OUTDOOR BRIEFS

LEARNING OPPORTUNITY

Introduction to fly-fishing class slated

The Nevada Department of Wildlife will be having a free introduction to fly-fishing class Aug. 15-16. This class is set up into two parts, with the first part at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the NDOW Las Vegas office, 4747 Vegas Drive. A second portion, which covers casting skills, will be at Floyd Lamb Park at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 16.

Class size is limited, so registration is required. For more information and registration, contact Ivy Santee at 486-5127, ext. 3503. Registration begins at 8 a.m. Monday.

SHORT LIFE SPAN IN CAPTVITY

Horned lizards don't make good pets

Kids who grow up in the desert often spend their time collecting the lizards. One lizard that is especially interesting and popular among youthful collectors is the horned lizard. Often called horned toad lizards or horny toads, they are not really toads at all. These odd-looking lizards are actually related to iguanas.

The horned lizard's broad, flattened bodies make them appear like frogs or toads, and they are about the same size. They also have a short tail and horns, or spines on top of their head and on their back, something like a little dinosaur. The desert horned lizard lives throughout the state of Nevada, except in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

These little creatures can live 5 to 8 years in the wild, but in captivity they will die quickly. The reason for this is that they have to eat a great number of a certain species of harvester ants. It is also difficult to provide the right habitat for them.

DIFFERENT KIND OF TOURISM

Partnership capitalizes on natural attractions

A new partnership of municipalities and agencies is hoping to draw tourists to Southern Nevada for the purposes of birding and wildlife watching. By providing important travel information, the Southern Nevada Birding and Wildlife Trails Partnership is hoping that many people will visit areas along the US 93/95 corridors to enjoy natural sites known for wildlife species.

Cherie Westbrook, with the Laughlin Visitors Bureau, spearheaded the partnership with the assistance of Steve Weaver and Barbara Rhode of Cathedral Gorge State Park. In an effort to increase visitation, Westbrook decided to capitalize on the natural attractions of this riverfront city.

Partners include the Laughlin Tourism Committee, Outside Las Vegas Foundation, Red Rock Audubon Society, Nevada State Parks, Nevada Department of Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rivers and Trails Conservation Assistance Program, Natural Resource Conservation Service and Southern Nevada Water Authority, as well as local business owners.

For more information on Southern Nevada's birding and wildlife watching opportunities, contact Westbrook at (702) 892-0711 or visit the partnership's Web site at www.snbwtp.org.