Barbour Assists With Black Bear Expedition
Marsha Barbour, Mississippi's First Lady and Chairperson of Wildlife Mississippi's Advisory Council, holds one of two cubs recently born in the Mississippi Delta. This is the first recorded birth of black bear in the Delta in approximately 40 years. Photo by James L. Cummins

On Friday, March 2, Marsha Barbour, Mississippi's First Lady and Chairperson of Wildlife Mississippi's Advisory Council, assisted the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in darting, tagging and releasing a female black bear with two cubs. The expedition took place in Issaquena County on land owned by Hunter and Dan Fordice, the sons of former Governor Kirk Fordice and First Lady Pat Fordice. The land is enrolled in the Wetland Reserve Program.

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THE SKY LAKE BOARDWALK
with Clarke Reed

When our ancestors first arrived in the Lower Mississippi River Valley they were awestruck by the giant cypress that had thrived here for centuries. As they cleared the fertile land, no one in the entire Valley thought to preserve a stand, or even one, of these spectacular trees. They are all gone…or so we thought! Providence and a remote swamp spared the site that contains “some of the largest and oldest baldcypress trees that remain on earth,” according to Dr. David Stahle, Director of the Tree Ring Laboratory at the University of Arkansas.

Sky Lake Wildlife Management Area is located approximately 8 miles north of Belzoni. With our encouragement, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks acquired the 773-acre site that will soon be enlarged to approximately 4,000 acres.

It is imperative that we protect these trees of national and international significance, and provide access for scientists, writers, photographers, wildlife enthusiasts and a host of the rest of us. Consultants tell us to expect thousands of visitors annually.

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Conservation Corner
For the week of May 5, 2008
National Bike Month
with James L. Cummins

National Bike Month is great inspiration and motivation for everyone to get out and cycle, especially as the weather gets better, as we have been witnessing here in Mississippi. The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week from May 12 - 16, 2008, and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 16. Now is a great time to discuss bike safety.

First and foremost, the helmet is a very important piece of safety equipment. Buy a helmet with an ANSI, Snell or ASTM safety approval sticker inside. Improperly wearing a helmet can be more dangerous than not wearing one at all. For a proper fitting helmet, make sure no more than three fingers fit between the chin and the helmet strap.

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