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Eagle Days Event Moves to Powder Valley Nature Center for 2022 (new format event date, Jan. 15 )

Photo: MDC

Due to a renovation work on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, Eagle Days programming is moving to Powder Valley Nature Center in Kirkwood this year. The event will take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15.

Few words can describe the thrill of seeing America’s national symbol soaring through the air in the wild, or close enough to touch.  During the winter, the Mississippi River hosts one of North America’s largest concentrations of bald eagles; they are drawn to areas of open water in search of fish, their preferred food.

Due to COVID-19 considerations and to ensure the safety of visitors and staff, Eagle Days will also take on a new format for 2022.  The event is free and open to all ages, but attendance will be by online pre-registration only, with six available timeslots each hour throughout the day.  Attendance numbers for each timeslot will be limited for the safety of visitors and staff.

To register, use the following links for the preferred timeslot:

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Posted on January 9, 2022 in Home, Local Events, Outdoor/Nature

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American Roadkill Book Event Benefits St. Louis Animal Rights Team, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m.

Many motorists have run over animals on the road and felt bad about it.
The momentary regret can lead to corrective action when motorists come
to realize that roadkill is driving some species to extinction.

Author Don Corrigan, who recently authored American Roadkill: The
Animal Victims of Our Busy Highways, will speak about his book and the million creatures killed daily on highways at an open meeting of the Animal Rights Team on Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Brentwood Community Center.

St. Louis Animal Rights Team is a not-for-profit educational and activist
group formed in 1985. Its goals are to promote lifestyles compatible with
animal rights and to reform U.S. institutions to end animal suffering.
Corrigan’s book is published by McFarland, which is the largest publisher of
popular culture titles in America. Corrigan is a member of the Popular
Culture Association and annually presents papers at its conferences.

In 2022, Corrigan will speak to PCA about “Roadkill and Toxic Masculinity.”
University studies show male drivers are more inclined to swerve and
deliberately kill or injure animals on roads than female motorists.

As a result of his association with PCA, Corrigan has studied the TV and
movie phenomenon of animals becoming anthropomorphic characters,
especially for children’s cinematic fare.

Corrigan asks: “What message does it send to children when we are
wantonly running over the animals they love? They love animal characters
from Slappy Squirrel to Rocky Raccoon to Squirtle the Turtle and Armadillo
B. Banjo.”

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Posted on January 5, 2022 in Home, Local Events

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St. Louis Environmentalists Offer Hope For The 2022 New Year

Carol Davit of the Missouri Prairie Foundation

By Allison Hagene

Carol Davit of the Missouri Prairie Foundation said she hopes for more cooperation in 2022, because  “all of us –from individuals to communities and corporations – must make the health of the natural world, and the natural resources upon which all life depends, an automatic consideration of actions we take. We can no longer abuse nature and natural resources and defer the damage to the years ahead. Doing so destroys natural abundance and beauty that not only makes life possible, but also makes it worth living”

The Missouri Prairie Foundation had a good year, receiving news that “the Land Trust Accreditation Commission awarded national accreditation to the Missouri Prairie Foundation, a designation earned by about 30% of the nation’s 1,360+ land trusts. Over the summer, MPF acquired four more original, unplowed prairies, including a rare sand prairie near the Bootheel; dedicated four other prairies we acquired prior to 2021; and have nearly reached our goal of raising $2.2 million for our Lordi Marker Prairie Missouri Bicentennial project.”

Read more below from The Missouri Prairie Foundation, Magnificent Missouri, Just Moms STL, Missouri Coalition for the Environment, the Sierra Club, the Open Space Council, Allison Hagene and Don Corrigan.

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Posted on December 24, 2021 in Environment, Home, Opinion

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In Memorium: Thanks, Karen, For A Helping Of Ozark Hospitality

Karen Hood Simpson

 

By Don Corrigan

Sometimes a new friend crosses your path – the kind of friend who helps you out. You look forward to a lasting friendship. Then something tragic happens, and you realize you did not say “thank you” enough before they exited this life.

