I want to wish my two great-grandsons a very Happy Birthday. Noah is 6 years old today, and William David will be 7 tomorrow. They will have a birthday bash tomorrow at Rocky Springs Campground on the Natchez Trace Parkway.
Today, my youngest of four daughters, Marian Suzanne "Suzi" Nicholas, turns 52. She is an excellent Mother to her daughters, Emma (17) and Kate (11) in Virginia. I am so proud of who she has become, and I wish her a happy and blessed birthday. I love you very much, Suzi! Mom xoxo
September 25, 1972
Within two days, two bears were hit and killed by vehicles in Warren County, Vicksburg, MS. MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks were notified. They recently passed through town and were sad that they were killed in our Mississippi outdoors at night.
Anthony Ballard, an officer with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, leads a presentation about black bears.
Following the recent sighting of a black bear near the Old Courthouse Museum in Vicksburg, some residents may be wondering about the status of the black bear in MS and whether or not safety from bears is something to be concerned about.
Anthony Ballard of the MS Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks recently gave a presentation at Crawford Street United Methodist Church about the status of black bears in the area.
According to Ballard, black bears were placed on the federal "threatened and endangered species" list in 1974. By 2016, they had been removed from the list.
Ballard explained that black bears, although they can be cinnamon-colored, are usually black with a brown muzzle. There are two subspecies in MS: the American black bear and the Louisiana black bear. Adult males typically weigh between 250 and 350 pounds. An adult female usually weighs around 200 pounds and gives birth about once every two years. Ballard said cubs are born in the den and spend 12-18 months with their mother before becoming independent.
The most giant bear on record in MS, at 468 pounds, was killed on a roadway in Wilkinson County, Ballard said.
Bears are periodically trapped, tranquilized, and examined. A sample of their DNA is taken, and an overall health assessment is done before a small chip to identify them is implanted.
GPS collars help track the routes bears travel, referred to as "home ranges." Their journeys throughout MS, even into Louisiana territory, and back again are charted on digital maps. Bears are more active in the summer, often traveling hundreds of miles. From this research, Ballard said they have learned not to relocate bears in MS (although other states do) because they are adept at finding their way back.
"This is one of the last great conservation success stories we have," Ballard said. "They were almost extirpated in the state, and what we're doing right now is monitoring that natural growth over time. We hope one day that they reach a number sustainable for harvest, like the Eastern wild turkey, the white-tailed deer, and, more recently, the alligator."
Once a bear crosses into MS, it becomes an "MS bear," as Hunter Fordice found out in 2006 when he received a call that a bear with a tracking device originally from Arkansas had pinged as been on his land, located in the MS Delta. This unexpected finding launched Fordice into the world of black bear conservation.
"It just sort of fell in my lap," Fordice said. He was notified by a previous MDWFP officer, Brad Young, that the bear had been located on his land.
"F920 was a female...caught in Arkansas and relocated to Felsenthal. We don't do that in MS, but Arkansas did. It's about 100 miles due west of my farm. She swam the river with a cub. I saw tracks (of the bear). That was in "06."
For those concerned about interactions with black bears, Ballard advised minimizing attractants.
"There's a good chance (In this area) that you have bears close by, whether you know it or not. It's important to put up pet foods and trash and take them out in the morning rather than the night before. You want to minimize the exposure to an attractant. Bears have a sense of smell about seven times better than dogs. So anything a dog will get into, a bear will get into, and he's even better at it," He added. Bird feeders and even barbecue grills will attract bears.
Confrontation with black bears is extremely rare, Ballard said.
"What we tell people to do, if they encounter a bear in the wild, from a distance, just let the bear go on about its business. The bear will often see or smell you and be gone before you have to deal with the bear. If you're in a situation where the bear gets too close for comfort, it's time to get big and loud and scare it away. If you're worried about it, bear spray is a good thing ... it's safe for the bears and very effective because their sense of smell is compassionate."
Any sightings of black bears may be reported to MDWFP at their website, https://xnet2.mdwfp.com/NRIS/Home/BearReport.
By Sally Green - The Vicksburg Post
Today, I am honored to have a guest post from Joshua Berry, owner of Cane Creek Munitions. Enjoy his article on munitions.
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https://unsplash.com/@pope_moisa
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Alright, folks, in conclusion, if you're into all things gun-related, Cane Creek Munitions is the place you wanna be. This community isn't just about blasting targets; it's about having a squad that's got your back no matter what. From seasoned pros to newbies, everyone's welcome here. And with the latest gear and insider tips, you'll always be on top of your game. So, if you haven't already, what are you waiting for? Come check us out and let's lock and load together! See you on the firing line, shooters!
The size and mass of his head is unreal. MS alligator hunters bag 800-pound giant
Complete story at this link - 'The size and mass of his head is unreal.' MS alligator hunters bag 800-pound giant (newsbreak.com)
Sasser, the tag-holder, was hunting in the Yazoo River near Vicksburg. Her hunting party consisted of her mother and father, Marty and Lauren Sasser of Terry, Justin Pettway of Pelahatchie, Connie Flanagin of Terry and Brandi Robinson of Enterprise.
My former husband Bob took this funny/wet picture of Billy Boykin, Jr., at Brown's Point Hunting Club, Kings Point Island, around the new year about 19 years ago. Bob and I, Billy and his wife Lynn, were the only ones at the camp hunting. All the other hunters were smart and got out in time. The Mississippi River and the backwaters had risen, and the camp was slowly going underwater. We left our vehicles safely on the road and returned to the deer camp to hunt some more. When we got ready to leave the following day, the water was so high that we decided to elect Billy to go and get the boat so we could get out. To get the boat, he had to wade into the cold, frigid water to the other side. It was not funny then for him, but as you can see, he was trying to remove his wet clothes and change them into dry ones. Billy had harvested a deer the day before, and we had to get our guns, etc., out of there. It was an adventure for sure! The look on his face tells it all! His favorite song he would always sing was "I Feel Good,"....but I don't think he was feeling so good at this point in time to sing "I Feel Good"! More like, "I Feel Brrrr Cold!
Mom brings the kids by every night for bread and peanut butter. They love it!
These are pictures of deer in Mike Persichini's backyard in Michigan.
One cool November morning, two hunters take their biggest buck ever.
You start dying slowly ;
Throwback Thursday: This picture of me was taken by my former husband, Robert Phillip (Deceased), in his deer stand, Triple X, at Brown's Point Hunting Club on Kings Point Island in the late 1980s. The stand is no longer there and was washed away by the Mississippi River years ago. We saw a lot of deer off of this stand, which was one of my favorites to hunt from.
"Many have passed away, and those who are still here are called
"the elderly.""
In a Facebook message, Cook posted, "AWARENESS!!! Culkin and Mt Albam area!!! We have a visitor in the area this morning was last seen approx 15 mins ago behind old Culkin school!!! Keep an eye out for your pets and children in the area!!! He or she was not a happy camper!!!!"
The sighting comes as the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks is working with Mississippi State University to conduct a statewide public survey to gain a better understanding of the perceptions surrounding black bears in the state.
The wildlife department said this is the first public survey in the state that addresses bears since the early 2000s.
Click here to read about the Black Bear Program.
My Granddaughter, Sonya Michelle Gordy, turns 40 years old today! She is the firstborn of six granddaughters and was at the hospital when she came into this world at 4:00 a.m. I'm proud to say that she has served our country in the U. S. Navy. I wish her a happy 40th birthday today and hope she has many more returns of the day. I love you, Gran Gran
Happy Father’s Day to all dads!
