Hal and Fern Cooper WMA: Where the Buffalo Once Roamed
October is Oklahoma Archaeology Month and the Oklahoma Archaeological Survey celebrated with a public lecture in honor of the 25th anniversary of the initial excavations of a bison kill site at the present-day Hal and Fern Cooper Wildlife Management Area in northwestern Oklahoma.
The resulting archaeological digs at three sites within the management area have fundamentally increased our awareness of the hunting strategies of ancient cultures and have provided hints of the social aspects of their kills.
Learn how one phone call changed how we view Oklahoma’s ancient history
Species Spotlight: Stinkpot
Stinkpots may be a common turtle in eastern Oklahoma, but
they’re not often seen. Instead of basking on a rock or log like many other
turtles, stinkpots seem to prefer soaking in sun rays while in shallow water.
These turtles are frequently found in ponds or roadside ditches and are often
covered in algae.
Learn more in the Wildlife Department's online field guide
Be a Bat Hero
Bats are a vital part of Oklahoma’s ecosystem; they forage
for night-flying insects more than seven months of the year, serve as a source
of food for other animals, and even provide nutrients for cave life through
their droppings. Bat Week (Oct. 24-31) is a great reason to learn more about
Oklahoma’s only flying mammals and consider ways to make your own backyard more
bat or wildlife-friendly.
Find ways to celebrate these incredible animals at
batweek.org
Hundreds of Salamanders Found in the Ozark Plateau Region
Earlier this month a light rain triggered hundreds of ringed salamanders to make their annual voyage to small breeding ponds. Researchers with Oklahoma State University documented nearly 200 salamanders visiting a single pond in one night and are collecting valuable information about this species of greatest conservation need.
This project has already documented more adult ringed salamanders in our state than any other Oklahoma-based study
Calendar of Events
Bat Week 2018
October 24-31
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