Volume 100, Issue 6, 2022
July 2022
- Identifier:
- nela.2022_100_06
- Title:
- Volume 100, Issue 6, 2022
- Issue Name:
- July 2022
- Date Issued:
- 2022-07-01
- year:
- 2022
- month:
- July
- Season:
- Summer
- PDF filename:
- NL_100.06_2022_Jul_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 100
- issue:
- 06
- number:
- 100.06
- Decade:
- 2020s
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Extracted Text:
-
$4.95
magazine
To renew your subscription or change your
address call 1-800-632-5263
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You could win one of these great prizes:
2-night state park cabin
Stay and Play package
Fishing kayak and gear
Float and Play package
LEARN MORE AT
OutdoorNebraska.org/TakeEmFishing
INSIDE
Kayak Camping Tips
Hitting the Trails
Why You Should Love Wasps!
A Day Chasing Rainbows
Volume 100
July 2022
No. 6
Cover: Bekah Poppe of
C
Bloomfield kayaks down a
B
cchute on the Niobrara River.
JJENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
FEATURES
18
24
KAYAK CAMPING
T page: The Milky Way hangs
This
aabove the ponderosa pine
ttrees of Ponderosa Wildlife
Management Area near
Crawford.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Tips for Multi-day Kayaking
Story and photos by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
OUTDOOR NEBRASKA
What to Do in July
By Renae Blum
26
WHY YOU SHOULD LOVE WASPS!
34
CLOUDS OF GRASSHOPPERS IN 1874
38
A DAY CHASING RAINBOWS
46
NEBRASKA’S MONKEY-FLOWERS
48
HITTING THE TRAILS
Story and photos by Chris Helzer
By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska
Photos and story by Eric Fowler
By Gerry Steinauer
A Hiking Primer
By Justin Haag
DEPARTMENTS
6
10
50
60
62
Your Nebraska
In the Field
Mixed Bag
Portraits from the Past
The Last Stop
ON THE WEB
For more articles and
information, visit
NebraskalandMagazine.com
Nebraskaland (VOL. 100 / NO. 6 ISSN 0028-1964) is published monthly, except for the combined Jan./Feb. and Aug./Sept. issues, by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd
St., Lincoln, NE. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Nebraskaland, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.
2
Nebraskaland • July 2022
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
3
Magazine Staff
magazine
Published by the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission since 1926. The Commission is
dedicated to the conservation and protection
of all the state's natural resources and the
people who use them.
Communications Director Christy Firestone
Public Relations Manager Shawna RichterRyerson
Editor Jeff Kurrus
Associate Editor Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Regional Editors Eric Fowler, Julie Geiser,
Justin Haag
Contributing Editor Michael Forsberg
Regular Contributors Renae Blum,
Chris Helzer, Chris Masada, Todd Mills,
Ryan Sparks, Gerry Steinauer
Art Director Tim Reigert
Graphic Designer Mel Severin
Photo Librarian Jaclyn Cruikshank Vogt
Administration
Director Tim McCoy
Commissioners
Chairman - Pat Berggren, Broken Bow
Vice Chairman - Rick Brandt, Roca
2nd Vice Chairman - Robert Allen, Eustis
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Nebraskaland Magazine Copyright 2022, all rights reserved.
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ADMINISTRATION (Lincoln)
Craig Stover (Administrator)
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Matt Andrews
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CENTRAL (Includes counties covered)
Mike Thome (Lieutenant)
308-293-8746
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Nebraskaland • July 2022
Matt Taylor (Sergeant)
Kelsey Glodowski
(Cuming, Wayne, Stanton)
4
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
308-672-1824
(Kimball, Banner, Scotts Bluff)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
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discriminated against in any program, activity, facility, or service,
should contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE
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NE 402-471-2024, TTY/TDD 800-642-6112; Director, Office of Diversity,
Inclusion and Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Interior, 1849 C Street,
NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
JON FARRAR, NEBRASKALAND
Sean McKeehan (Sergeant)
(Madison, Pierce, Stanton)
OutdoorNebraska.org
402-471-5531
402-471-5531
402-471-5531
402-471-5531
Compass plants are blooming.
Pioneers would use these plants to
figure out directions, as the leaves
orient themselves to the sun.
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308-318-1273
402-719-6226
(Loup, Garfield, Valley)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
(Red Willow, Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock)
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EAST SUB-DISTRICT
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YOUR NEBRASKA
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upcoming issue.
Don Brockmeier, Eustis
Blood Moon Total Lunar Eclipse
Denise Kent, Lincoln
Drizzle in a Dandelion
Gerald Huebert, Omaha
Wanting Their Spot Back
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
7
YOUR NEBRASKA
James Steckelberg, Lincoln
Cranes in Motion
Send your comments and
photos to:
Jeff Kurrus, Editor
Nebraskaland Magazine
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503
or email Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov
Please include your postal address
and telephone number. Letters
may be condensed and edited.
Photographs are also welcome.
8
Nebraskaland • July 2022
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
9
IN THE FIELD
KAYAKING CONESTOGA
A kayaker and their dog enjoy
a quiet evening on the water
at Conestoga State Recreation
Area in Lancaster County.
ERIC
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OWLER,
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ASKALAN
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
11
IN THE FIELD
A rare black vulture found at Merganser Lake.
STEVE KRUSE
NEBRASKA’S THIRD BLACK VULTURE
By Joel Jorgensen
Spring is a period when many birds are on
the move. This means it is a great time of year
for birders to be on the lookout for rarities or
vagrants. A rarity is a bird that usually appears
somewhere outside of its normal range. Finding a
rarity sometimes requires special effort, but other
times, it’s just luck.
On April 26, birder and photographer Steve
Kruse discovered a vulture on the ground at
Merganser Recreation Area in southwestern
Lancaster County. As he drove up, the bird did not
fly immediately as expected but remained on the
ground and posed for a few close-up shots. The
bird’s appearance also did not appear to match
the expected species, the turkey vulture. After
some study, Kruse determined that the bird at
Merganser Lake was in fact a black vulture. Tom
White, another birder, also submitted photos of a
black vulture the same morning.
Although a black vulture may not be the most
attractive find, its occurrence in the state is
12
Nebraskaland • July 2022
notable. There are only two other accepted records
of this species in Nebraska. Those two records are
separated by a century: the first was in 1916 and
the second in 2017.
Black vulture is common over much of the
southern United States and all the way down
to southern South America. Its numbers have
increased, and its range has expanded steadily
to the north in recent decades. The black vulture
regularly occurs as close to Nebraska as central
Missouri, and although rare, a black vulture in
Nebraska is not unexpected. It is reasonable to
assume that black vulture records in our state
will occur more frequently in the future as this
species continues to increase in numbers and
move north. More information about the black
vulture can be found online at Birds of Nebraska:
Birds.OutdoorNebraska.gov/black-vulture.
