natural

The Carson City Parks, Recreation & Open Space Department opened three new segments of trail following an Oct. 30 ribbon cutting. These fun new trails are part of a network of non-motorized paths that connect residents with almost 5,000 acres of Carson City Parks and Open Space within the Carson River/Prison Hill area. Future plans include completing a multi-use path around Prison Hill.

CARSON CITY — Nevada is home to 23 species of bats, some of which will be featured Wednesday, Nov. 4, at the Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St. in Carson City.

Local non-profit GREENevada announced Thursday the winners of the 2020 Golden Pinecone Sustainability Awards, a prestigious annual event recognizing local individuals and organizations working towards a more sustainable Nevada.

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region. The Nevada Day Golf Tournament in remembrance of Mayor Bob Crowell will be held at Silver Oak Ranch Golf Course on Saturday. Dozens of fundraisers, including the Benson’s Feed 4 Paws 4-H group, will be scattered throughout the Carson City and Gardnerville areas. Combined with live music and several dinner specials, the state capital will be buzzing with excitement! Read on for more information.

Our youth group, 4 PAWS 4-H Dog Club, is selling homemade, natural dog biscuits in sizes large, medium, and small. All proceeds go to 4-Paws Dog Club of Carson City.

As part of the Carson Ranger District’s Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program, the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest recently released sheep in the Jacks Valley Wildlife Management Fuels Reduction Project area just south of Jacks Valley Road in Carson City, Nev.

CARSON CITY — To honor and raise funds for Nevada’s health care workers, historic Coin Press No. 1 will mint a special medallion from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30 at the Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St. in Carson City.

Carson Now reader Mark Zacha submitted these photos of a very large buck seen looking for food in Carson City's Silver Oak area on Flintwood Drive. Could it be the next "King of Carson" he asks?

For winter enthusiasts eager to explore South Tahoe’s vast outdoor winter wonderland, tourism officials recommend advance planning, mid-week stays, and securing reservations early for desired attractions and dining. To help visitors plan a safe, healthy winter adventure, Tahoe South offers updated information on its website at “Know Before You Go” and Responsible Recreation with all current state and county health protocols.

Fall has arrived in the Sierra Nevada bringing the steady change of turning leaves and a noticeable chill in the air. The fall season also means bears are actively searching for food, even down into the lower valleys.

NV Energy northern Nevada electric customers will see their monthly bills lowered by $2.30 a month beginning this month as a result of two rate decreases that went into effect on Oct. 1. This is the fourth time this year that northern Nevada customers have experienced a rate decrease.

Volunteer citizen scientists working with the League to Save Lake Tahoe conducted surveys of Donner and Spooner Lakes to detect aquatic invasive species, and restored native wetland habitat in Johnson Meadow in September. Both efforts are aimed at preserving the Tahoe-Truckee region’s unique ecology.

But this fire season, the Nevada Division of Forestry and NV Energy are using a different kind of fire prevention technology — a herd of more than 300 goats.

Due to continued public health safety concerns related to COVID-19, trail improvement work, the risk of bear-human encounters and in order to discourage large groups from gathering, the USDA Forest Service Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit has issued a Forest Order that temporarily closes Taylor Creek and the surrounding area from Oct. 3 through Nov. 2, 2020.

It’s no secret that Carson Valley is an exceptionally beautiful pocket of northern Nevada where nature, landscapes and legendary characters come together throughout the region’s four communities of Genoa, Gardnerville, Minden and Topaz Lake. The destination offers photographers a wonderland of opportunities to capture telling moments in time.

Western Nevada College has been selected by the Environmental Protection Agency as a national grantee of the 2020-22 Pollution Prevention Grant Program.

WNC will partner with the Nevada non-profit greenUP! to help food and beverage manufacturers and processors, as well as automobile repair and maintenance businesses, implement pollution prevention.

CARSON CITY — Learn about the snakes of northwestern Nevada this Wednesday, Sept. 30, at the Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson St. in Carson City. George Baumgardner, curator of natural history, will offer brief demonstrations starting at 1 p.m. and repeated until 3 p.m. for visitors passing through the museum’s demonstration gallery.

The Capital City Arts Initiative and Western Nevada College present "Ink, Paper, Print" an exhibition with work by 12 regional artists in the college’s Bristlecone Gallery, 2201 W College Parkway, Carson City.

With 675 fires having burned 235,751 acres in Nevada so far this year, and wildfires continuing to threaten homes and lives across the West, next week University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program wraps up its five-part virtual workshop series, “Five Ways to Prepare Your Family and Property for Wildfire.”

It may be a bit quiet around the high school lately, but this will not stop the CHS Student Council from making their senior year one to remember. Leadership Adviser Ann Britt said, “I am pleased to announce the Corona Virus cannot take the fun out of everything, so we are hosting a Spirit Week, Sept. 25 through Oct. 2, at CHS.”

Heading into the weekend, there’s a bevy of activities around the Carson City region. Franktown Apples in Washoe Valley is hosting apple picking Friday through Sunday. In celebration of National Public Lands Day, Nevada State Parks will have a fee-free day on Saturday filled with hikes and tours. Combined with live music and dinner at local restaurants, the weekend will be filled with excitement! Read on for more information.

The King of Carson passed away in a backyard on Roop Street on Sept. 8, and at first it was believed that some form of foul play had taken the King's life, whether from being struck by a car or poisoned by a rival deer who wanted to take the throne.

The 2020 pine nut harvest season kicks off on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Both agencies are working together to ensure the public is safely harvesting pine nuts and aware of the regulations.

National Forest trails, trailheads, beaches and other day-use areas in the Lake Tahoe Basin have now reopened for day-use only as of Saturday, Sept. 19, 2020. Camping and overnight stays will not be permitted, and campgrounds will remain closed. Resorts will reopen for day-use only. Emergency Fire Restrictions will remain in effect through Nov. 30. I’ve attached the Forest Orders for your awareness.

Remember the old days when school would get cancelled for weather aberrations like snow? Aww, the excitement of that early morning phone call and the joyfulness of being able to go back to sleep with the anticipation of a full day ahead of hanging out in pajamas and watching Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are invited to help us celebrate National Public Lands Day through this fun, hands-on restoration event.

NV Energy and Nevada Division of Forestry have partnered to reduce the risk of wildfire in Carson City in the Clear Creek watershed through targeted goat grazing. More than 300 goats from High Desert Graziers in Smith Valley, NV, will be grazing on over 100 acres of private property off of Highway 50 through September and October of 2020 in an extreme wildfire risk area.

The meaning and symbolism of objects found on a traditional Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) altar will be presented from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Nevada State Museum, Carson City. Museum Curator of Education Mina Stafford will deliver the program on this uniquely Mexican holiday and how it has evolved over time. Also at the event, the museum will announce plans for this year’s Dia de Los Muertos celebration.

With 642 fires having burned 229,409 acres in Nevada so far this year, and wildfires continuing to threaten homes and lives across the West, University of Nevada, Reno Extension’s Living With Fire Program continues its virtual workshop series, “Five Ways to Prepare Your Family and Property for Wildfire.”

This fall, bring home the beauty of Nevada’s natural landscape! Operated by the Nevada Division of Forestry, the State Tree Nursery in Washoe Valley has a great selection of Nevada-friendly plants available for purchase. All plants are grown and maintained at the nursery and are conditioned to survive Northern Nevada’s cold winters and hot, dry summers.