BY PETE MOHR | JUNE 1, 2011

First of three Phoenix Herpetological Society’s “Night Hikes” slated for Saturday, June 4, 6 p.m. start at Pinnacle Peak Park

SCOTTSDALE – At dusk and after-dark, there’re all kinds of critters and creepy-crawlies that come alive in the desert. And Phoenix Herpetological Society (PHS) will introduce adults and children to the desert-after-dark through three “Night Hikes” scheduled for June 4 (this Saturday), July 16 and August 6. These easy hikes will provide a unique and safe way to see and learn about many of the creatures that are active at night in our desert.

During these guided tours, hikers will:
• Learn about desert reptiles, insects and bats
• Receive advice about desert safety
• See live animals
• Hear from a venom expert

Hikers should meet at 6 p.m., Pinnacle Peak Park, 26802 N. 102nd Way, Scottsdale. Children 8 and older, accompanied by an adult, are welcome. Cost of the two-hour event is $15 (children 8-17) and $35 (adults). All proceeds will benefit the more than 1,400 rescued reptiles cared for by PHS at its north Scottsdale sanctuary.

Register online at www.phoenixherp.com or call (480) 223-3813. “Hoo-Hoo! Hoo-Hoo! Hoo-Hoo-aaahhh!” That’s the sound of a Great Horned Owl, folks.

JUNE 1, 2011

Phoenix Pools open Memorial Day Weekend

The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department pools opened for the 2011 season on Memorial Day weekend. Pools will reopen for the full 2011 season on June 4 from 1 to 7 p.m. The 2011 season will run through July 31. Regular hours for the 20 pools open for this summer* will be 1 to 7 p.m. six days a week (all pools will be closed Fridays).

Daily admission is $3 for adults and $1 for seniors age 50 and over and youth age 17 and under. A season pass for a family of four Phoenix residents is $75 ($7 for each additional family member). A season pass for an individual resident senior or youth is $20; adult passes cost $30. The Kool Kids program is back again this summer, bringing free pool admission to all youths ages 17 and under at 15 of 20 city pools. Kool Kids is made possible through the generous financial support of the Oakland A’s, Milwaukee Brewers, Salt River Project, Watermill Express, Sonic, Subway,  Pepsi, and Bear Essential News.

Phoenix pools also are a great place for affordable swim instruction and team competition. Swim lessons cost $15. The full 2011 swim lesson schedule currently is viewable online, along with comprehensive pool information, at phoenix.gov/parks. Information is available by phone at 602-534-6587. Registration is currently open. Those interested can sign up online with any major credit card or in person at any department community center. Thanks to generous financial support from Salt River Project, parents can enroll themselves and their children in Parent/Child and Level 1 swim classes at select pools for just $3.

*The 20 pools open for summer 2010 are Alkire, Cielito, Coronado, Deer Valley, Eastlake, Encanto, Falcon, Grant, Hermoso, Holiday, Maryvale, Mountain View, Paradise Valley, Pecos, Perry, Roadrunner, Roosevelt, Starlight, Sunnyslope, and  Telephone Pioneer. Cortez Pool is closed indefinitely for major repairs. The 2009/10 fiscal year budget contained provisions for a rotating closure of 8 pools each summer for three consecutive years. Twenty-eight pools are scheduled to reopen for the 2012 swim season.

JUNE 1, 2011

Get Down and Dirty!  Tradition continues with 36th Annual Mighty Mud Mania

SCOTTSDALE – Jill Birt has participated in Mighty Mud Mania since …  well, “forever!”  She fondly recalls running the race as an 8 year-old when it was called the “Shout It Out Decathlon.”  While Jill didn’t specifically say how long “forever” is, she did reveal that she is now the proud mom of 10 kids, ages 2 to 20 – all of whom participate in this annual event.
The 36th annual Mighty Mud Mania will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road. 

The event features activities for two age groups – 6 and younger and 7 to 17. The younger set can enjoy the mini-mud obstacle course, mud pits, a waterslide, sand castle building and an area dubbed “Mudville.”  Older kids can check out the original mud obstacle course, waterslides, sandcastle building and mud pits. There’s something for everyone. 

That “something” for Jill is the opportunity to continue a family tradition she started long ago.   “My kids and I look forward to this event months in advance, year after year.”  The Birt family even goes as far as planning its summer vacations around Mighty Mud Mania.