Joel Jorgensen is the nongame bird program manager
for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
IN THE FIELD
Nebraska’s
Great Park Pursuit
ĖŔƏƚ·ơƲħƙͤ÷ìƚƏƶƥͤĖIJ·ƘƏƺƥŔͤ
PÜż̳ʹXìƚĺƢƋō̵̴̴̴̳̲͟
Mammatus clouds float above Highlands Park in Lincoln in Lancaster County.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
“UDDERLY” DELIGHTFUL
By Martha D. Shulski
Pouches that appear to hang from the
underbelly of a storm are a delight for the
photographic lens with contrasting hues
of shadow and light. Mammatus clouds are
whimsical features typically associated with
inclement weather and accompany large
cumulonimbus. These bulges got their name,
as you probably guessed, from the Latin
mamma, meaning “udder” or “breast.” With
the exquisite light of a late afternoon sun,
mammatus are often most pronounced and
can take on many different tones.
While three ingredients are typically
needed for cloud formation — rising motion,
moisture and nuclei (dust particle) that serves
as the moisture’s home — mammatus clouds
14
Nebraskaland • July 2022
form due to rapidly descending air underneath
the cumulonimbus anvil. If you watch the
direction the anvil is pointing, you’ll know
which general direction the storm is moving.
Though not as common, they can also form
and be associated with other cloud types.
When it comes to our dynamic atmosphere,
conditions change quickly at times, and
the lifespan of mammatus is on the order
of minutes to a few hours. As with wildlife,
interesting things happen at the edges and
boundaries. Weather is no different. These
clouds exist on the edges — gradients of
temperature, moisture and wind that make the
perfect home for these “udderly” delightful
pouches.
Your team could win great prizes including:
GoPro
Camera
Learn more and register
your team at NeGPP.org or
download our free app.
2-night cabin stay
at a state park
GRAND PRIZE!
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recreation package
Explore Nebraska parks with
this free statewide program.
IN THE FIELD
Have Your Event with Us
Nebraska State Parks are the perfect site for your next event
Homemade muffins made with wild mulberries and lemon.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
MULBERRY MUFFINS
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Mulberries should be peaking right
now, and one of my favorite ways to
eat them is in a muffin — or two.
A couple hints on using mulberries:
One, collect a combination of ripe and
unripe berries for better flavor; ripe
mulberries are sweet, but flat-tasting,
and the acidity of unripe berries will
improve the end result. Two, mulberries
are so delicate that they can be a pain
to handle. Forget about trying to
remove the stems while they’re fresh,
because you’ll crush half of them. A
tip that I learned from a friend is to
scatter fresh berries in one layer on
a cookie sheet and freeze. When the
mulberries harden, the stems will be
easier to remove.
Servings: 12 muffins
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
2½ cups of fresh mulberries,
stems removed
1 tbs. lemon juice
1¼ cups of sugar, plus 1 tsp.
•
•
•
16
Nebraskaland • July 2022
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2½ tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 large eggs
• 4 tbs. of butter, melted and cooled
slightly
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1½ tsp. vanilla extract
Lemon-Sugar Topping:
1/3 cup sugar
Finely grated zest from 1 lemon
•
•
1. Move oven rack to the middle
position and preheat oven to 425
degrees Fahrenheit.
In a small saucepan, bring 2 cups of
mulberries, 1 tbs. of lemon juice and 1
tsp. of sugar to a simmer over medium
heat. Mash the mulberries a few times
to release juices, and simmer until
the mixture becomes thick and less
watery, about 10-15 minutes, stirring
frequently. Then transfer cooked
mulberries to a bowl and allow to cool
at room temperature.
2. In a large bowl, stir flour, baking
powder and salt. In a medium bowl,
whisk together 1¼ cup of sugar
and eggs until thick and completely
smooth; then slowly whisk in cooled
melted butter, oil, buttermilk and
vanilla extract into the egg-sugar
mixture. Next, fold in egg mixture and
remaining fresh mulberries into the
flour mixture until just moistened, but
still lumpy — do not over mix.
3. Spray a standard muffin tin with
nonstick cooking spray. Divide the
batter equally among the muffin cups.
Then spoon cooked mulberry mixture
into the center of each muffin well,
and then use a chopstick or skewer to
swirl berry filling through the batter.
4. Combine lemon zest and 1/3 cup
of sugar in a small bowl. Sprinkle on
top of the muffin batter. Bake muffins
for 17-19 minutes, or until just firm,
rotating the muffin tin halfway
through baking. Remove from oven
and allow muffins to sit in the tin for
5 minutes, before taking them out to
cool on a cooling rack before serving.
• Meetings
• Conferences
• Workshops
• Reunions
• Seminars
• Weddings
To learn more visit
OutdoorNebraska.org/GroupFunction
• And More
Kayak Camping
Tips for Multi-day Kayaking
Story and photos by
Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
ayak camping is exactly what it sounds like — a unique
adventure that combines the best of two worlds. In high
school, I was fortunate to spend a week in Alaska with
the Girl Scouts, and like a dream come true, we paddled
our way around the Kenai Peninsula and camped each night
on different beaches. From the tranquility of a kayak, I
witnessed marine wildlife from a perspective that would’ve
been different had I been sitting in a loud motorboat. And
for miles each day, I admired and contemplated the beautiful
shapes and contours of land from the water looking inward. It
was an experience I’ll never forget, and sadly, I waited a long
time to go kayak camping again.
More so than camping or even backcountry backpacking,
the planning that must go into kayak camping can get
complicated, especially without the help of an outfitter or
guiding service. But it’s not impossible if you know a group of
trustworthy people willing to put in the effort. Fortunately,
I fell in with the right crowd when I worked at the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission office in Norfolk, and while I’ve
joined plenty of day floats with this group of friends over the
K
years, plans finally fell into place in summer 2020 for a long
weekend of kayak camping on the Niobrara River.
Experience Level
Kayak camping can suit a variety of experience levels.
The more important consideration is choosing a route that
fits your ability, because overshooting your skills can turn
disastrous. While paddling in a remote area might seem
enticing, keep in mind that most of Nebraska’s 79,000-plus
miles of rivers and streams are several hours away from
medical assistance and outside of cell phone service.
“Unlike backcountry backpacking, you can’t turn around
and go back up a river in a kayak if things go wrong,” said
Kelly Corman of Bassett, an experienced kayaker. “Kayaking
ranks up there with rock and ice climbing in terms of fatalities
annually — it’s no joke.”