Such is the case for me with Karen Hood Simpson. She helped me explore Missouri caves, trails and waterways on a Missouri Outdoor Communicators’ (MOC) trip in June to the Pulaski County area and the Gasconade River watershed.

Karen, who worked with the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau for more than a dozen years, helped this city boy enjoy some Ozark nooks in the forest and on the river – and to breathe in a little fresh mountain air.

The MOC get-together was at Gasconade Hills Resort, located on a magnificent stretch of river showcasing amazing scenery, caverns and local wildlife including eagles, otters and deer.

She helped with arrangements for a canoe float not far from the cold spring waters that flow into the Gasconade and Big Piney rivers. It was a scenic on-the-water trip in the vicinity of Devil’s Elbow, a bluff area full of lore from a time when lumber men floated timber down the river.

In the evenings, there was time to relax at the Piney River Taproom. One eating and imbibing excursion involved time at the newly-opened Heritage Cultural Art Center on Route 66 in Waynesville.

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Posted on December 17, 2021 in Environment, Home, Opinion, Outdoor/Nature

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American Roadkill Book Event In St. Louis Benefits Missouri Animal Protection Group On Dec. 11

Novel Neighbor of Webster Groves is hosting a book signing from 7-8 p.m., Dec. 6, at its store.

A book event at Webster Groves Public Library at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 11, will feature “American Roadkill,” with sales to benefit Missouri Alliance for Animal Legislation (MAAL).

 

 

For More information:
Contact Author Don Corrigan at  314-968-2699; 314-827-9989
Corrigan@timesnewspapers.com

Local motorists have had plenty of road encounters with animals ranging from
tiny squirrels to large deer that can weigh up to 250 pounds. The results are not
pretty for man or beast.

Armadillos are the latest species to take it on the chin in a big way in roadkill
accidents in Missouri. The hard-shelled tourists, originally from Texas, litter rural highways and interstates.

In his new book, “American Roadkill,” author Don Corrigan documents the million animals killed daily on American roadways. Among the casualties are man’s best friends, canines and felines, amounting to 5.4 million of the annual roadkill tally.

Is there anybody looking out for the critters that have taken such a beating in the
automobile age which began a century ago?

Corrigan documents many positive developments, among them: (read more about American Roadkill and the upcoming events below.)

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Posted on December 3, 2021 in Home, Local Events, Outdoor/Nature

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“Notch” The California Celebrity Squirrel

In the land of fruit and nuts, California, squirrels are front page news. Dan Burkhardt of Magnificent Missouri found this out when visiting his children recently. He was in the state that “The Arnold” from Total Recall affectionately refers to as “Caleeefornya.”
 
The squirrel in the California newspaper, known as The Acorn, is named Notch. He gets his name from a peculiar ear that he sports. The little varmint enjoys peanuts hand-fed to him by sympathetic humans.
Notch will get some ink in the second edition of “Nuts About Squirrels,” which is the definitive book on the species by St. Louis author Don Corrigan.

Patrons who buy the “Nuts About Squirrels” book at Novel Neighbor or the Webster Groves Bookshop will get a free squirrel button, squirrel book marker, and squirrel journal in a kit thanks to the printing press work of Mark Sableman, Attorney at Law.

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Posted on December 3, 2021 in Home, Outdoor/Nature

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Zoo Man Charlie Hoessle Gets His Own Children’s Book

Don Corrigan will join Diane Key-Biggs and Shelley Dietrichs, the creators of A Friend to All: Charlie Hoessle, at a special book event at the Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves on Monday, Dec. 6, from 7-8 p.m. The event will include presentations on favorite animals and favorite animal lovers in St. Louis and book signings.

A Friend to All: Charlie Hoessle is a children’s book that takes a look at the life and times of the beloved former Saint Louis Zoo Director. Corrigan will give a presentation on his new book, American Roadkill: The Animal Victims of Our Busy Highways. Corrigan will give an up-beat update on all the animal lovers and groups who are working to reduce roadkill carnage on the nation’s thoroughfares. There is much progress to report!

