Columnist Paula DelGiudice: Travelers warned of fire danger

Paula DelGiudice

Thursday, July 20, 2000 | 10:29 a.m.

Paula DelGiudice's outdoors column appears weekly. Reach her at PDelGiudice@compuserve.com

Outdoorsmen and women are urged to take extra precautions while enjoying camping, fishing and driving off-road this summer, due to the extremely dry conditions they will encounter.

The Nevada Division of Forestry reports that a lack of precipitation is causing concern this summer. The agency, which keeps a close eye on range conditions in Nevada, is hoping Nevada avoids a repeat of the devastating fires that swept across the state last year.

"Because of the dry conditions, we're anticipating that this fire season could be as bad as last year, which was the worst on record," said John Jones, NDF acting regional manager. "Many fires can be prevented if people will be careful with campfires, camp stoves, cigarettes and when burning debris."

Jones said that hot mufflers and catalytic converters can ignite grasses and brush when driving off-road. Water and a shovel should be carried when in the outdoors as a precaution, and extreme care should be taken to extinguish campfires before leaving the site.

Some fire restrictions are in place. For information on those call NDF's Las Vegas office at 486-5123.

Last year's range fires burned more than one million acres in Nevada, the western state hit hardest. Fires in other states burned thousands of acres.

A version of CARA passed the House of Representatives 315-126 in May. In order to get this legislation enacted during this Congressional session, it's important to let our senators know that you want them to support the bills.

Contact them in writing at: The Hon. Harry Reid or Richard Bryan, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 20510 or at their e-mail addresses: senator]reid@reid.senate.gov or senator@bryan.senate.gov.

"This summer we have more than enough classes to accommodate those hunters who need to take a class before the fall hunts. Hunters who procrastinate may find that they are unable to get into a class," said John McKay, NDOW hunter education coordinator. Class schedules and registration information may be accessed from NDOW's message center in Las Vegas at 486-5127.

"After many generations, pigeons would be expected to revert back to only one or two color morphs," says Dr. Mindy LaBranche, Project PigeonWatch coordinator and researcher.

A stroll along virtually any sidewalk in just about any city in the world reveals that this has not happened. To unravel the mystery, scientists are calling on volunteers to find flocks of feral pigeons that will allow close observation.

Currently there are about 400 groups participating in the project in 10 countries including Canada, Japan, Greece, New Zealand, and Russia,in addition to the United States.

The $15 participation fee helps defray the cost of project materials and research.

To participate call the lab at (800) 843-2473, e-mail cornellbirds@cornell.edu or visit Project PigeonWatch at the lab's website, http://birds.cornell.edu.