Corman advises first-timers to stick to more well-traveled
routes, such as the national wild and scenic sections of the
Niobrara and Missouri rivers and other mapped-out Nebraska
Above: Lindsey Chizinski of Lincoln enjoying the scenery while kayaking the Niobrara River.
Opposite: The author’s tent illuminated underneath the night sky at Anderson Bridge Wildlife Management Area in
Cherry County.
18
Nebraskaland • July 2022
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
19
in advance. Some areas will require four-wheel drive. And
always respect private property.
Sabrina Negus of Tilden stresses the importance of the
buddy system: “A four-person group should be the minimum
the first time you try a more advanced stretch. And it’s always
better if at least one person has done that stretch.”
In case of an emergency, have a buddy stay with the injured
person and a buddy for the person floating out to get help.
River Condition
Experienced kayakers Jen and Kelly Corman of Bassett inspect a chute on the Niobrara River. Deciding it was too dangerous,
kayakers portaged around this obstacle.
water trails.
The National Park Service offers information on
floating the Niobrara River, bit.ly/3axcuNs, and the
Missouri National Recreational River Water Trail,
bit.ly/3Q42mMn. Find information on floating other water
trails at the Nebraska Game and Parks Water Trails website:
OutdoorNebraska.gov/watertrails.
If you’re keen on exploring more advanced or remote
rivers and streams, make sure to go with someone who is
experienced and knows that area of the stream well. One,
it’s difficult to estimate travel time on a river without prior
experience, and two, fast water and other dangerous features
can sneak up on you quickly.
Bekah Poppe of Bloomfield said, “Be prepared to exit your
boat on short notice at dangerous stretches, and be prepared
to drag your boat if you lose the current on the lazy, wide
sections.” Dangerous chutes, rocky rapids, submerged trees,
log jams, wire fencing and low-head dams are also common
obstacles on remote Nebraska streams, many of which we
encountered while floating an unmapped stretch of the
Niobrara River between Nenzel and Valentine.
Also, make a game plan of where you will put in and
take out each day, plus have a plan B should those areas be
inaccessible. Don’t wing it. If possible, scout access points
20
Nebraskaland • July 2022
River kayaking can be done year round, although each
season will come with its own set of conditions. In spring,
fall and winter, water can be cold, which poses the risk of
hypothermia, and in spring, runoff and snowmelt contribute
to high and fast water. In kayaking, capsizing is not a matter
of if, but when. Even the most experienced kayakers can take
a spill.
Conversely during the warmer months, July through
September, water levels on prairie rivers can get quite low,
and during drought conditions, even groundwater-fed
streams such as the Niobrara can be affected — dragging
a boat down a river is nowhere near as fun as floating it.
So, check USGS water gauges to determine if water levels
and water temperature are adequate. Corman and his wife,
Jen, use this data to help them determine when to kayak a
particular route.
Transportation
Jamie Bachmann of Stanton enjoys bringing her dog Finn
kayaking. Not only is Finn a strong swimmer, he also takes
direction well.
Once you have figured out where you will kayak and when,
arranging transportation will be the next big piece in the
puzzle. At least two vehicles are needed — one to leave down
river at your take-out point and another to drop off people
and gear at the put-in site. Decide who will do the driving
beforehand, because it could be a long day for those who
volunteer.
Although my group of friends have shuttling people and
kayaks down to a science, many of them used an outfitter
before venturing out on their own. If you’re a newbie, save
yourself the headache and use a guide service. An outfitter
will handle all the logistics of dropping off you and your
kayak upriver, and they’ll pick you up at the end.
Graham Outfitters out of Valentine services the Niobrara
River, and they offer guided floats, shuttling and full-service
trips where they also take care of the camping and cooking.
Rachel Simpson of Lincoln has floated with them several
times.
“If you are a novice, the stretch from Fort Niobrara launch
down to Brewers Bridge at Graham’s Camp is the perfect place
to start and to go with someone more experienced,” Simpson
said. “Guides can teach you how to paddle and read the river
Danielle Shea of New Orleans, left, poses for a photo with
her mother, Marilyn Tabor of Raymond.
... That stretch has no chutes or portages, no downed trees
and is easy to navigate. I found this stretch of the Niobrara
gloriously peaceful. You can look around, relax and take a
break from paddling instead of worrying about what might
be coming around the bend.”
There are no guiding options on the Missouri River, but due
to the river’s accessibility, this is the river to take if you insist
on arranging your own transportation.
Camping
For camping, you have three options. Option A is to pack
the kayak with all your tent camping essentials and food,
and set up camp at public or private campsites along your
route. Option B is to set up a base camp and shuttle back to
the same place each night. Option C is to pay a full-service
outfitter to take care of everything. Each option has its pros
and cons.
Along the wild and scenic stretch of the Niobrara River,
Smith Falls State Park is the only public campsite. However,
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
21
there are several commercial campgrounds available, said
Corman. For information on outfitter-run campsites, visit
bit.ly/3asknnq.
On the Missouri River, you have several camping options:
bit.ly/3zovtnR.
Also, note regulations on open fires and firewood. No open
fires are allowed on wildlife management areas, and the
collection of firewood is prohibited. During dry conditions,
make sure to call ahead about fire bans on other Game and
Parks properties. Campers should plan on bringing their own
self-contained heat source if they must have one, such as a
small camp stove for cooking. In private campgrounds that
allow campfires, use local wood only to prevent the spread of
emerald ash borer.
Kayaking Essentials
Jen Corman of Bassett offers some great tips on packing:
“If kayaking in spring or fall, bring appropriate clothing and
gear to prevent hypothermia in case of an inevitable water
entry. I say inevitable, because I learned the hard way — it
was the ‘easy’ stretches and non-risky activities that got me.
Also, bring a dry bag for gear and food that shouldn’t get wet,
and use carabiners to secure items to your kayak or canoe in
case your boat capsizes. Any lines should be stashed in bags
or compartments to avoid entanglement hazards. I always
bring a headlamp, in case we are stuck on the river after
dark.”
Other essentials to bring:
Water
PFD
Pocket knife
Folding saw
Sunglasses
Food
Hat
Sunblock
Paddling gloves
Rain gear
River map
Face/hand wipes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jen Corman also added: “I have grown as a person, so now
I wear my PFD while kayaking instead of just stashing it on
the boat.” Also, wear secure sandals or water shoes instead
of flip flops.
Marilyn Tabor of Raymond is a fan of softshell coolers,
Use a waterproof phone case and dry bag to keep personal
items dry in the event of an unexpected water entry. Also,
you’ll appreciate a softshell cooler in 90-degree weather.
which she can stuff into one of the hatch compartments of her
kayak. These coolers are lightweight, watertight, and they
also float. You’ll appreciate having one when it’s 90 degrees.
“Freeze bottles of water to use for ice. Then when it melts,
the beer is probably gone and you have more water,” Tabor
said.
