wildlife

It’s not lions and tigers and bears down at Fuji Park, it’s bunnies and chickens, lambs and calves. The Carson City Fair has returned and it’s bringing all the excitement that one can expect from a down-home event. The talented kids in our regional 4-H programs will be showing off their hard work, carnival rides will be whirling, and the music will be playing. Our local bus, the JAC, is lending a hand and offering free rides through Sunday: Route 3 will take you from downtown to Fuji Park. Food truck lovers won’t want to miss out on Wheeled Wednesday at the Brewery Arts Center.

CARSON CITY — The Nevada Commission on Off-Highway Vehicles announced Tuesday that approximately $950,000 in grant funding is available for off-highway vehicle projects in Nevada.

I have long found it impossible to decide which Carson City event is my favorite: forever waffling between Nevada Day and the Taste of Downtown. Seeing as the annual parade is still months away, I’m going to side with ‘The Taste’ purely for its timeliness. With over forty local eateries participating, multiple raffles at downtown shops, and seven bands rocking every corner of the event, it’s practically impossible to have a bad time. This might be the biggest happening in town, but it’s by no means the only good time: read on for all this weekend’s options.

SATURDAY:

Hello fellow anglers. If you think you can go up to the higher lakes to get away from the heat, think again. It is hot even way up at the 8,000 foot level.

During the month of August, join a Carson City park ranger to learn about a variety of nature topics related to the outdoors in the area.

All events will be at 10 a.m. at Silver Saddle Ranch, 2648 Carson River Road.

Park Ranger Speaks topics feature:

You are invited to become a Junior Naturalist! Children of all ages are welcome to join a Park Ranger at Silver Saddle Ranch to learn about local ecology, wildlife, and hiking safety! Please bring water and wear sturdy shoes for activities and a short hike. See the flier above for details.

Nearly 25 years ago, the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency and dozens of partners embarked on an unprecedented mission to conserve and restore the Lake Tahoe Basin’s treasured natural resources through the Lake Tahoe Environmental Improvement Program.

CARSON CITY — Even before the Martin Fire burned more than 430,000 acres in northeast Nevada, many of which contained prime sage-grouse habitat near Paradise Valley, a project to enhance this critical sage-grouse habitat was already in the works.

CARSON CITY — TravelNevada debuts five summer experiences in five Nevada territories, encouraging travelers to follow ancient Basque pilgrimages, traverse ghosts towns, explore alpine lakes and rock formations, practice mindfulness and view meteor showers from one of the last remaining dark skies.

After mercury was found in pet food in a 2016 research project at the University of Nevada, Reno, a new team is taking a closer look to quantify the concentration level of methylmercury, the toxic mercury compound that can have negative health impacts. Preliminary analyses of a few dog food samples showed methylmercury to be a significant percentage of the total mercury.

Summer fun is heating up! Let the kids burn off some energy at the Kids Triathlon at Mills Park. You’ll find all the colors of the rainbow, plus great music and fun times, at the Festival of Unity and Community: Sassabration. Get your grub on at the annual Nevada Honor Flight Chili Cook-off at Glen Eagles, and make sure to check out the craft vendors. The Brewery Arts Center free Concert Series continues tonight with Remember Jones on the stage; bring the family and your friends for a good time had by all. Read on for even more hot summer fun.

SATURDAY:

University of Nevada Cooperative Extension presents the 2018 Carson City Fair July 25-29. The event, held at Fuji Park, 601 Old Clear Creek Road in Carson City, is put on in partnership with the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Northern Nevada Antique Tractor and Engine Club, and others to celebrate youth and agriculture.

DAYTON, Nev. — Learn about the Carson River during a presentation of The Carson River History Trunk, which contains historical items, examples of local plants and animals, maps and photographs this Saturday at Dayton State Park.

A day after a real fire was successfully battled in the Jacks Valley area in Douglas County, firefighters from Carson City Fire Department and East Fork Fire Protection District are participating in training exercises in the 300 block of South Nevada Street.

The Carson City Board of Supervisors is seeking applications from persons interested in serving on the Advisory Board to Manage Wildlife.

