CMYK PAGE 10C
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
OUTDOORS NOTES
OUTDOORS
Rising seniors use fishing tournaments to help others
HUNTS FOR HEALING will host its first Red, White and Blue Rally on Sunday, Aug. 19, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the American Legion Post 510 in Laceyville. The family event will feature a chicken barbecue, hot dogs, hamburgers, raffles, 50/50 drawing and a baked goods sale.
TOM VENESKY OUTDOORS
THE STANLEY COOPER SR. CHAPTER OF TROUT UNLIMITED will be one of several conservation organizations to host a cleanup targeting the Delaware River. Cleanup efforts will take place along the banks of the Monument Pool beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. Volunteers are needed. Meeting place is the River Run parking lot. For more information, email info@fudr.org. NESCOPECK STATE PARk will hold a birds and butterflies walk Aug. 12 with enthusiast Jonathan Debalko. The walk will meander around the butterfly garden and lake in search of birds and butterflies. Wear sturdy walking shoes and bring binoculars if you have them. The park will have a small supply available to borrow. This is also a Junior Bird Club event. Kids ages 9 and up are invited to attend the birds and butterflies program. There is a one-time $5 fee for new members. This club is supported by the Greater Wyoming Valley Audubon Society. If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, contact the park or make inquiries through the Pennsylvania AT&T Relay Service at 888-537-7294 (TTY). Bureau of State Parks staff will gladly discuss how to accommodate your needs. With at least three days notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs. HICKORY RUN STATE PARK NATURALIST MEGAN TAYLOR will host the ninth hike in the 2012 Hickory Run State Park Hiking Series on Aug. 19 at 9 a.m. The 2.5 mile hike is classified as difficult. Meet at the Hawk Falls Trailhead on Route 534, east of the park office. This hike will feature some small but very steep and rocky sections on Hawk Falls and Orchard Trail Loop. For more information, contact Taylor at hickoryrunenvedsp@pa.gov or 570-403-2006. DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES VOLUNTEER DAVID KRUEL will host an early morning beginners bird walk on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 8 a.m., at Nescopeck State Park to celebrate the Global Birding Initiatives “Pledge to Fledge” program. From Aug. 24-26, birders across six continents will be sharing their interest in birds by bringing friends and other non-birders out to truly see and enjoy birds for the first time. The goal of the program is to share enthusiasm toward bird watching to transform non-birders and casual birders into citizens concerned about bird conservation and the environment. This program is free and will meet at the wood bridge near the education center at Nescopeck State Park. A limited number of binoculars will be available. Please wear sturdy shoes and bring water along. Registration is required by calling 403-2006. Outdoors notes items will not be accepted over the telephone. Items may be faxed to 831-7319, dropped off at the Times Leader or mailed to Times Leader, c/o Sports, 15 N, Main St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 187110250.
THE TIMES LEADER www.timesleader.com
Spread of WNS has bats facing perilous future
I CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
Nicole O’Connor looks over a weigh-in area as she prepares to hold a charity bass tournament at Harveys Lake on Aug. 19.