Eat perishable food first and then snack on foods like jerky,
protein bars, dried fruit, cheese and trail mix later. For meals,
freeze-dried food is lightweight and convenient, especially if
you plan on packing everything in your kayak. If you’re base
camping, your load will be so much lighter on the water for a
multi-day trip — only pack what you need for the day.
Portage Around Hazards
You aren’t likely to run into obstacles on more beginnerfriendly stretches of river, but you might when floating lessfrequented streams. You’ll have to get out to avoid them. The
potential for injury in attempting swift rapids and chutes is
high. Jen Corman advises:
“Listen ahead for rapids and obstructions. You should
always get out and scout significant rapids, even if you
have seen them before, and some rapids should never be
attempted,” she said. “Also, dangerous strainers can appear
overnight. Remember to be respectful of private property
during the trip, especially while portaging.”
Fog rises from the Niobrara River at sunrise at Anderson Bridge Wildlife Management Area south of Kilgore.
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
Sabrina Negus of Tilden floats the Niobrara River.
Kayak camping can take extensive planning and the
right people to make a trip come together, but when it does,
you will be rewarded with an unforgettable adventure
enjoying one of the most remarkable assets of our state:
our rivers and streams. What better way to immerse
yourself in the beauty of Nebraska’s river system than to
stay close? Kayak camping offers that intimate experience. N
A kayaker finds petrified wood and fossils
near the river.
Bekah Poppe of Bloomfield tackles a chute on the
Niobrara River.
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
23
Outdoor Nebraska
By Renae Blum
Have a summer adventure! The Nebraska outdoors awaits you this month.
Stargazing, picnicking, fishing and a fun triathlon all merit a place in your
summer plans. Read more below. N
Attend “Science
of Nebraska
Bats”
July 7, 3-4 p.m. Central time
Via Zoom
Misconceptions abound about
bats: They’re blind; they’re “rats
with wings;” they’re extremely
dangerous. All untrue! Join us
for a webinar with Game and
Parks experts to dispel the
myths and reveal the truth about
these amazing flying beings.
Registration is required; sign up
at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.
gov. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
Fish at Sandy Channel
State Recreation Area
Throughout the month | Kearney
Sandy Channel offers a series of sandpit
lakes with a variety of fishing opportunities,
including bluegill, crappie, channel catfish,
largemouth bass and even some muskies
and walleyes in Pit #8. The area also
received a boost with recent angler access
improvements. During the day, target panfish,
crappies and bluegills using a variety of small
jigs, focusing on shaded areas, weed beds and
fallen trees. JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
What To Do in July
Attend the
Nebraska Star
Party
July 24-29 | Merritt Reservoir
State Recreation Area,
Valentine
Merritt Reservoir features
some of the country’s best
views of the Milky Way. Join
stargazing enthusiasts and
newbies as we explore the
wonders of the nighttime sky.
Besides astronomical views,
there are plenty of recreational
opportunities to keep the entire
family entertained all week. See
more at NebraskaStarParty.org.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Participate in Crofton’s Dam Race
July 30 | Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area, Crofton
Run, bike or kayak in this fun opportunity at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area.
Choose your adventure between three events: a sprint triathlon with kayaking
instead of swimming, a half marathon or 12-mile bike race. Learn more at
Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
Have a picnic at a
state park
Throughout the month | Statewide
A picnic is the perfect way to enjoy a
peaceful, scenic setting, and with over 70
state park areas across the state, there are
likely some good picnicking opportunities
near you. Most state parks have picnic tables
and barbecue grills, and some have covered
picnic shelters. Pick a park with plenty of
trees for shade this month.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
July 2022 •
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25
Why You
Should Love
Wasps!
Story and photos by Chris Helzer
asps are amazing. No, seriously, they’re startlingly
cool. To begin with, there are more than 100,000 wasp
species that have been cataloged by science and many
more that haven’t. Among all those species, there is
incredible variation in size, shape, lifestyle and aggression
toward humans. Spoiler alert: Only a tiny percentage of
wasps pose any threat to us at all. Categorizing all wasps as
aggressive, winged canisters of pain is like categorizing all
Husker football fans as irrational optimists who always think
“this will be the year!” OK, maybe that’s not the best analogy.
Most of us are so obsessed with the pointy parts of wasps that
we know very little else about them. As an example, did you
know that adult wasps feed only on sweet liquids like nectar? I’ll
bet you didn’t. That doesn’t sound very evil, does it?
Next, let’s address the big topic on everyone’s mind. Yes, a
few wasp species determinedly defend their nests and will
sting you if you get too close. In addition, they don’t have
barbed stingers like honey bees do, so they can sting you
repeatedly. They take their nest defense very seriously.
There are two great ways to avoid being stung. First, stay
away from the nests of paper wasps, hornets, yellowjackets
and any other social wasps (more about them later). Second,
only females have stingers, so a big proportion of wasps are
completely harmless. As long as you can tell male wasps from
females, you’ll know which ones to avoid. To differentiate
between males and females, just count the number of
antennae segments. Females have 12, and males have 13.
Easy peasy.
W
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
Types of Wasps
Now that we’ve solved that problem, let’s dive into the
crazy diversity of wasps and their fascinating lives. First,
wasps can generally be categorized as being either parasitoid
wasps or stinging wasps. Parasitoid wasps don’t have nests.
Instead, females lay eggs directly on or in their prey. They
have a long ovipositor protruding from their rear end, through
which they can both inject venom and lay an egg. Wasps
inject their prey/host with venom first to either temporarily
subdue it or completely paralyze it. Then they deposit an
Paper wasps (Polistes sp) are social nesters that defend their colony aggressively but are also nectar feeders and
pollinators of flowers.
egg, which soon hatches into a larva and feeds on the host.
In order to keep the host alive long enough to get what it
needs, larvae often feed first on the internal fluids, followed
by the tissues, and then finally the vital organs. Aren’t you
glad parasitoid wasps only use insects and spiders as hosts?
Unlike parasitoid wasps, stinging wasps actively hunt and
capture prey and (most) take it to their nest to feed to their
larvae. Within the stinging wasp group, there are both social
and solitary species. Social wasps live in colonies, similar
to ants and some bees, and split up tasks like egg-laying,
foraging, feeding babies and defending the nest. Social wasps
generally don’t use their stingers on prey. Instead, they usually
kill their prey by chewing it up, either immediately or upon
returning to the nest. Then, they feed that pre-masticated goo
to their larvae.
