent fish-eating hawks would adopt his platform and use it as a safe place to build their nest and raise their young. He hoped that his platform would give visitors to Land Between The Lakes great views of nesting osprey, since he installed it in an easily viewable area near the Woodlands Nature Station. One year went…

18 May 2015

By LBL_Admin

Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge

Community, Field Guide, Wildlifeamphibians, birds, endangered species, environmental education, fish, Fishing, frogs, home educators, hunting, invertebrates, mammals, Mississippi Flyway, programs, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, turtle, wildlife, wildlife-viewing

Submitted by Brian Truskey Communications Department apprentice at Land Between The Lakes The next time you come to visit Land Between The Lakes, plan to visit to our neighbors to the south at the Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge encompasses 51,000 acres of forest, farmland and grassland wildlife habitat. In 1945 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service established the area to provide feeding, resting, and nesting habitat for migratory birds. Now over 306 species of birds currently call the refuge home at some point during the year. Over 50 types of mammals, 144 fish species, around 90 species of frogs,…

01 May 2015

By LBL_Admin

Polecat Ponderings

#FridayEd, Environmental Education, Field Guide, Wildlifedog, habitat, Kentucky, land between the lakes, odor removal, owl, pets, polecat, rabies, recipe, skunk, skunk recipe, spray, tennessee

By John Pollpeter Often we don’t give them much mind. We smell them dead on the road or checking out our campsite late in the evening. Skunks, or locally known as “polecats,” are a unique member of our Purchase Area ecology. The term “polecat” comes from a close relative found in Eurasia. The name transferred with European settlement. It is an old French word meaning chicken- “poule.” So in essence, polecat means “the cat that eats chickens." The word “skunk” comes from the Algonquin name, as does other common American animals like moose and opossum. One thing that makes…

18 Apr 2015

By LBL_Admin

Turkey “Dance-Off” Season is Here!

Elk & Bison Prairie, Field Guide, Wildlifeelk and bison prairie, hen, hunting, Kentucky, land between the lakes, quota hunt, tennessee, tom, turkey

Turkeys across Land Between The Lakes are strutting their stuff this week as their breeding season is revving up. Male turkeys (called ‘Toms’) are fanning their tail feathers, gobbling, fluffing and puffing up their body feathers to show off their iridescent plumage. They tout their vibrant and red, white, and blue head coloration. All of this is done in a concentrated effort to woo their favorite female turkeys (hens) while discouraging other lesser males from the dance floor. If push comes to shove, these pretty-boys will fight each other using their long spurs to thrash the competition into submission. These breeding…

14 Apr 2015

By LBL_Admin

Baby Bison Begin to Arrive!

Elk & Bison Prairie, Field Guide, Wildlifebaby, bison, buffalo, calf, herd, Kentucky, land between the lakes, prairie, spring, tennessee

Submitted by Curtis Fowler, Range Technician at Land Between The Lakes It’s that time of year again. Bison at the Elk and Bison Prairie and the South Bison Range are starting to have their calves! Three calves were born at the Elk and Bison Prairie over the weekend. One calf was born at the South Bison Range, across from the Homeplace 1850's Working Farm and Living History Museum. A second calf was born there today (Tuesday, April 14, 2015). These calves are the first of many to come. Most bison calves on Land Between The Lakes will be born during the months…

10 Apr 2015

By LBL_Admin

New Bison Mount at Golden Pond Visitor Center

Elk & Bison Prairie, Field Guide, Wildlifebison, buffalo, elk and bison prairie, golden pond, Kentucky, land between the lakes, tennessee, visitor center

Submitted by Curtis Fowler, Range Technician at Land Between The Lakes A new bison mount was installed in the Golden Pond Visitor Center. Visitors can get a closer look at one of these big, beautiful animals. "This was a 21 year old bison bull who lived here at Land Between The Lakes. You can see all the wear on his big, well used horns. He was aging and declining in health. After seeing him, we hope to encourage people to see and appreciate the herds for themselves," says Curtis Fowler, Range Technician at Land Between The Lakes. His high placement in the visitor center…

30 Mar 2015

By LBL_Admin

Daffodils Are Blooming!

Community, Customer Service, Field Guide, Plantsdaffodil, Kentucky, land between the lakes, planting, tennessee, volunteers, wildflower

Submitted by Brian Truskey, Communications Department Apprentice. The daffodils have started blooming at Land Between The Lakes! In 2007 daffodils had to be moved for the US68/KY80 highway construction project. This past November volunteers replanted many of them in Land Between The Lakes. With the coming of spring the benefits of their work can be seen. Over the next few weeks see them blooming along 68/80 near the west and east welcome signs by the bridges. Thank you to all who came out to replant these beautiful flowers! Visit Land Between The Lakes and see the daffodils and a variety of…

Category: Field Guide