|
 With 2022 drawing to a close, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite stories from the year that feature Oklahoma’s incredible fish and wildlife!
These articles and videos first appeared in our monthly e-newsletter, the Wild Side. In each issue, we share stories about Oklahoma's fish and wildlife with a special focus on the species that aren't hunted or fished and the people that work to conserve them. To see more of these stories in your inbox, click the subscribe button below. Our next newsletter will land January 26, 2023.
 The alligator snapping turtle is one of 313 species of greatest conservation need eligible for State Wildlife Grant Program funding.
|
|
|
When the Wildlife Department received its first round of funding from the State Wildlife Grant Program in 2002, it activated its network of conservation-minded partners to help identify species of greatest conservation need and outline actions that could benefit those species. Twenty years later, more than 100 grants have been completed, spanning conservation planning efforts, the purchase of habitat to enhance wildlife populations, and assessments of the state's alligator snapping turtle population.
We revisit projects that have shaped nongame conservation efforts in the state with two of Oklahoma's coordinators.
|
|
 Watch as this American alligator works the late shift to uncover its newly hatched young.
|
|
|
We always enjoy seeing trail cam footage of Oklahoma's wildlife but were thrilled to see this collection of clips from our research partners at Southeastern Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Adventist University. Shortly after their complementary American alligator research projects kicked off in July 2022, this 8-foot alligator began building its nest at Red Slough Wildlife Management Area. A trail camera was installed, and the research teams monitored the activity through August. When the eggs hatched at the end of August, the young made noises to signal the female to dig them out of the nest. The female spent nearly 13 hours moving the 22 hatchlings from the nest to the nearby water.
|
|
 The orangethroat darter is just one of 109 species on one angler's fishing life list.
|
|
|
Colby Farquhar, an avid angler and Wildlife Department biologist stationed at Sans Bois Wildlife Management Area, loves most everything about fishing. He loves the challenge; he loves the escape; and he especially loves seeing and singing the praises of Oklahoma's native fishes, including the often overlooked and underappreciated nongame fish. To keep track of all the fish he's caught, Farquhar has created a "fishing life list" that ranges from some of the state's larger species, to some of the smallest.
|
|
 Biologists regularly apply prescribed fire to enhance habitat for Oklahoma's wildlife, including the federally endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
|
|
|
Biologists use prescribed fire to enhance the Wildlife Department's oldest management area, the McCurtain County Wilderness Area. More than 4,000 acres were burned cooperatively with the Ouachita National Forest this year to keep the forest open for the federally endangered red-cockaded woodpecker.
 Habitat is a key element for drawing wildlife, like this eastern bluebird, to your backyard.
A passion for the outdoors can lead nature enthusiasts down an incredible and well-traversed path. But it also comes with the freedom to combine interests and blaze new trails. Terry Brunholtz, of Owasso, has blended his initial interest in wildlife with equally strong interests in native landscaping and nature photography to create a living nature photography set.
We hope you've enjoyed our favorite articles and videos from 2022. Don't forget to subscribe to the Wild Side to get more of these stories in your inbox. Our next newsletter will land January 26.
|
|
|
|