While social wasps may not sting their prey, they’ll readily
sting anyone or anything that appears to threaten their
nest. If you’ve ever been attacked by a wasp, it was almost
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27
An eastern yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) nest in the
author’s garage. Yellowjackets are social nesters and defend
their nests, which are often found in and around human
dwellings. Because of this, they, along with paper wasps and
hornets, are the most likely to sting people.
certainly a female social wasp defending her colony. To be
fair, protecting one’s family is something we can all relate to.
It’s just that it hurts so much when paper wasps, hornets and
yellowjackets sting us — easy to see why they’re so vilified.
On the flip side, those species are often used as mascots
for athletic programs, a level of recognition less aggressive
wasps haven’t been given. You never see team jerseys with
“Mud Daubers” or “Pedestrian Mason Wasps” on the front.
Regardless, the vast majority of wasp species aren’t social
and don’t aggressively defend their nests. Most live much
more independent lives, earning them the name “solitary
wasps.” A female solitary wasp constructs a nest, lays eggs
and hunts down food for her larvae, all by herself. She has a
stinger and knows how to use it, but because she is the only
female in her “colony,” there’s usually too much risk involved
in fighting. If she dies, so do her babies and any chance she
has of passing along her genetics. As a result, she saves her
venom for the insects or spiders she provides for her larvae.
Female solitary wasps often create nests by digging long
subterranean burrows, but some species nest above ground
in old wood or by building their own homes out of mud. Once
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
they have a nest, they create a cell in which they deposit both
egg and food. They then seal up the cell to protect it from
enemies and weather. Once enclosed in its little chamber, the
egg is left alone to hatch, feed and mature into an adult on
its own.
The nests of social wasps include multiple generations
of individuals living together and dividing up the labor
involved in raising young. As with many social bees, like
honey bees and bumble bees, a small percentage of social
wasp individuals are raised by the colony to be reproductive
females. Those reproductives, also known as queens, mate in
the fall and store sperm in their bodies through the winter
months. In the spring, they start constructing a nest and
then use the saved sperm to fertilize eggs as they lay them
in the nest. The first generation produced is typically all
females, which take over the work of the colony, splitting into
Photos above and right: Female five-banded thynnid wasps
(Myzinum quinquecinctum) find, sting and lay eggs on scarab
beetle larvae underground. Both males and females feed
on flowers and males often congregate in large numbers
overnight. They are not aggressive toward people.
teams that specialize in either brood rearing, nest guarding or
foraging for prey, water or wood pulp. Males come along in
later generations, in time to be available for their only job:
mating with reproductive females before winter.
Not all wasps fit neatly into the solitary or social nesting
categories. Some, called subsocial nesters, follow the same
approach as solitary nesters except that the mother will
return to her eggs periodically to check on their feeding. If
needed, she’ll go out and find more food for them. Subsocial
nesters provide more interaction and care than solitary
wasps, but still don’t live long enough to see their kids mature
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29
Female noble scoliid wasps (Scolia nobilitata) feed their
young with scarab beetle larvae by digging into the ground
and laying eggs on them. Males spend their lives searching
for females to mate with. Both feed on nectar from many
different flowers.
into adults.
As mentioned earlier, parasitoids don’t need nests because
they are laying eggs right on their hosts. That saves a lot
of time, but doesn’t do much to protect their larvae, which
are feeding inside an immobile insect or spider that’s lying
out in the open. There’s a pretty good chance a predator or
scavenger will come pick up that helpless creature and eat
both it and the parasitoid larva within.
You may have noticed that I’m using a lot of words like
“often,” “generally” and “most” as I describe wasps and their
life histories. That’s because when you’re talking about more
than 100,000 species, there are exceptions to pretty much
every rule.
Cuckoo wasps, for example, are pretty exceptional. These
wasps don’t make their own nests or hunt their own prey.
Instead, they lay their eggs in the nests of other wasps or on
another wasp’s prey when it is left unattended, sometimes
while the wasp is building a nest to put it in. Also known as
Onyx thread-waisted wasp, probably — Prionyx sp, probably Prionyx atratus.
The onyx thread-waisted wasp hunts grasshoppers that are too big for her to carry. After paralyzing one, she’ll drag it to a
hiding place and dig a hole to bury it in before laying an egg on it.
cleptoparasites, cuckoo wasp larvae either consume the host
larva as it develops or they eat the host’s food supply. Either
way, the result is bad for the host.
Some cuckoo wasps will watch their host species and
try to find the right time to swoop in and lay their egg in
an untended nest or prey item. A few cuckoo wasp species
parasitize the nests of bees instead of other wasps. Cuckoo
wasps that target social wasp species will often take over the
nest of the other species, either by sneaking in or by force,
and then convince the workers in that colony to raise the
young of the usurper.
The great black wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) caches several
paralyzed katydids in an underground nest and lays an egg
on each one. Birds sometimes harass these wasps and steal
their prey before they can get them to the nest.
Wasp Habitat
Yellow-legged mud-daubers (Sceliphron caementarium) build
above ground tubular nests out of mud and fill them with
paralyzed spiders for their larvae to feed on. Their tubes are
often found on the sides of buildings.
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
The top photo shows a mud-dauber nest after the larva has
exited. The bottom photo shows the remains of a paralyzed
spider and discarded skins the wasp larva left after it grew
and molted.
Wasps have three basic needs for survival. Adults that build
nests need a place to build one, abundant insects or spiders to
feed to their kids, and enough food to keep themselves alive
until the first two jobs are done. Healthy ecosystems can
provide for all of those needs and contain a wide variety of
wasp species.
Ground nesting wasps dig burrows and tend to seek out
places where soil has been recently disturbed. Some nest
out in the open, but others will prioritize sites concealed by
vegetation or protected by overhanging rocks, etc. Digging
nests can be done in multiple ways, depending upon the
species. Many wasps use their forelegs to dig and have
specialized spines on those legs that act like a rake or shovel
to help excavate efficiently. Some use their mandibles to
loosen soil in front of them and then use their legs to sweep
the soil behind them. Thread-waisted wasps (Sphecidae) grab
the soil with their mandibles and then vibrate their thoracic
muscles in a way that creates a jackhammer-like effect.
There are numerous strategies for removing excavated soil
from the nest too, including bulldozing it, backwards, with
a flattened plate near their rear end or carrying it between
their mandibles and front legs.
Solitary, above-ground nesters construct a structure to
contain their egg chambers. Building above ground provides
more options for locations because they aren’t tied to
particular soil textures or conditions. It also allows wasps
to locate nests away from ground-based predators and other
threats, a strategy also employed by birds that nest in trees.
Most of these wasps use pre-existing cavities in trees, hollow
stems or other similar places to construct cells for eggs with a
combination of mud and plant materials. Some, though, build
free-standing cavities that resemble jugs or tubes, which
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31
This female sand wasp (Bembix americana) is reopening her nest burrow in a Sandhills blowout. She will catch and kill flies, in
the air, to feed her developing larvae, continuing to bring flies until the larvae are nearly full grown.
they can place wherever they like.