Casting for charity
bass club with little fishing experience and evolve into proven bass angler with several tournaments under his belt. When it came time to choose their “He’s put a tremendous amount of senior project for the upcoming school time and effort into the tournament,” year, Antonio Constantino and Nicole Bowers said. “When he joined the high O’Connor chose to go fishing. school club, he really wanted to be Both students will be utilizing charity involved with everything we do. He’s bass tournaments to meet the requirereally taken what we taught him about ments for their senior project. Constanfishing and the community and has tino, a rising senior at Hanover Area done something good with it.” High School, is working with Fishing As a result, Constantino has spent the for a Cause to organize a tournament at summer working on fundraising for the Lake Winola to raise funds for the St. tournament, posting flyers in local bait Joseph’s Center in Scranton. O’Connor shops and seeking donations from area will be entering her senior year at LakeCLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER businesses. He has already raised more Lehman and will host her own bass Hanover Area High School student Antonio Conthan $700, in addition to several gift tournament at Harveys Lake to raise money for the Catch A Dream Founda- stantino is helping organize a charity bass tourna- certificates and prize donations. ment for his senior project. Constantino, on the “I didn’t think it was as much work as tion. it is,” Constantino said. “I think I met For Constantino and O’Connor, who right, is pictured with Fishing for a Cause member are both avid anglers, the projects were George Bowers with materials promoting the tour- my hour requirement for the project ney. already, but I’m not going to stop. I’ll be a way to combine their love of fishing at the tournament early in the morning into something that helps others. weren’t limited to bass lures and techniques. helping set up and be there all day.” Quick learner It’s one day that Constantino doesn’t mind Under club instructors George Bowers, John watching others fish while he stays on shore. Centak and John Nealon, Constantino Constantino, 17, didn’t get into fishing “The money raised from the tournament learned how to use fishing to help others. until five years ago, when he and his cousin for St. Joe’s really helps out the kids that are “The kids in the club are involved with fished the Susquehanna River for smallthere,” Constantino said. “If it can put a charity work and helping out the communimouth bass. smile on their faces, that’s the biggest thing ty,” Bowers said. “That’s an important part It was a new endeavor for Constantino, … bigger than fishing.” of it.” one that would quickly grow into an addicAnd that’s one reason why Constantino, tion. Turnout the final goal who hopes to major in engineering at Penn “I just really enjoyed going out there and O’Connor began planning her bass tournaState or Wilkes, chose to get involved with getting away from everything,” he said. “It ment in March. That’s when she decided to the St. Joseph’s tournament to fulfill his was just a great way to experience nature.” hold a charity tournament at Harveys Lake Soon after, Constantino joined the Hanov- senior project requirements. for her senior project. Not that he wasn’t involved already. er Area Bass Club and his angling skills were Since then, O’Connor, 17, has been busy “I’ve been helping out with the tournahoned. seeking donations from area businesses, “Fishing can be as basic or complex as you ment for three years, and I figured since I posting flyers, advertising and learning how was doing that I’d get more in-depth with it make it,” Constantino said. “My favorite and take on more responsibilities,” Constan- to run a bass tournament. place to fish is the river, and I like to go Now there’s one more goal left to accompretty in-depth with it in regards to the baits tino said. Such ambition doesn’t surprise Bowers, and techniques I use.” who has watched Constantino come to the But Constantino’s lessons at the club See CHARITY, Page 11C By TOM VENESKY tvenesky@timesleader.com
W E E K LY B A S S T O U R N A M E N T R E S U LT S Suskie Bassmasters boat launch; for more information, call Duke Dalley at 991-0080): (Every Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. at the Nesbitt Park Boat Launch in Wilkes-Barre; July 25 results www.suskiebassmasters.com or (33 boats, 51 anglers): www.teamrosencrans.org): 1. John Niezgoda - 3.65-pound smallmouth July 25 results: 1. Chuck Saypack - 171⁄8 inches, 2.38 2. Duane Craig - 3.48-pound largemouth pounds 3. Josh Cragle - 3.18-pound largemouth 2. Ed Mrochko - 151⁄8 inches, 1.79 pounds 4. (tie) Greg Mikulski Sr. - 3.15-pound 3. Chris Ostrowski - 15¾ inches, 1.71 pounds largemouth 4. Lynda Morris - 155⁄8 inches, 1.71 pounds 4. (tie) Rob Polishan - 3.15-pound small5. Lori Mrochko- 151⁄8 inches, 1.69 pounds mouth Small fish winner – Larry Fetterhoof – 5.Gary Mikulski - 2.84-pound largemouth 125⁄8 inches, 0.83 pounds Standings Standings (total weight in pounds): (total weight in pounds): 1. Greg Mikulski 16.62 1. Chris Ostrowski - 9.00 2. Dave Brill 14.83 2. Chuck Saypack - 8.75 3. Gary Mikulski - 12.99 3. Andy Nealon - 8.51 4. Greg Mikulski Sr. - 11.54 4. Jeremy Miller - 8.31 5. Jim Roberts - 11.20 5. Donnie Parsons III - 8.18 6. Mike Adamshick - 10.55 6. Lori Mrochko - 8.15 7. Ken Kosloski - 10.48 7. Jim Lacomis - 8.09 8. John Niezgoda - 10.17 8. John Centak - 7.83 9. Joe Kosloski - 9.36 9. Anthony Glazenski - 7.82 10. Tom Brawlchick - 9.05 10. Ray Jones - 7.56 Harveys Lake Wednesday Night Bass Tournament (Every Wednesday, 6-9 p.m. at the state
UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS • Fishing for a Cause
Bass tournament at Lake Winola on Aug. 5, 6 a.m. to noon. For more information, contact George Bowers at 824-8032 or Bob Hawkins at bob.hawkins@wnep.com. Proceeds benefit St. Joseph’s Center in Scranton. • Catching Dreams at Harveys Lake Tournament Aug. 19, registration begins at 5 a.m. and tournament runs from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.; open buddy tournament; all proceeds benefit Catch A Dream Foundation. For more information, call Nicole O’Connor at 639-7114 or Clarence Hogan at 793-5187. • A bass tournament will be held at White Oaks Pond in Wayne County on Aug. 26, at the PFBC boat launch. Registration opens at 4:30 a.m. and tournament runs from safe light until 1 p.m. Fee is $40 per team and a $10 lunker option. For more information, contact Vincent Sabatini at basslunker40@aol.com, or Christopher Jones at bigbuck326@aol.com or 991-6176. • PA BassCasters Lake Carey Open Buddy Tournament on Sept. 2; Begins at safe light and weigh-in is at 2 p.m.; registration and boat check open at 4:45 a.m.
s it possible to protect an animal that is despised by many? That’s the question the Pennsylvania Game Commission is facing as bats could be headed toward the state’s threatened and endangered species list. Misconceptions have made bats more despised than appreciated, forming deadly mindsets similar to those that surround snakes and spiders, which are often chopped or crushed at first sight. But now, thanks to a deadly disease that is wiping out bat colonies in several states, it’s time to change the mindset about the winged mammals. No longer can bats afford to be despised … they need to be saved. Since white-nose syndrome – a fungus that kills bats in their winter hibernacula, was discovered in 2006, more than one million have perished. And the death toll is undoubtedly rising. There is really no way to treat bat colonies affected with the fungus, and it has already spread through several states, Pennsylvania included. Locally, the fungus appeared in the winter of 2008-09 and the following year bat mortality was reported in virtually every county in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Traditional hibernation areas in Shickshinny, Plymouth and Glen Lyon were devastated, and some colonies were completely wiped out. That same winter, in Carbon County, PGC biologist Kevin Wenner said that so many bats were killed by the fungus that it “was a nightmare.” And that’s why the PGC board may soon be faced with the decision to list bats on the threatened and endangered list. Based on sheer mortality alone, the answer would be yes. But it’s not that simple. Placing bats on the list would afford them protection, but it may severely restrict what humans can do if they have bats in their attic, for example. Removing a bat from a house or tearing down an abandoned building where they are known to roost may not be that simple anymore. Balancing human impacts with saving a species on a rapid decline represents a major predicament. And it gets even more complicated. If a remedy, or at the least a control measure, isn’t found for white-nose syndrome, protecting the places where bats reside may be a moot point anyhow. Protecting the summer maternity sites, where female bats are now rearing their pups, seems like a good first step. But any progress derived from the measure could be negated if the whitenose fungus wipes out those same bats in their winter hibernacula. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution to the problems facing bats. The results of just how bad things are can be seen, or not, in the summertime skies. Evenings when dozens of bats were commonly seen darting after insects are now vacant of activity. I’ve gotten several emails from readers who were so excited just to see a bat anymore that they wanted to share the sighting. They felt that just seeing a bat in this day and age was noteworthy. Unfortunately, it is. Listing bats on the threatened and endangered list likely won’t be the cure-all and there will be some major challenges with the action. But it’s one that needs to be done. At the very least, it shows that we can put our misconceptions aside and protect an animal that is rapidly vanishing from the evening sky. To do nothing at all and let bats continue to perish is something to truly despise.
Tom Venesky covers the outdoors for The Times Leader. Reach him at tvenesky@timesleader.com