That was a couple of weeks ago. I didn’t think much about it. Then, a few days ago, Gene tells me that a second orange catfish was caught, also near the spillway. Hmm.
So I checked with Marty Lundquist, fish management supervisor for District 1 of the Ohio Division of Wildlife, the biologist in charge at Indian.
He replied: “No one around here has heard of an orange catfish. The only suggestion we have is sometimes flatheads get a yellowish-orangish color to them. If that is not it, I would guess someone emptied their aquarium into the lake.”
So I looked it up online. Sure enough, there were photos of orange catfish. But the more I studied them, the more I figured most were either shot in aquariums or were early attempts with Photoshop. Some looked like part carp, part catfish. Some looked like refugees from the Great Barrier Reef and some looked, well, just plain weird.
I checked back with Gene, who looked at a picture of one of the fish. Now the consensus is: yellowish flathead.
Orange catfish sounds more like something you might order in a restaurant.
Elephants dancing no more: It looks like the state of New York is about to enact a ban on all entertainment acts containing elephants. Good for them. I know a piece of Americana has been lost. But it's not the first and won't be the last.
“A performing elephant is a tortured elephant,” said Michelle Land, a professor at Pace University in New York.
New York state senator Terrence Murphy said, “It is a fact that elephants used for entertainment purposes suffer irreparable physical and psychological harm that shortens their lifespans. They spend a significant portion of their lives crammed inside trucks, trains or trailers and then they are poked, prodded or shocked into performing tricks. Thankfully, we have come to our senses as a society and we no longer tolerate the abuse of performing elephants.”
Beware of bears: This is the time of year when sightings of black bears are reported around Ohio. Here in southwest and western Ohio the sightings are almost always in southern counties. Most likely the bears — an endangered and protected species in Ohio — you might see are young males, kicked out by their mothers. They will be out on their own, scouting new territories and scavenging for food.
If you see a bear, leave it alone and call the Division of Wildlife to report the bear’s location and the time of day you saw it (937-372-9261).
Kayak fishing: Anyone interested in learning the basic skills for kayak fishing is encouraged to attend a free workshop provided by the Ohio Division of Wildlife on June 22, 5:30-9 p.m. in Clinton County.
All equipment will be supplied. The workshop is free but registration is required because space is limited. Those who register will be provided with the location and directions. This class is a basic class and is recommended for beginners only. Register by emailing Chris Mangen at Christopher.Mangen@dnr.state.oh.us. The course is hands-on and will take place outdoors. Be prepared to get wet.
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