Yellowjackets and paper wasps create their large nests
by making their own building materials out of plant fibers.
They collect those fibers by gnawing them off dry wood or
grass stems. After carrying the material to the nest, they
gather water and regurgitate it onto the mass of fiber before
chewing it to the right consistency for building. It is thought
that secretions from the mandibles, similar to saliva, may
help further strengthen the resulting “paper” that is used to
construct the nests.
Food for both adult and larval wasps is tied strongly to
plant diversity. Since most adults feed on flower nectar, they
rely on both an abundance of flowers and a wide variety of
flowering plants. Most plants only flower for a few weeks a
year, but there are wasps looking for food throughout the
growing season, so it takes numerous plant species to ensure
a constant supply of nectar from spring through fall.
Wasps also need access to lots of invertebrates to capture
and/or lay eggs in. Because many wasps are particular
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
about the kind of prey they’re looking for, both diversity
and abundance of invertebrates is important. The richness
of invertebrate species is usually positively correlated with
plant diversity, so landscapes with lots of plant species will
provide well for the needs of both adult and larval wasps.
Not All Bad
By now, perceptive readers might have noted some
similarities between wasps and bees, as well as between
wasps and ants. That’s no accident, since bees and ants are
actually descendants of wasps. Evolutionarily speaking, ants
are just wasps that gave up flight, except when mating. Bees
are basically wasps that became vegetarian, feeding their
larvae pollen and nectar instead of meat. Ants with wings
look like wasps, and while bees are generally tubbier than
their skinny-waisted wasp cousins, some species require a
microscope and considerable expertise to determine if they
are one or the other. Ants and bees are fascinating in their
A thread-waisted wasp (Sphecidae) warms up in the morning sun on a purple prairie clover flower.
own right, but there are only 12,000 ant species in the world
and about 20,000 bee species. Whoop-de-doo.
Wasps tend to have a bad reputation among most people,
but if you’ve read this whole article, you’re not most people, are
you? You’re now in possession of an array of captivating facts
that will make you the envy of all your friends. Knowledge
comes with responsibility, however. Your job is now to bolster
the image of wasps among all those you come in contact with.
At a minimum, you can reassure people that most wasps
aren’t out to get them and rave about the incredible diversity
of wasps and their value as both pollinators and regulators of
insect and spider populations. Based on personal experience,
I’d be a little more circumspect about sharing the bits about
wasps paralyzing small creatures and feeding them to their
babies, but I guess that depends on your audience. N
Chris Helzer of the Nature Conservancy recommends the
book Wasps: Their Biology, Diversity and Role As Beneficial
Insects and Pollinators of Native Plants by Heather Holm.
Many wasps, including this tiny one on a Maximilian
sunflower, are so small they go unnoticed by most people.
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33
Clouds of Grasshoppers in 1874
By David L.
L Bristow,
Bristow History Nebraska
n a clear, hot July day a haze came
over the sun,” Addison Sheldon
recalled. “The haze deepened into
a gray cloud. Suddenly the cloud
resolved itself into billions of gray
grasshoppers sweeping down upon
the earth. The vibration of their wings
filled the ear with a roaring sound like
a rushing storm. As far as the eye could
reach in every direction the air was
filled with them. Where they alighted,
they covered the ground like a heavy
crawling carpet.”
Sheldon, a Nebraska historian, was
thinking back to when he was 13
years old during the severe drought
of 1874. From July 20 to July 30,
Rocky Mountain locusts (a species
of grasshopper) swarmed over the
central United States in numbers not
seen before or since. From Minnesota
to Texas, an estimated 12.5 trillion
grasshoppers consumed every green
thing in their path.
“In the hardest hit areas, the redlegged creatures devoured entire
fields of wheat, corn, potatoes,
turnips, tobacco, and fruit,” historian
Alexandra Wagner writes in a 2008
issue of Nebraska History Magazine.
“The hoppers also gnawed curtains
and clothing hung up to dry or still
being worn by farmers, who frantically
tried to bat the hungry swarms away
from their crops. Attracted to the
salt from perspiration, the over-sized
insects chewed on the wooden handles
of rakes, hoes, and pitchforks, and on
the leather of saddles and harnesses.”
The U.S. public responded with
charitable donations, as it had done
An engraving of a grasshopper, 1844.
“I
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
Grasshoppers could stop a train. As steel wheels crushed their bodies on the tracks, the rails became so slippery that the
steam engines could gain no traction. This scene near Plattsmouth, Nebraska, appeared in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.
History Nebraska RG3761-6-1
July 2022 •
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35
a few years earlier after the Great
Chicago Fire. Using public funds for
disaster relief was almost unheard of,
Wagner explains, but private charity
came with social stigma and strict
conditions. Farmers seeking help
from the Nebraska Relief and Aid
Association had to swear that they
had no money and nothing left to sell
— not even animals or seeds — before
receiving food assistance.
In November, Army Major N.A.M.
Dudley warned his superiors of
appalling conditions he had seen in
southwestern Nebraska:
“Relief must be given these people or
hundreds will starve before the winter
is half over ... The present aid they are
receiving is only a drop in the bucket.”
The region’s newspapers had
been downplaying the disaster, not
wanting to discourage immigration
to the Great Plains. Now the Omaha
Daily Republican estimated that
10,000 Nebraskans were in danger of
starvation. At last, state legislatures
and the U.S. Congress began
appropriating funds for food, clothing
and seeds for the following spring.
Rocky Mountain locusts returned
in other years, but the expansion of
farming so disrupted their habitat
that the species became extinct by the
early 1900s.
Wagner argues that grasshopper
relief efforts helped establish federal
and state government roles in disaster
relief and in aiding agricultural
producers.
Those
expectations
developed over the years, but 1874
arguably marks an early turning point.
You could say that grasshoppers helped
shape the world we live in today. N
Grasshoppers could destroy a cornfield in a matter of hours. History Nebraska
RG2570-94-09
Custer County farmer Swain Finch demonstrates in 1900 how he fought grasshoppers during an 1876 infestation. The crop was
a total loss. Photographer Solomon Butcher added a cloud of “hoppers” by scratching some into the emulsion and drawing
others with India ink. History Nebraska RG2608-2156h
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
Read Alexandra Wagner’s complete
article by searching for “grasshopper” at
history.nebraska.gov
A horse-powered grasshopper catcher, recommended in the 1877 Report of the Commissioner of Agriculture.
History Nebraska RA3358
July 2022 •
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37
Chasing Rainbows
Photos and story by Eric Fowler
At 6:24 p.m., the inky sky contrasts with green
dunes of the Sandhills bathed in diffuse sunlight
north of Pelican Lake on the Valentine National
Wildlife Refuge in Cherry County.
