The snakes of Nebraska will be displayed and discussed at a workshop from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium.
Dennis Ferraro, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln county extension educator, will display 24 species of snakes found in Nebraska and answer questions. Although mostly unseen in the wild, the snakes play a big role in nature's cycles and are highly beneficial to humans.
Admission to the aquarium is $1 for adults and 50 cents for children. Children 5 years and younger are admitted free. The aquarium is located south of Gretna in Schramm State Park Recreation Area. Call the aquarium at 402-332-3901 for more information.
Bike to Boyer rides feature several events
The annual Bike to Boyer rides are cycling back on the calendar.
The Saturday event features tours of 26, 46 or 66 miles and an eight-mile family fun ride in the Washington County countryside north of Omaha.
Rides start at the Fort Calhoun Fire Hall, where a pancake breakfast is open to the public from 7 to 11 a.m. Pre-registration forms for the distance ride are available at local businesses or online at friendsofboyerdesoto.org.
The event, sponsored by the Friends of Boyer Chute and DeSoto national wildlife refuges, is designed to elevate public awareness of Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge while providing a healthful and fun outdoor experience shared with family and friends. Proceeds will be used for wildlife conservation efforts at Boyer Chute.
Check-in for the longer rides is from 7 to 7:45 a.m. The tours begin at 8 a.m. The route is south adjacent to the Missouri river, through rolling terrain of Ponca Hills, then north along a ridgetop country lane back to Fort Calhoun. Round-trip bonus rides to Blair and Herman add 20 and 40 miles, respectively.
The Family Fun Ride begins at 8:30 a.m. Organizers encourage participants to pack a lunch and walk refuge trails. There will be a drawing at 9:30 a.m. for two youth bikes.
For more information, contact Lori Amberg at 402-426-1353; clamberg@huntel.net.
Opportunity to learn about river otters
The University of Nebraska State Museum will present a program Sunday for children and families that explores what wildlife researchers are uncovering about Nebraska's river otters based on samples of their feces.
The program is part of the museum's Sunday with a Scientist series and will be from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. at Morrill Hall. Morrill Hall is south of 14th and Vine Streets on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
The program, “Poop! Getting to the Bottom of Nebraska's Otter Population,” will be led by Amy Williams, graduate assistant in the school's Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit.
River otters are nocturnal mammals that live along Nebraska's river basins. Otters are one of the state's most reclusive species. They became extinct in Nebraska in the 1900s, primarily due to rampant fur trapping. River otters were re-established in Nebraska by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 1986, yet they remain a state threatened species.
Researchers from the UNL School of Natural Resources and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will share with museum visitors what they have learned from studying genetic imprints in otter feces.
CALENDAR
WEDNESDAY
• Omaha Walking Club in Dundee. Start at 4808 Davenport St. at 6:30 p.m.
• Family Fishing Night, Interstate 80 Lake, North Platte, Neb.
• Lower Platte Archery Club 3D Shoot, Schramm Park State Recreation Area archery range, 6 p.m., free.
THURSDAY
• Family Fishing Night, Walnut Creek Reservoir, Papillion
• Family Fishing Night, Mormon Island State Recreation Area, Grand Island, Neb.
• Cornhusker Fly Fishers fly-tying workshop, 6 to 8 p.m., Cabela's, La Vista
FRIDAY
• Family Fishing Night, Cottonmill Lake, Kearney, Neb.
• National Park Service program, Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area, Crofton, Neb.
• Stargazing Party, Mahoney State Park, Ashland, Neb.
SATURDAY
• Buffalo cookout and entertainment, Niobrara State Park, Niobrara. Neb.
• Calamus Catfish Tournament, Calamus State Recreation Area, Burwell, Neb.
• Snakes of Nebraska weekend, Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Gretna, Neb.
SUNDAY
• Calamus Catfish Tournament, Calamus State Recreation Area, Burwell, Neb.
• Snakes of Nebraska weekend, Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Gretna, Neb.
Please submit Calendar items to outdoors@owh.com or send to Outdoors Sports, World-Herald Sports Dept., 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102.
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