By Don Corrigan

A familiar image of the Saint Louis Zoo’s Charlie Hoessle graces the cover of a new children’ book. Its title notes that he is a friend “to all.” The “all” includes giraffes, lions, penguins, snakes, elephants and more.

That’s as it should be, according to Shrewsbury writer Diane Key-Biggs and Kirkwood illustrator Shelley Dietrichs. Hoessle’s best friends have always been furry, scaly, hairy or even a bit slimy.

The story book notes that from an early age, Charlie cultivated the kind of friends that you can keep in your pocket, like a toad, turtle, or frog. He found it hard to make friends at school, but not in the great outdoors.

“Charlie never had trouble making friends with the animals. He loved them from an early age,” said Key-Biggs. “I think young readers will find that reassuring.

“Here is a man who never had to worry about being lonely,” said Key-Biggs. “With his love for animals, he has been a real gift for St. Louis. They broke the mold when they made Charlie.”

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Posted on December 1, 2021 in Home, Local Events, Outdoor/Nature

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It’s Finally Here!! Don Corrigan’s New Book!

To order Don Corrigan’s latest book, call 314-968-2699 and ask for Don Corrigan, or email corrigan@timesnewspapers.com

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Posted on November 4, 2021 in Environment, Home, Outdoor/Nature

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Celebrate Powder Valley Nature Center’s 30th Anniversary at Autumn Festival event Oct. 29

Families enjoy the fall color by walking the trails at Powder Valley.

MDC invites the public to help celebrate Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center’s 30th anniversary at an Anniversary Autumn Festival Friday, Oct. 29 from 6-9 p.m.  This special event is free and open to the whole family. (online preregistration to attend is required.)

 

The average price for a gallon of gas was $1.14; Terminator 2: Judgement Day dominated the box office; George H. W. Bush was president of the United States, and Boyz II Men was just breaking into the music scene.  The year was 1991, and something great was happening for St. Louis-area nature lovers too—the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) opened Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center.

MDC invites the public to help celebrate Powder Valley’s 30-year anniversary at an Anniversary Autumn Festival Friday, Oct. 29 from 6-9 p.m.  This special event is free and open to the whole family.  Enjoy a beautiful fall evening with plenty of autumn-inspired outdoor activities.

Visitors will be able to go for a hayride and enjoy a bonfire complete with s’mores.  There will also be fall themed crafts, games, and other fun activities to celebrate Powder Valley’s anniversary. MDC will even provide free hotdogs, popcorns, s’mores, and drinks.

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Posted on October 25, 2021 in Home, Local Events, Outdoor/Nature

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Kay Drey: Whistleblower for an Atomic Age in St. Louis

Environmentalist Kay Drey will be honored at the First Amendment Celebration of the St. Louis Gateway Journalism Review. The event will be on Wednesday, October 27, 2021, from 7-8 p.m. Sign up for this virtual celebration at tinyurl.com/3rakxfet.

The celebration will benefit the nation’s only regional journalism review. Keynote Speaker is former U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Kirkwood, Missouri.  

By Don Corrigan

Kay Drey is an activist, environmentalist, a whistleblower, an Earth Mother. Who could argue that there is anyone more passionate than Kay Drey about protecting humanity from the dangers of the atomic age?

Humanity means mothers, fathers, children – it’s not just a word. She is the premier whistleblower because she has educated so many journalists to blow the whistle, to make some noise, to sound the alarm in defense of man, woman and child.

She is the Paul Revere of the Nuclear Age:

• “Mobile Chernobyls are coming!” she warned us.

•  “Plutonium is coming!” she warned us.

• “Polonium is coming! Have you heard of it?” she asked us.

Who else but Kay Drey would have tritium3 as her email address? It is impossible to message her without wondering if this radioactive element might be contaminating the neighborhood.

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Posted on October 21, 2021 in Environment, Home, Opinion, Outdoor/Nature