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
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39
TOP: Storm clouds roll over the
ridgetop between Pelican and
Whitewater lakes at 6:39 p.m.
BOTTOM: At 7:03 p.m., high winds
in the passing front spin a windmill
north of Pelican Lake.
try not to set in stone my
travel itineraries when I’m on a
Nebraskaland assignment. You
just never know when you will
need to take a detour.
That was the case in 2015 on a
trip to capture underwater fish photos
on the Valentine National Wildlife
Refuge. I’d planned on meeting friends
for dinner in Valentine, watching the
sun set along the Niobrara River, and
heading to the refuge the next day.
But as I watched a dark storm cloud
approach from the west as I drove up
Highway 83, I fired off a text to tell
them to eat without me, took a left
turn on Calf Camp Road and headed
toward Pelican Lake.
As diffuse sunlight made the lush,
I
40
Nebraskaland • July 2022
green grass of the Sandhills sparkle
beneath the ominous, blue-gray storm
clouds, I scrambled from one vantage
point to another, head on a swivel,
searching for the right combination of
foreground elements and sky. My haste
led to a momentary lapse of reasoning.
But with a near-simultaneous flash
of lightning and crash of thunder, the
good Lord reminded me I shouldn’t be
standing on a hill holding graphite
sticks during a storm. Thankfully, I
didn’t fall on my face running back
down the hill to the truck.
I waited for a little more than
hour for the rain to pass. When it
did, I stayed on its tail, chasing the
rainbows I hoped would appear when
the sun broke through and shined on
rain falling to the east. It finally did
a half-hour before sunset. While the
conditions weren’t perfect and the
rainbows didn’t really pop, I did catch
two, the last from a hill west of Dewey
Lake as the sun set and sweet, warm
light illuminated the prairie.
As a landscape photographer, you
simply hope the golden hours, the first
and last hour of light each day, live up
to their name. More often than not,
they don’t. On this evening, however,
I was treated to two golden hours in
one evening, one before and one after
the storm. Every time I look at this set
of images, I’m amazed at how good
the light was. I’ve never been happier
to have taken a detour and not only be
late for dinner, but miss it entirely. N
July 2022 •
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41
A double rainbow appears beyond the east end of Dewey Lake at 8:47 p.m.
The sun sets over Dewey Lake at 9:21 p.m.
TOP: At 9:04 p.m., the faint, tail-end
of a rainbow descends from a cloud
over the hills east of Dewey Lake.
BOTTOM: At 8:42 p.m., after the
storm has passed, a white-tailed
doe walks atop a ridge north of
Dewey Lake.
Looking the opposite direction from the same location at the same time as the
middle photo, a rainbow rises from the Sandhills.
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
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43
A final look as the storm
passed at 9:25 p.m.
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45
Nebraska’s Monkey-flowers
Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
o find roundleaf monkey-flower (Mimulus glabratus),
do not look high in the trees. Instead, head to the cold,
clear water streams of central and western Nebraska.
The plant’s favorite haunts include the slow shallows of
spring-fed Sandhills streams and the sandy-bottomed pools
of spring-branch canyon streams flowing into the central
Niobrara River. Avoid streams where agricultural runoff has
muddied the waters: You will be hard pressed to find it there.
Often growing partially submerged in water, roundleaf
monkey-flower has creeping stems that form loose colonies.
During summer, each leaf cluster sprouts a lone stalk topped
by a single, yellow flower. The flowers, and those of other
monkey-flowers, have five fused petals that form an upper
and lower lip.
To 16th century Swiss botanist Carl Linnaeus, the lips
formed a smile or grin, so he named the genus Mimulus, from
T
the Latin word mimus, meaning “grinning comic actor.” More
fertile imaginations saw within the flowers the face of a
monkey, especially when pinched from the sides. Thus, the
common name monkey-flower.
While there are more than 100 annual and perennial
species of Mimulus known worldwide, only four perennials
grow in Nebraska.
Though widespread throughout the western United
States and Canada, the yellow-flowered common monkeyflower (M. guttatus), despite its name, is uncommon in our
state. The plant has been collected from stream shallows in
Dundy, Keith and Garden counties and may occur elsewhere
in southwestern Nebraska, although groundwater pumping
has reduced stream flows and has likely caused its decline.
Common monkey-flower can be distinguished from roundleaf
monkey-flower by the reddish-brown spots on its lower lip
and upright growth form.
Nebraska’s two blue- to purple-flowered Mimulus are
sharp-wing monkey-flower (M. alatus), which inhabits
streambanks and seeps in our far southeastern woodlands,
and Allegheny monkey-flower (M. ringens), a common plant
of eastern and northern Nebraska streambanks, seeps, low
woodlands, sandbars and wetland fringes. These two robust,
colony-formers are similar in general appearance, but are
easily distinguished by sharp-wing’s stalked leaves compared
to Allegheny’s stalk-less leaves.
Native Americans once used monkey-flowers as food and
medicine. Several tribes ate the stems and leaves of our yellowflowered species fresh and boiled. The Shoshoni applied the
crushed leaves of common monkey-flower to soothe wounds
and rope burns. The Iroquois made a decoction of Allegheny
monkey-flower roots as a wash to counteract poisons.
Today, wildflower enthusiasts are less familiar with the
monkey-flowers, as well as other wetland wildflowers, than
they are with prairie and woodland wildflowers. This could
be because they rarely venture to areas where their feet
might get wet. But now that you are familiar with monkeyflowers, perhaps it is time to seek them out. Do not worry:
Your shoes will dry. N
An Escaped Monkey-flower
Common monkey-flower illustrated by Mary Morris
Vaux Walcott (1860-1940). She was an American
artist and naturalist known for her watercolor
paintings of wildflowers. She has been called the
“Audubon of Botany.”
A roundleaf monkey-flower blooms below a spring seep in the Niobrara River Valley in Brown County.
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
Allegheny monkey-flower growing on an Elkhorn River
sandbar in Antelope County.
In the early 19th century, common monkey-flower
from North America was introduced to Europe,
where it escaped from water gardens into the wild.
Without the checks of its North American pests
and diseases, it ran rampant in areas of soggy soils,
displacing native plants. Plainly, Americans are
not the only ones that introduce non-native plants
that lead to ecological and, sometimes, economic
boondoggle.
Sadly, we continue these introductions for various
and often dubious reasons: as “beautiful and
hardy” landscaping flowers and shrubs; proteinand mineral-rich legumes “guaranteed to grow
trophy bucks”; or gigantic grasses to produce
“environmentally-friendly” ethanol. Almost always,
native plants can fill these same roles.
