Moose Droppings

Congrads to all who won Link

The Maine Moose Lottery is only hours away and for many it’s like Christmas eve as a small child wondering if Santa would bring you that one toy you wanted the most. I just got back from a week in Maine yesterday and the topic of the draw came up a lot. Of course, I’m sitting this one and next years out after a successful 2005 hunt. I’ll be watching closely as many family and friends have their fingers crossed for the big draw.

About 500 people are expected to show up at Scarborough Downs race track where wildlife officials will announce the 2,895 names that will get moose permits. This is the 25th anniversary of the annual hunt.

The state rotates the lottery site throughout the state each year. Last year more than 70-thousand people applied to hunt moose in the state.

Story

North Carolina Wildlife Federation launches a program to encourage Faith based groups to improve wildlife habitation on their property. 

Once again the out of town press is taken a swipe at the Hurricane Fan base as a bunch of ignorant red necks who know nothing about the sport.  This is what every visiting team’s press in 2002  said when the Canes made it to the finals losing to Detroit and its not the first time this year we’ve heard this dribble. 
 

Scientists from the University of North Carolina have begun studying Lake Mattamuskeet because its behavior is unlike any other lake they know of in the United States.

Scientists from the University of North Carolina have found what they term a “phenomenon” in the largest natural lake in the state - essentially two distinct habitats functioning in one body of water.

That just doesn’t happen.

“The lake is plant dominated on the east side and algae dominated on the west side,” said Michael Piehler. ” … Truth be told, when we went out there, we never expected this. … To have two different stable states in the same lake is … sort of a dream come true.”

Lake Mattamuskeet is an important habitat for waterfowl as well as for fish and part of the lake is a National Wildlife Refuge.

“Shallow lakes are going to be either clear and plant-dominated,” he said, “or murky with algae_ something like pea soup.

“Mattamuskeet is extremely rare. There’s nothing this distinct that I know of in the country.

“There are plenty of lakes that have patchiness … different plants growing in different sections,” he said. “But there’s nothing like this.”

Waters said there was a lake in Ontario, Canada, that had individually functioning habitats, but those were manmade by using a sheet of plastic.

Highway 94 is the dividing line between the two distinct habitats however they do not believe the highway is the reason for the differences.

“We want to be clear,” Waters said, “that we don’t think the building of the road had this dramatic effect. That’s not even a hypothesis. …

“Once we know the history, we can line it up with historic management practices to be able to understand … when and why the west side changed … and what we can do to keep this lake functioning as a healthy habitat,” he said.

“People certainly hope for a plant-dominated lake because it supports fish communities, it’s aesthetically pleasing and generally considered a healthy lake,” he said.

Hopefully an understanding of how this lake functions will be gained so it can be preserved for many years to come.

Link to News Story 

National Fishing and Boat week is June 3-11^th and a good excuse if

Awarding of Trophy

June 1^st is the official start of hurricane season and the Carolina Hurricanes won game seven to extend their season. 

Rod Brind’Amour was the do-everything captain for the Carolina Hurricanes all season. It was most fitting that his goal put them into the Stanley Cup finals.  

Brind’Amour’s third-period goal snapped a tie and sent the Hurricanes into the championship round Thursday night with a 4-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals

Commodore takes to Ice for Pre-Game Warm-Up

Carolina led 1-0 but fell behind late in the second period when Doug Janik and Jochen Hecht scored goals for the injury-ravaged Sabres.

 

After Doug Weight tied it at 2, Brind’Amour charged toward a loose rebound in front of the crease and flipped the puck by Ryan Miller.

       Sabers Miller made some great saves throughout the 7 games

“It’s a crazy game,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m just proud of our guys. we just wouldn’t give up.”

 

Mike Commodore gave Carolina its early lead, and Justin Williams sealed the victory with a goal in the final minute.

            Only Moments before Williams scores the Canes 4th goal

What a game what a series, it was like one of the wildest rollercoaster rides I’ve ever been on.  It was great to see Capt Rod have a great game and lead his team on. 

Security was tight because of previous problems.  Raleigh PD patrolled parking lots on Bikes and Motorcycles.

Officers’ observer pre game Saber Fan’s rallying in Parking Lot

The combination of a fair amount of Saber fans relocating to this area over the past few years and the ease to acquire tickets brought many more Saber fans south to support their team.  I can’t say I’ll miss the Saber fans, it was a great series and I suspect the start of a great rivalry.  

 For the first time etiquette signs had to be posted to remind fans for both teams how to act and security got tighter and tighter as the series went on. 

Ron & Eric (blocked by child) talking in Press Box

All of these photographs are ones I took at the game.  The quality of some is not that great because they were taken from the nose bleed section.  Behind us is the press boxes and Eric Cole and Ron Francis watched the game from there.  In between the 2^nd and 3^rd period a young fan noticed Ron & Eric up there and tossed them her shirt to be signed.  What a great thing to witness a young fan getting two great hockey players autographs. 

Ron tosses Young Fan’s Sweater back after he and Eric sign it.

Sabers flag waving fan pre game… not much flag waving for him in the end