Friday March 9, 2012

Restoring oyster habitat does more than just expand the local shellfish population. Without oysters, the Tampa Bay area is facing increased erosion, decreased water quality, and decreased populations of the native fish and birds that rely on oyster communities for food. [Video]

Saturday March 17, 2012

Abandoned crab traps are bad for boaters and for marine life. Mesh traps left behind in the waterways of coastal Louisiana maim or kill large numbers of local sportfish and crabs each year. Derelict traps wash into shallow water and become navigational hazards. [Video]

Friday March 30, 2012

The Ohio River Foundation's mission is to protect and improve the entire Ohio River watershed for humans and wildlife. Reversing the effects of pollution and assessing the health of fish, and their food sources, in tributaries of the river will help to clean up this valuable water source. [Video]

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Water guzzlers—manmade tanks designed to catch and hold water—can sustain wildlife in arid parts of the country during especially dry years. Volunteers with the Quail & Upland Wildlife Federation have been constructing guzzlers in the desert for more than 15 years, positively impacting local populations of blacktail deer, bears, mountain lions, two species of quail, and other wildlife. [Video]

Saturday, April 21, 2012

The Ozark National Forest is recovering from decades of human overuse. Fences left in the forest block wildlife routes while invasive plants beat out native species for dominance of the landscape. [Video]

Saturday, April 28, 2012

The Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates opportunities for Purple Heart recipients to hunt, fish, and enjoy the outdoors. Camp Hackett is a 410-acre spread in northern Wisconsin managed by the WWIA Foundation and home to healthy populations of whitetail deer, ruffed grouse, and a variety of fish and game. [Video]

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Grassland habitat for pheasant, turkey, and duck nesting is disappearing in southern Minnesota, and currently can only be found in state Wildlife Management Areas, Conservation Reserve Program acreage, and native prairie remnants. Any addition to grassland habitat will increase hunting opportunities on public lands in close proximity to the worksite on Kutz prairie parcel. [Video]

Saturday, May 12, 2012

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Hayman Fire, the largest fire in Colorado history. While the land is slowly healing, the devastation from this intense fire continues to impact the surrounding water, plant, and wildlife resources. The soil in the Trail Creek area remains unable to efficiently soak up water, which can lead to flooding, erosion and sediment-filled run-off. [Video]

Saturday, May 19, 2012

The diverse ecosystem of western Nebraska is home to bighorn sheep, elk, deer, waterfowl, and upland birds. Over 16,000 acres of this habitat is protected by Platte River Basin Environments and is open to the public. Last year, Hero For a Day volunteers helped to construct two wildlife water guzzlers and install big game fences on this property. This year, they plan to further improve access to the land's resources. [Video]

Saturday, May 26, 2012

The land around the Cedar River is home to spawning sockeye salmon and other wildlife being threatened by the growth of invasive species, which are displacing important native plants. Volunteers with the organization Friends of the Cedar River Watershed will work to reverse this damage. [Video]