Outdoor News Daily

What may have begun for a Georgia alligator as a day of sunning on the banks of the marsh ended with the approximately 5-foot long reptile nearly 20 miles out to sea, drifting in an area usually roamed by right whales, sea turtles and other marine life.

Heavy rains that washed marsh wrack and other debris miles into the sea from the mouth of the Altamaha River may be to blame for the bizarre event.

Researchers conducting North Atlantic right whale work spotted the alligator on March 9. At first, whale observers Monica Zani and Heather Foley thought the animal was debris, a partially submerged tire or possibly a dead alligator washed out to sea. After getting closer, they realized the gator was very much alive and still able to dive for short distances.
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A female wolverine, first spotted in the Thumb in Feb. 24, 2004, was found dead by hikers at the Minden Bog in the Minden City State Game Area Saturday.

Todd Rann of Marysville and Morgan Graham of New Baltimore spotted what they thought was a dead beaver, partially submerged in the water near a beaver dam. Rann pulled it from the water and realized it was a wolverine. The pair called the Report All Poaching hot line. Department of Natural Resources and Environment Conservation Officers Seth Rhodea and Bob Hobkirk responded immediately and retrieved the animal.

The officers reported no visible signs of trauma.
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Various media outlets on Saturday, March 13 reported the accidental shooting of an 12-year-old-boy near the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. While most reports of the incident were accurate, the Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to make certain the public understands the incident did not occur on Ben Avery Shooting Facility and the accidental shooting was self-inflicted.

The Phoenix Police Department said the child was injured around 11 a.m. on Saturday in a desert area west of the Shooting Facility boundary. The child was target shooting with his father and grandfather when the accident occurred.
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The brief Georgia winter provides a great opportunity to get excellent results for crappie fishing, and several reservoirs across the state offer rewards for anglers willing to brave the bitter cold temperatures.

“Anglers searching for crappie need to concentrate on cold weather ‘hot spots’,” says John Biagi, chief of Fisheries Management for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division. “Crappie fishing brings a lot of action which means it is an excellent time to engage the entire family and/or to introduce someone new to the fun aspect of the sport.”

During the winter cold, crappie tend to congregate in deeper water, generally 15-30 feet deep, near the mouths of major tributaries and in the main lake. Large schools are easily located with sonar electronics.
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