Lifestyle

Photo by Randy Mitchell A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from flowers. 

Photo by Randy Mitchell A monarch butterfly drinks nectar from flowers. 

Randy’s Natural World

News Staff
Monday, October 3, 2022
Big happenings at Hackberry Flat   Well, it's that time of year again, when the monarch butterflies make their southerly journey through Oklahoma. And one of the best places to take it all in is at Hackberry Flat Wildlife Management Area near Frederick.
A hackberry emperor butterfly clings to a brick wall. Note the overall orange color with dark coloring on the outer portions of the forewings. This individual is almost certainly a male as females are more faded and have less orange coloring. Also note the large black spot surrounded by an orange ring on each forewing. The similar in appearance tawny emperor does not have those spots on the forewings. Photo by Randy Mitchell

A hackberry emperor butterfly clings to a brick wall. Note the overall orange color with dark coloring on the outer portions of the forewings. This individual is almost certainly a male as females are more faded and have less orange coloring. Also note the large black spot surrounded by an orange ring on each forewing. The similar in appearance tawny emperor does not have those spots on the forewings. Photo by Randy Mitchell

Randy’s Natural World

News Staff
Friday, September 23, 2022
The hackberry emperor is a common butterfly, especially this time of year. It is so named because its caterpillars feed exclusively on the leaves of hackberry trees. This species, Asterocampa celtis, is easy to attract using fermenting fruit, especially watermelon and its rinds.
Photos by Lisa Carroll, Elgin Animal Welfare Coordinator

Photos by Lisa Carroll, Elgin Animal Welfare Coordinator

Pet Of The Week

News Staff
Friday, September 16, 2022
Two of Elgin most loved pets are still seeking their furever home. Sister and Ace are two energetic young canines who enjoy playing together. Sister, a young, spayed chocolate lab mix, has been at the shelter since January. She plays well outside and loves getting dirty.
PHOTO 1 CAPTION Photo by Randy Mitchell A common wood-nymph clings to a fallen twig on a forest floor. Note the yellowish area on the forewing which has two large black spots, but only one is visible in this photo.

PHOTO 1 CAPTION Photo by Randy Mitchell A common wood-nymph clings to a fallen twig on a forest floor. Note the yellowish area on the forewing which has two large black spots, but only one is visible in this photo.

Randy’s Natural World

News Staff
Friday, September 16, 2022
Nymph moths and butterflies   This week, I’ll be featuring two species: one a moth and one a butterfly. Sometimes, I wish to feature a certain creature, but either little information is known about the species, or not much information is available.

Lake Report

News Staff
Friday, September 16, 2022
Ellsworth: Sep 11. Elevation is 2 ft. below normal (stable); water temperature 86°F and murky. Black and white crappie fair on jigs, minnows around brush structure, docks, standing timber; blue and channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, shad around flats, points, rocks.
Photos by Lisa Carroll, Elgin Animal Welfare Coordinator

Photos by Lisa Carroll, Elgin Animal Welfare Coordinator

Pet Of The Week

News Staff
Friday, September 9, 2022
Handsome, huggable Hunter   Hunter is an about two-year-old white and tan Pointer and a lover of all people including kids, other canines, and yes, even kittens. With a quiet, easygoing personality, he likes to give and receive affection. He is all-around great dog for any family.
Photo by Randy Mitchell A male, right, and female bufflehead swim along on a cloudy day. Note the large white patch of the male which runs from about each eye around the back of the head. Although the male’s head is black, when the sun shines on the dark coloring, it has a purple and green iridescence which is quite spectacular. 

Photo by Randy Mitchell A male, right, and female bufflehead swim along on a cloudy day. Note the large white patch of the male which runs from about each eye around the back of the head. Although the male’s head is black, when the sun shines on the dark coloring, it has a purple and green iridescence which is quite spectacular. 

Randy’s Natural World

News Staff
Friday, September 9, 2022
The Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge not only has buffaloes, but also buffleheads during fall and winter. Don’t you hate writing like that? I do, and I’m sorry you had to read that.

Elk hunt applications due by Sept. 16

News Staff
Friday, September 9, 2022
LAWTON – Applications for Lawton’s elk hunt are now available to the public. Applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. Sept. 16 to the Lawton city clerk’s office, 212 SW Ninth St., or the Parks and Recreation Lakes Division at 23510 state Highway 58, Lawton. The drawing will be held at 4:15 p.m.

Fishing Report

News Staff
Friday, September 9, 2022
Ellsworth: Sept. 4. Elevation is 2 ft. below normal (stable); water temperature 86°F and murky.

Continued drought affecting crops

News Staff
Friday, September 2, 2022
Rainfall totals in Oklahoma averaged 0.35 of an inch for the week of Aug. 22-28, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The Aug.
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