Four environmental groups have filed a lawsuit in federal court this week to stop the spread of a deadly fish virus in the Great Lakes.
Described as the “Ebola of fish” Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia or VHS affects species ranging from freshwater drum to walleye and includes popular gamefish such as bluegill, crappie, muskies, northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch and white bass.
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A four-week safe boating class begins May 15 at Kankakee Community College.
The class, offered in conjunction with the Kankakee Valley Squadron, will meet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evenings.
Boat Smart is an introductory course for all boaters. Topics covered include selecting a boat, an introduction to charts, operator responsibilities, boat handling, fueling, safety equipment, trailering, marine radio procedures, nautical rules of the road and state boating regulations.
The 10-hour class meets educational requirements for those ages 12 to 18 to legally operate a boat.
Registration information is available by calling KCC at (815) 802-8200 or by clicking here.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maps of the National Wetlands Inventory are now available for viewing using Google Earth.
The wetlands inventory includes wetlands data for approximately 60 percent of the conterminous U.S., as well as portions of Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
The maps and associated data are used extensively as part of wildlife management and conservation activities by state and federal wildlife agencies, private conservation organizations and others.
Computer users will need Google Earth version 4.2 or higher to access the wetlands maps. To get started, click HERE.
Readers of this blog can now check a calendar of upcoming Outdoors events.
The “Events” listings appear at the right side of the Outdoors Journal page and will be updated frequently.
Right now listings run through May 2008.
Clubs or organizations are welcome to submit their entries; however Outdoors events should be sent via e-mail to: bbyrns@daily-journal.com.
Wildflower walks set for May
Spring wildflowers and a morel mushroom hunt are st for May at the Kankakee River State Park.
Woodland flowers will be featured on May 3 and 17. A Mother’s Day wildflower walk is set for May 10 and more spring flowers will be explored during walks on May 24 and 31.
All walks begin at 11 a.m. at the park’s Visitor’s Center. Reservations are requested by calling (815) 933-1383, ext. 25.
Morel mushroom foray
The Illinois Mycological Association will host a May 3 morel mushroom foray at the Kankakee River State Park.
Mushroomers should assemble 11 a.m. at the University of Illinois Extension office, 1650 Commerce Drive, Bourbonnais. Following a brief session, the group will leave by noon for the Area A Archery Range on Illinois Route 102 west of Warner Bridge Road.
For more details call Michael Rusnak at (708) 755 4705.
The second annual “Ride the Rock” bike ride is set for May 17 along the 15-mile looped trail system along portions of the Illinois & Michigan Canal and Will County forest preserve trails.
Last year over 1,000 cyclists participated in the event.
This year’s ride begins at 9 a.m. at the Rock Run-I&M Canal Access on Houbolt Road south of Joliet Junior College.
The free event is open to all ages but recommended for those at least 11 years of age.
Pre-registration is suggested by calling (815) 727-8700. The first 500 entrants will receive a free goodie bag. Check in begins at 9 a.m. and will continue until 11 a.m. when the last rides hit the trail.
Humiston Woods Nature Center will be open all week for Earth Week activities sponsored by several Livingston County organizations and culminating with ecologically related activities 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
Humiston Woods is a state nature preserve on the Vermilion River and is located on the Rowe Road about five miles northwest of Pontiac. Parking at Humiston will be limited. A free trolley service will be operated to and from the old Rowe Lutheran Church, on Rowe Road east of the woods and near the landfill.
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Joe Kelley of Bourbonnais started off the spring wild turkey season by bagging a 26 pound gobbler at the Kankakee River State Park.
The bird sported a 9 inch beard and inch-long spurs. 
Joe was hunting on opening day with his son Dan who was back home for a brief visit.
“We are trying to enjoy as much time together as we can before Dan leaves for Alaska,” Joe Kelley said.
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Dan Kelley with a pair of 20-inch walleyes taken Friday at the Kankakee River State Park.
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Dan Kelley shows off a couple 20-inch male walleye taken Friday during a recent Kankakee River fishing trip with his dad, Joe Kelley of Bourbonnais.
“They were delicious Friday night,” Joe said as they enjoyed a walleye dinner. The two big walleye were the only ones Dan and Joe kept. Over the past 10 days, Dan has caught and released a dozen smaller walleye — including one 13-inch female — and “20-plus bass” during his recent visit home.
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Earth Day is arriving with very little fanfare this year.
Tuesday, April 22, marks the 39th anniversary of the environmental movement that began as a campus rally at Berkeley, California.
Locally three Earth Week events are planned including a pair of nature programs on April 18 and 19 at the Kankakee River State Park and an April 26 workday to fight invasive plants at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. A bit later, on May 3, the annual Open House at Stelle will feature a dazzling array of eco-friendly technologies.
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