The phrase “summer camp” usually brings to mind images of toasted marshmallows, campfires and wobbly canoe trips.
Wildlife
Contaminated shellfish found in Homer harbor
The State Department of Health and Social Services is warning residents to exercise caution when collecting shellfish in Homer harbor.
Prince of Wales Island wolf harvest quota set at 11 animals
The quota for this winter’s annual wolf hunting and trapping season on Prince of Wales Island has been set at 11 animals, up slightly from last year’s quota of nine.
German students explore Alaska through summer Rotary exchange
Two German sisters got a true Alaska experience through summer Rotary exchange.
Washington to exterminate nearly 20% of state’s wolf population
Washington’s Department of Fish and Wildlife plans to kill an entire wolf pack in the northeast corner of the state. The decision comes after at least 12 cattle were killed in the area.
Wasps pose a painful problem in Southcentral Alaska
Southcentral Alaska has seen an increase in wasp activity this year. Mild winters are good for overwintering queens, and more queens means more nests come springtime.
State raises waterfowl bag limits on three species
Starting September 1, bag limits for three waterfowl species will go up as the state takes over for federal managers.
Alaska group works to let locals test shellfish for toxins
Alaska SeaGrant officials are working on a tester for paralytic shellfish poisoning, an illness that can cause tingling in the lips, tongue, fingers and toes and eventual breathing problems. Officials say testing currently costs $125 per test and has a time delay, as samples need to be sent in to the state.
Plankton population and the power of pink salmon
Although plankton might seem like an ecological afterthought, biological oceanographer Sonia Batten disagrees. She calls them the most important organisms in the ocean.
Coast Guard airlifts 2 guides mauled by bear in Alaska
A man and a woman mauled by a bear in Alaska were airlifted by a Coast Guard helicopter to receive medical treatment. The two are wilderness guides who were leading a group of cruise ship passengers on a hike about 30 miles north of Sitka, the Coast Guard said.