Jill sums it up … “Love, love, love everything about the event.  The city of Scottsdale employees, volunteers, partners and sponsors put their hearts and souls into ensuring a safe, good time is had by all!”

What to bring:  A signed permission slip or parent/guardian to the event to sign one.
What to wear:   Lace-up or Velcro shoes – no sandals or flip flops.
More things to bring:  Swimsuits and towels - fully rinsed kids can swim at Chaparral Pool from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $1. 
Cost:  Free, but nonperishable food donations for the Vista del Camino food bank are appreciated.
Bonus!  Parents, we’re even sending your kids home clean!  Scottsdale firefighters and city plumbers will provide a “kidwash” and portable showers. (You’re welcome!)

Get more event information at www.ScottsdaleAZ.gov/mightymudmania. For questions, call (480) 312-0217 or (480) 312-2771, or e-mail [email protected]. 

Scottsdale Solid Waste Services and Parks and Recreation are partnering to promote recycling at this year’s event!  Event sponsors include SRP, Clif Bar/Clif Kid and Radio Disney.

• Phoenix Herpetological Society presents Desert Night Hike

• Phoenix Pools to open Memorial Day Weekend

• Get Down and Dirty!  Tradition continues with 36th Annual Mighty Mud Mania

• Statewide public meetings on revisions to Arizona’s hunting guidelines

JUNE 3, 2011

Statewide public meetings on revisions to Arizona’s hunting guidelines

Access issues to wildlife also to be discussed

PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s game branch is hosting 11 public meetings across the state to discuss revisions being considered for the hunt guidelines. The document is now in the draft state and is available for the public to review, take a survey, and provide their comments.

For example, some of the questions being considered are:
When do you think quail seasons should open?
What do you think is the best strategy to provide juniors-only turkey hunts?
How do you feel about managing for low numbers of elk or mountain lion in certain areas?  

“This is your opportunity guide us in meeting our varied hunting public’s needs, as well as continuing our hunting heritage for future generations,” said Chief of Game Management, Brian Wakeling. “We’ve been collecting comments since April and this is a first look at those items being considered.”

The hunt guidelines provide the biological and social parameters used to formulate the annual hunt recommendations and go through a public review process every two years.

The meetings consist of a presentation given by key staff biologists, who can answer questions, provide background, and other details about the process. For those who are unable to attend or prefer to review the materials at their own pace, all of the information is available online at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Additionally, at these meetings, you will also have the opportunity to discuss wildlife-related recreational access issues. The public’s wildlife often inhabits private lands or habitats surrounded by private lands. Private landowners have legitimate concerns about their private property, yet access to wildlife can be an equally legitimate public concern. Your input on this delicate issue will help inform the Game and Fish Commission on future decisions.

All of the meetings run from 6-8 p.m. per the following schedule and locations:
June 6, Flagstaff – Flagstaff Game and Fish regional office at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
June 7, Page – Glen Canyon National Recreation Headquarters Office.
June 9, Phoenix – Game and Fish headquarters office at 5000 W. Carefree Highway.
June 13, Pinetop – Pinetop Game and Fish regional office at 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
June 14, Payson – Best Western Payson Inn at 801 North Beeline Highway.
June 15, Mesa – Mesa Game and Fish regional office at 7200 E. University Drive.
June 16, Yuma – Yuma Game and Fish regional office at 9140 E. 28th St.
June 20, Prescott – County of Yavapai Board of Supervisors office at 1015 Fair St.
June 21, Tucson – International Wildlife Museum at 4800 W. Gates Pass Road.
June 22, Sierra Vista – Sierra Vista Police Department at 911 N Coronado Drive.
June 23, Kingman – Kingman Game and Fish regional office at 5325 N Stockton Hill Road.

After all the comments and surveys are received, reviewed, and processed, the department will prepare a final draft of the hunt guidelines to present to the Game and Fish Commission at its Aug. 26-27 meeting in Phoenix.
   
Once finalized, these guidelines (with commission approval) are used for setting the season dates, structures, permit levels, and more for the 2012-2014 hunting regulations.
   
Visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines for a copy of the draft guidelines, to take the survey online, to provide your comments, and to learn more about the hunt guideline and recommendation processes.