Nearly 500 people volunteered Thursday along the shoreline of Lake Tahoe as part of a lakewide cleanup organized by the League to Save Lake Tahoe. Participants removed 1,458 pounds of litter that would have harmed the lake’s ecology.

Two hours after the Lights on the Lake fireworks show at Lake Tahoe ended late Wednesday, one of three barges used to launch fireworks in the show caught on fire. No injuries were reported.

Hello fellow anglers, the weather is great and the fishing is on fire. Speaking of fire, there are some very stringent restrictions to adhere to when venturing out this summer. Campfires are only allowed in designated campgrounds.

John Hadder, executive director of Great Basin Resource Watch, will be the featured speaker at Monday's Carson City Democratic luncheon.

GBRW is a Reno-based environmental justice organization dedicated to protecting the health and well being of the land, air, water, wildlife, and human communities of the Great Basin from the adverse effects of resource extraction and use. They advocate on behalf of policy solutions that reduce toxic emissions, protect water resources, and preserve human and wildlife habitat.

In the mountains east of Lake Tahoe, visitors may notice some aspen trees have been defoliated due to an influx of invasive white satin moths.

The Fourth of July holiday and fireworks celebration brings a welcomed influx of boaters to the Lake Tahoe Basin.

With sunny skies and warm temperatures predicted, boaters are urged to clean, drain, and dry their boats before arriving at Lake Tahoe inspection stations to avoid delays and decontamination fees. All stations close at 5:30 p.m., so please plan accordingly.

With drying vegetation, increased daytime temperatures and several human-caused fires so far in 2018, fire restrictions on most federal public land in western Nevada begins Saturday and will last until further notice.

Welcome to Wednesday, Carson City. Break up the work week with some time out with friends. Try DJ Trivia at Bella Fiore; even though it’s a wine shop, the game is open to all-ages. Wine, Beer and Bowl at Carson Lanes is a fun way to break routine. Kids will love the Wildlife Show at the CVIC Hall in Minden; just get there early for a good seat. Take a trip back in time at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park. The Young Chautauquans will bring notable Nevadans like Charley Parkhurst and Abe Curry to life.

WEDNESDAY, June 27: Things to do in Carson City

LAKE TAHOE, Nev. – Learn how to handle wildlife encounters, whether it be while camping, hiking or in your own backyard. Join the Nevada Department of Wildlife’s Urban Wildlife Coordinator for a lesson on what to do and how to react to wild animals; from raccoons and coyotes to bears and mountain lions.

CARSON CITY — Law enforcement officers across Nevada will be on heightened alert for those violating boating under the influence laws during the annual Operation Dry Water weekend, June 29-July 1, according to the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

Come and joined this Muscle Powered leader-led hike on Saturday to Tahoe Meadows Interpretive (TMI) Loop and Boardwalk trail. This beautiful trail starts at the Tahoe Meadows Tahoe Rim Trail Parking lot, on the south side of highway 431, just past the Mt. Rose Summit. It is an easy and fairly flat hike of about 4+ miles around the TMI Loop and then “down” the meadow trail to the boardwalk trail loop and back to the parking lot.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE — This Saturday, June 23 from 10 a.m. to noon, the Sugar Pine Foundation will co-host a Tahoe yellow cress planting with the Tahoe yellow cress Adaptive Management Working Group at Baldwin Beach, which is National Forest System land managed by the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.

First off, I want to send a huge shout-out to the first responders, firefighters, and their support staff. We dove head-first into fire season, and like always, they work tirelessly to keep us safe. Thank you. Parks and Recreation has been leading a series of guided informative hikes along various trails. Today you’ll find a trip to Riverview Park with your four-legged friend in mind: Trails 4 Tails is open to all friendly, leashed dogs who love to sniff new things.

As part of the Wild Tahoe Weekend, the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science (TINS) in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit (LTBMU) will host the eighth annual Lake Tahoe Bird Festival on Sunday, June 24.

Local children and families were treated Saturday to the annual Nevada Outdoor Experience, held this year at the Capital City Gun Club off Arrowhead Drive in Northeast Carson City.