Outdoors

By Jeff Lilly, outdoors columnist

Remember how this past winter just seemed to keep hanging on like a dog to a bone? Well, summer and 90-degree temps have made it to the Bluegrass State. Now we get to go from wishing it would warm up a couple months ago to wishing it would cool down a little. Just remember, it’s Kentucky so hang around a day or two and the weather will change.

Bats are beneficial, fun to watch

The stream smallmouth fishing season is in full bloom.

A late spring following a brutally cold winter caused some hit and miss stream smallmouth fishing this past spring. With the warm winds of June now here, stream smallmouth are settling into their summer patterns with water temperatures stabilizing in the mid-70s.

By Kevin Kelly

Ky. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources

It is a few minutes before 6 p.m. on Friday and vehicles continue pulling into the parking lot at the Scott County Extension Center.

An orange sign marked “Hunter Education” confirms the visitors are in the right place and directs them to proceed to the North Room, where a uniformed Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources conservation educator welcomes his new students.

By Lee McClellan

Ky. Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources

It is a demonstration of the best traits of the human race, but can end in error.

At this time of year, people see young wildlife seemingly abandoned by their parents. Deer fawns left alone in a grassy field. Baby birds that fall from their nests, seemingly helpless in your backyard.