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Researcher Michael Zeiler with GreatAmericanEclipse.com estimated between 84,000 and 337,000 people will visit the Natural State to view the solar eclipse. (Adil/AdobesStock)

Arkansans encouraged to observe birds, wildlife behavior during solar eclipse

On Monday, Arkansans will have the opportunity to witness a once-in-a-lifetime event, a total solar eclipse. It will be visible along a narrow track …

Native plantings and green spaces in urban and suburban areas promote bird diversity, abundance, breeding success and survivorship. (Samuel/AdobeStock)

Migratory bird species will soon flock to the Natural State

Spring marks the season for annual migrations for numerous bird species, with Arkansas hosting a total of 428 avian varieties. Experts said …

Since the most recent avian influenza outbreak began, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates almost 82 million birds have been affected in 47 states. (Anton Dios/Adobe Stock)

Avian flu outbreak highlights need for improved wildlife disease tracking

In the wake of the latest, highly contagious bird flu outbreak in Arkansas and across the country, Congress is considering a bill to improve the …

Last month, the U.S. Economic Development Administration committed a $1.2 million grant, matched by $1 million from Arkansas, to expand the Greenhouse Outdoor Recreation Program across four Opportunity Zones. (Nicholas & Geraldine/Adobe Stock)<br />

Arkansas Initiative aims to expand outdoor recreation, boost economy

The Natural State Initiative latest report recommends increasing access to outdoor recreation, which will help grow the state's economy. The …

The last United States Christmas Bird Counts reported 671 species, 70 infraspecific forms and 35 exotic species. (Bonniemarie/Adobe Stock)

’Tis the season for Christmas bird count in Arkansas

If you want to contribute to more than a century of science about the feathered friends in your community, the National Audubon Society's 124th …

Duck hunting season is already underway in Arkansas and the Natural State is home to five major classes of wetlands based on water source, geology and landscape position. (Ajamils/AdobeStock)

Duck hunting faces environmental crossroads after spring SCOTUS ruling

Arkansas and other states are dealing with the fallout from a Supreme Court decision in May, which effectively removed federal protections for more …

According to the BirdCast Migration Dashboard, more than 100,000 birds migrated through Arkansas skies this week. (Robert McAlpine/Adobe Stock)<br />

AR tower has unique mission: tracking birds as they migrate

Arkansas is part of an international collaboration that uses automated radio signals to track the migration of birds, bats and insects. It's called …

The National Audubon Society report states that if meaningful action is taken now to stabilize the <br />climate, 76% of climate-vulnerable bird species will experience less range loss. (Kevin/AdobeStock)

Report: Audubon Call to Action for Renewable Energy, Bird Protection

A new report highlights the need for more electric transmission, while showing how it can be implemented without hurting our feathered friends…

More than 1,600 U.S. species are already listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, including 37 species in Arkansas. (David McGowen/AdobeStock)

Bipartisan Bill Could Save 377 Species of Wildlife in Arkansas

Bipartisan wildlife legislation that was recently reintroduced would provide unprecedented conservation funding to states across the U.S. The …

Chronic wasting disease has been found in deer, elk and moose in at least 26 states. (Adobe Stock)

Congress Could Provide Funds to Manage CWD in Arkansas Deer Herds

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer and elk is a growing problem in Arkansas, and conservation groups hope bills making their way through Congress …

Conservationists say the Recovering America's Wildlife Act could support improvements to water quality in the Ozarks, including the Buffalo National River. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Act Could Boost AR Conservation, Advocates Say

ST. JOE, Ark. -- More than a decade of restoration efforts in a section of Northern Arkansas' Ozark National Forest have led to 40 new species of …

The Recovering America's Wildlife Act proposes allocating nearly $1.4 billion across all 50 states, and another 97 million a year for tribal nations.(Adobe Stock)

As More Venture Out in AR, Groups Work to Protect Habitat, Wildlife

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Arkansans are turning to nature in record numbers during the pandemic, and supporters of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act (…

According to the American Veterinary Association, animal health authorities are finding Chronic Wasting Disease in more counties each year. (Adobe Stock)

As Chronic Wasting Disease Spreads, Stricter Management Proposed

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A disease in the same family as Mad Cow Disease is spreading among deer, and this week state officials will decide on new rules …

Additional parts of the Flatside Wilderness may soon get permanent protection, more than 30 years after lawmakers established the current boundaries. (Kirk Wasson)

Bill Expanding Flatside Wilderness Goes to President's Desk

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — A bill is now on President Donald Trump's desk that would expand the Flatside Wilderness - about 50 miles west of central …

The average worker bee produces only about one-twelfth teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture/Flickr)

Arkansas Bees Feel the Sting of Parasites, Pesticides

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas beekeepers may be hearing less buzz from their hives this spring. A new survey by the Bee Informed Partnership …

Dozens of migratory waterfowl and other species, many of them endangered, can be found at the Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge in Central Arkansas. (USFWS)

Report: Toxic Pesticides Used on Leases in Fragile Wildlife Refuges

CLARKEDALE, Ark. – Commercial farms leased in many national wildlife refuges, including several in Arkansas, have been sprayed with nearly a …

The Bobwhite Quail is one of 377 species in Arkansas which, due to habitat loss, are at risk of becoming extinct. (USFWS)

Study Finds One in Three U.S. Species at Risk of Extinction

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A new report warns that as many as one-third of wildlife species in America are in crisis but with funding, their recovery …

