SPORTS
OUTDOORS: Scientists seek help tracking monarch butterflies
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department biologists are asking for the public’s help in monitoring monarch butterflies.
Since monitoring of wintering monarch butterfly populations in the Mexican states of Michoacan and Mexico began in 1993, the World Wildlife Fund has documented a decline in such activity – reaching an all-time low last winter.
Monarch decline has been attributed to factors including illegal logging, extreme weather conditions in wintering and breeding grounds and a decline in milkweed abundance here in Texas.
Biologists from the TPWD Wildlife Diversity Program recently launched a project to explore Texas milkweed – determining where it is, how much is out there and are monarchs using it.
The project arose from concerns that herbicide-resistant crops are resulting in an increased use of herbicide to control weeds and a loss of milkweed in that region.
Loss of milkweed is significant since it is the only plant monarch caterpillars can eat.
The project is housed on the Internet application iNaturalist.org, a platform researchers are using who ask for citizen assistance in supporting their work.
When people see milkweed in their travels, they can take a photograph, add it to the project and answer four questions stemming from your observation.
They do not even have to know any of the more than 40 species of milkweed found in Texas.
Through the project, the Wildlife Diversity Program hopes to produce a map showing where milkweed is found in Texas, what species of milkweed people are finding, whether it is natural or cultivated, and if monarchs are using it. Patterns in agricultural areas and urban communities will be examined.
For information, see the Texas Milkweeds and Monarchs project website on iNaturalist.org.
Monarch butterfly. (Courtesy photo by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)
Bowie, playing on a short rest, held with host Jacksboro for most of the volleyball match Oct. 1, but the Tigerettes pulled away late and defeated the Lady Rabbits 3-1 (26-24, 12-25, 25-14, 22-25).
The match was scheduled for Oct. 2 but was moved. Both teams are now 2-2 in District 6-3A.
Jacksboro got out to a quick lead in game one before Olivia Stewart’s kill and a three-point Olivia Richey serving run put the visitors up 8-7. Junior Abby Reneau broke things open with a six-point string to give Bowie a 15-8 cushion and force Jacksboro into a timeout.
The Tigerettes came back and took an 18-16 lead. KP Rutherford’s kill broke the serve and allowed Molly Enlow to tie the game at 18.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Gold-Burg Football Coach Austin Norman called his Bears’ 35-32 loss to host Perrin a “barn burner”.
It most definitely was as Gold-Burg, now 1-5 for the year gave the 5-1 Pirates everything they wanted for four quarters. Gold-Burg scored on the last play of the first half on a Peyton Epperson run with the two point conversion cutting the deficit to 20-16.
The Bears were their own worst enemy to open the third quarter with face mask and offside penalties moving the Pirates downfield setting up a first-and-goal at the Bear three. Defense by Epperson, Keelyn Case and Barrett Allen and a pair of Perrin penalties helped stop the drive and force a turnover on downs.
Gold-Burg was slapped with an intentional grounding penalty on the first play, giving Perrin a safety and extending the Pirate lead to 22-16. Defense by Epperson and JoJuan Grace after a first down run closed out the third quarter.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
Nocona and Prairie Valley cross country teams took part in the Prairie Valley Invitational Sept. 20 while Bowie varsity runners competed in the Lubbock Invitational.
Lubbock
Leading the Rabbits was Kellen Rater who finished 10th among 162 runners with a time of 17:24.50. Finishing behind Rater was Shawn Willett with a time of 19:33.20. Hayden Sutton ran a 20:27.10 followed by Taven Melton in 20:39.20, Coleman Holloway in 20:53.80 and Jaxon Castro with a time of 21:31.60.
Laney Segura led the Lady Rabbits with a time of 14:41.30. She was followed by Kylee Waldrep in 15:56.80, Bella Lozano in 16:04.80, Angeles Alvarez with a time of 16:15.40, AnDee Miller in 16:23.70 and Isabella Caswell in 16:51 flat.
For further details, pick up a copy of Thursday’s Bowie News.
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