OUTDOOR BRIEF

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Free fly-tying workshop scheduled

Want to tie your own flies?

The Nevada Department of Wildlife will be having a free fly-tying workshop at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 9. This hands-on, entry-level course will teach participants the basics of tying fishing flies.

Students will learn what equipment, materials, and techniques are needed to create fishing flies. All equipment and materials necessary for the class will be provided. The class will be at the NDOW office located at 4747 Vegas Drive (just east of Decatur Boulevard). For registration and more information, contact 486-5127, Ext. 3503 weekdays.

STILL TIME

Shooting space still available at Range Day

Hunters looking for a place to sight-in their firearms before the upcoming big game seasons are in luck. There is still space available at the Nevada Department of Wildlife Range Day slated for Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Desert Sportsman's Rifle & Pistol Club.

A maximum of 20 shooters will be allowed each hour and each shooter can reserve at least one hour of range time. Club range officers and NDOW hunter education instructors will be on hand to ensure safety guidelines are followed and to assist shooters with the sight-in process if needed. To reserve a range time, shooters need to call Martin Olson at the NDOW Southern Region office, 486-5127, Ext. 3501.

MAKE CAREFUL CHOICES

Some frogs don't belong in classroom

Hoping to foster students' curiosity and desire to learn, teachers often order various species of frogs, fish, tarantulas, lizards and other creatures to have on display where their students can watch them grow and learn about biology. As a rule, little attention is paid to the species of live animals placed in aquariums and habitats in classrooms.

Recently, however, some Nevada teachers were surprised to learn the frogs they had in their classrooms were actually a prohibited species. This came to light after Nevada Department of Wildlife game wardens seized several African clawed frogs from a residence in Reno. After seeing the news reports, teachers contacted NDOW to report that they had purchased the same species for their classrooms. Those frogs were turned over to game wardens.

"The African clawed frog is a large and voracious feeder that can have significant impacts on native wildlife. If any of these animals were released into one of Nevada's warm springs, these frogs could consume every aquatic native animal in this fragile ecosystem," said NDOW Wildlife Education Coordinator Margie Klein. "The clawed frog is also suspected to carry a disease in the slime covering their bodies."

Amphibians worldwide are at risk from contagious diseases, and their numbers are decreasing. Biologists are worried that since they are near the bottom of the food chain, casualties of frogs may indicate general poor health of aquatic ecosystems.

Fred Henson, a NDOW game warden assigned to the investigation, said the release of exotic species into native ecosystems is a big problem. Aquarium fish such as goldfish, red shiners and the short-finned molly have been released into springs, ponds, and lakes around Nevada. Henson has seen alligators that have been found in local waters.

"Reputable biological supply companies and local pet stores should be familiar with Nevada's laws regarding the sale and possession of wildlife. Teachers who purchase animals from stores or online suppliers should review those laws as well. Those who don't are putting nature at risk," said Doug Nielsen, an NDOW spokesman.

Parents should also do a little checking when a teacher offers to send an animal home with their child. They should be aware of what the animal species is and whether it's legal to have in the first place, Nielsen said.

The list of species prohibited in the Silver State can be found in the Nevada Administrative Code, Chapter 503, Section 110. This can be viewed online at the Nevada Law Library Web site, www.leg.state.nv.us/NAC/NAC-503.html#NAC503Sec110.

DANGEROUS SPECIES

Wardens seize piranhas from home

Game wardens with the Nevada Department of Wildlife seized nine red-bellied piranhas from a Las Vegas home during a recent investigation.

Red-bellied piranhas (Pygocentrus) are a prohibited species in Nevada and pose a danger to people and native species if they are released into the wild. Charges are pending, and the investigation continues as game wardens ensure all the fish have been found.

"No one wants to have to worry about piranha in Lake Mead, and we take these prohibited species laws very seriously," said Lt. David Pfiffner, a game warden from Las Vegas who headed the investigation.

Game wardens have seized piranha on several occasions throughout Nevada in the past few years. Game wardens are concerned that piranha could be released into Nevada lakes and establish a wild population of piranha in Nevada waters, according to Pfiffner. NDOW often deals with exotic species and prohibited species that pose a threat to native fish and wildlife.

Anyone with information on piranha or other prohibited species should contact NDOW through the Operation Game Thief Hot Line at (800) 992-3030.