A new report says more retailers are selling bee-friendly plants, raised without using insecticides. (Bee Aware)

More Retailers Backing Sales of "Bee-Friendly" Plants

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — New tests found significant decreases in the use of bee-killing pesticides on "bee-friendly" plants. That’s good news …

A couple of groups have come forward in opposition to six large broiler chicken houses proposed for the Strawberry River Watershed. (univar.edu)

Groups Threaten Suit to Stop Arkansas Factory Chicken Farm

EVENING SHADE, Ark. – A lawsuit could be filed before summer wraps up over plans to build a new poultry plant in Northeast Arkansas. The …

The Ozarks are providing researchers a good mix of conifer and deciduous trees to study the effects of warming temperatures on forests. Here, they're checking a white oak. (Columbia University Earth Institute)

Will Our Trees Survive the Warming Temps?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A crew of scientists from Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory has been making its way through the Ozark …

Arkansas is getting a share of $1.1 billion in wildlife funds being distributed to states by the federal government. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Federal Money to Help AR Restore Waterfowl, Wildlife Habitat

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Money from taxes on guns, ammunition and fishing equipment is being doled out to all 50 states to be used to help protect fishing…

PHOTO: Halloween wraps up National Bat Week. The northern long-eared bat, found in Arkansas, has been proposed for an Endangered Species Act listing. Credit: StevenThomas/National Park Service

Busting Bat Myths in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Bats are one of the stars for Halloween celebrations tonight, and part of this week's "National Bat Week" observance is bat myth-…

PHOTO: The monarch butterfly is one of the species seen in Arkansas this time of year listed in a new report about plants and animals experiencing dramatic population declines. Photo credit: National Park Service

Peak Time for Monarch Migration

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Arkansas is a popular stopover for monarch butterflies migrating south. Two monarch flyways converge on the state, and this is …

PHOTO: A new report from the National Wildlife Federation outlines how climate change is connected to a proliferation of menacing outdoor pests, such as the Asian tiger mosquito which is found in Arkansas. Photo credit: CDC/James Gathany

Report Claims Pests Proliferate Due to Climate Change

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Climate change is connected to all kinds of creepy-crawly critters, with a new National Wildlife Federation report detailing how …

PHOTO: The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality is seeking comments on whether they should stop new large hog feeding operations in the Buffalo River watershed. CREDIT: thecitywire.com.

ADEQ: Should Big New Hog Feeders Be Banned Near Buffalo River?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality is seeking public comment on a permanent prohibition on new, confined hog-…

PHOTO: A new report finds Arkansas businesses have more to lose from disruptions caused by climate change than the costs associated with proposed EPA carbon standards. Photo courtesy of Taneli Rajala / Wikimedia Commons.

Report: Climate Change Disruptions Costing Arkansas Businesses Millions

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The proposed EPA rule to reduce carbon pollution from power plants won't be free - but allowing climate change to continue …

PHOTO: Conservationists want people to connect to the Buffalo River, because they say that will help protect it. Picture courtesy of thecitywire.com

Raising the Profile of the Buffalo River to Protect It

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Faced with possible contamination from a huge confined hog feeding operation, fans of the Buffalo River are bringing …

PHOTO: A new rule clarifying where the Clean Water Act applies seems to be drawing a lot of support from farmers like Steph Larsen, seen here watering her sheep. Photo courtesy of Steph Larsen.

Support Grows for “Clearing the Waters” of the Clean Water Act

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A change in federal clean-water rules appears to be popular with some major stakeholders, especially farmers, hunters and anglers…

PHOTO: As more farmers across the state and the country turn to cover crops, the latest trend of mixing species can have an even greater impact. Photo credit: Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Farmers Start to Mix It Up: Cover Crop "Cocktails"

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The use of cover crops is having positive effects on the environment and farmers' bottom lines - and it appears the latest trend …

PHOTO: A lawsuit over government subsidies for a huge confined pig operation next to this tributary of the Buffalo River says hog waste run-off could damage the pristine water of a national park that draws a million visitors annually.

Lawsuit: Should Tax Money Pay to Put Buffalo River at Risk?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - A lawsuit against government subsidies for a factory hog farm near a pristine Arkansas river argues that taxpayer money is being …

PHOTO: Swat it! Or better yet, prevent it. The experts say the best protection from the more than 55 mosquito species native to Arkansas is prevention, by eliminating sources of standing water. Photo credit: Joaquim Alves Gaspar.

Mosquito Control? Tough but Not Impossible in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Since the first part of May, much of Arkansas has been walloped with severe weather, including flash floods. That means now it's …

PHOTO: When the Sierra Club and Audubon Arkansas settled with SouthWest Power over construction of a coal fired power plant, eight million dollars was directed to The Nature Conservancy for the purchase and preservation of lands. The first tract from with that funding, the Terra Noire Preserve, is dedicated today. CREDIT: TNC of Arkansas

Terre Noire Preserve Dedication: Room to Roam for People to Birds

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – There is not much native prairie left in Arkansas, but a new tract to come under protection is being opened to the public …

PHOTO: The Blue-Headed Vireo is one of the birds

Are Arkansas' Backyard Birds at Risk?

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - From their beautiful songs to their stunning colors, birds are putting on their best displays this time of year in Arkansas…

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 17, 2024

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AR: Endangered Species & Wildlife