While the promoters of these non-natives hope
to line their pockets, it is poor Mother Nature who
suffers, as well as the landowners and county
governments who spend millions attempting to
eradicate these invaders from roadsides, pastures,
woodlands, wetlands and crop fields. When will we
learn?
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
47
Hitting the Trails
1. Footwear — Choose quality shoes
and boots to match the terrain and
weather. If your feet are comfortable,
there’s a better chance you will be,
too.
9
A Hiking Primer
By Justin Haag
T
2. Clothing — Layer up with moisturewicking materials and carry an extra
set.
3. Sun Protection — Your mom is right:
Bring sunscreen. A hat with a full brim
protects both the face and neck.
1
o enjoy Nebraska’s diverse landscapes
and natural resources, it pays to go by
foot. And, if going by foot, it pays to be
prepared. Let this list of essential items
help get you ready to tackle the trails. N
6
10
11
For a map of hiking trails at parks throughout
the state, visit Maps.OutdoorNebraska.org
4. Navigation — Especially if in
unfamiliar territory, use multiple
methods to find your way, such as
phone apps, GPS unit and a paper map
with compass.
5. Knife/Multi-tool — You’ll need it to fix
gear, slice rope or just for whittling a
stick.
6. Balancing Aids — Whether it’s a
traditional wooden staff or collapsible,
shock-absorbing trekking poles, it’s
helpful to have something to keep you
upright. A carefully selected stick from
the wild usually works, too.
4
7. Insect Spray — Bug bites aren’t fun.
8. Water — Stay hydrated. Size of
container depends on length of the
trip, but always plan to have more
than you think you will need.
9. Food — Low-maintenance options
such as trail mix, apples, granola bars
and tortillas will help keep your focus
on the journey instead of dining.
3
5
12
10. Backpack — Packs with either an
internal or external frame are most
comfortable. However, frameless
packs are lighter.
13
11. First-Aid Kit — Accidents happen. Be
ready.
7
8
12. Headlamp — It doesn’t take up much
space, so it’s good insurance to carry
one even for mid-day trips. A flashlight
works, too, but hands-free operation
is useful.
13. Trash Bag — Leave no trace. Even for
short adventures, you can pick up
what others have left behind.
2
14. Optics — A small set of binoculars will
help you get a good look at what you
came for: nature. A camera will help
you record it.
14
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
49
MIXED BAG
GETTING ALL MUSHY ABOUT MUSH, JOHNNY
By Roger Welsch
My days of backpacking or putting together a carefully
controlled inventory of supplies for a couple of days on a
Nebraska river are pretty much over now that I’m 84 years old.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t still enjoy camp food made over
an open fire, just like the old days. In fact, in my cuisine, one of
the most important ingredients is fire, complete with smoke
and ashes. Another absolute necessity for camp cookery is
cornmeal or polenta (once an Italian dish of various grain or
nut meals but now understood and marketed as a slightly
coarser
cornmeal),
which is low weight,
easily stored and
wonderfully versatile.
I
suppose
it’s
obvious that freshlycaught catfish benefits
from being rolled
in and coated with
cornmeal before frying,
but less appreciated
is the convenience
and versatility of
cornmeal
dishes
served with morning
coffee. Nothing is
easier or quicker than
a batch of cornmeal
mush whipped up for
breakfast.
Oh, I can hear the
swoosh of noses being
turned up. “Eeeuuuw!
Mush!” Some foods
suffer
from
poor
branding. Corn smut,
the ugly, blueish
globs that sometimes
blemish garden corn is
much tastier and a lot
more expensive when
it is served in a fancy
restaurant as “cuitlacoche” or “maize mushroom.” The only
three-star restaurant where I’ve eaten was in England, and
the meal came with a vegetable delicacy known as oyster
plant, which I quickly identified as plain old Meadow salsify,
as common in Nebraska as dandelions. Maybe all we need to
do is relabel mush with a fancy name, something like “maize
al Italiano” or “polenta sur le feu.”
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
Thing is, mush is even within my modest cooking skills.
A half cup of cornmeal, a half cup of water, and if you really
want to get fancy, a dash of salt and/or sugar, and there
you are. Boil the water, stir in the cornmeal, keep stirring
over heat for three or four minutes until the mixture starts
to get firm, and you have breakfast. But cornmeal doesn’t
have to be just cornmeal. Throw in a handful of mulberries,
nuts, white oak acorns, raisins or morels. Add some honey
or maple syrup, maybe some sweetening from the juice of
the cut wild grapevine
or dripping from
the end of a broken
maple branch in early
spring. Elderflowers
or
berries,
sand
cherries, wild grapes,
or gooseberries, and
now you’re talking
gooooorMET!
Set
whatever
“polenta sur le feu” is
left aside a bit longer
and it becomes the
Johnny Cake — fried,
grilled or eaten cold.
Sliced and thrown
into a pan with a little
bacon grease or butter
and you have the stuff
of a second breakfast
or early lunch. In fact,
those early morning
plans to load up and
move on might just
as well be set aside
for a while. Might as
well wait until the sun
dries the gear of the
morning dew before
setting off. In fact,
why not bait the set
lines, pick some more mulberries, and enjoy this camp one
more night while the eatin’s good.
Roger Welsch is an author, humorist, folklorist and a former
essayist for CBS News Sunday Morning. He is the author of more
than 40 books and has been contributing to NEBRASKAland
Magazine since 1977.
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
51
MIXED BAG
SURVEYING FOR
PLANT PESTS
By Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Emerald ash borer trap.
JULIE VAN METER, NDA
Each year, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture
Entomology Program surveys for exotic and invasive plant
pests across Nebraska. A majority of these pests are not
known to occur in Nebraska, and surveys help with early
detection and rapid response, should a pest be found. Survey
data is used to determine the presence or absence of these
pests and can help maintain or even open new markets for
Nebraska agricultural products.
When planning a survey, NDA staff considers factors
including pest biology, preferred hosts and possible pathways
for introduction into the state. Many of these surveys are done
in partnership with USDA Plant Protection and Quarantine,
using standardized national survey protocols.
The emerald ash borer trap is hard to miss. At more than
two feet tall and bright purple, it is definitely eye-catching.
Traps are baited with a pheromone lure and hung in the
canopy of ash trees. Adult beetles fly into the trap and are
caught on the sticky surface.
Lindgren funnel traps are used to survey for many
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
Lindgren funnel trap.
CRANSHAW, BUGWOOD.ORG
Wing or delta trap.
CAROTHERS, BUGWOOD.ORG
different insects, including velvet longhorned beetle and
walnut twig beetle. The shape of the trap mimics a tree
trunk and is baited with a pheromone lure. Insects fly into
the traps and end up in the collection cup at the bottom of
the funnels.
Wing traps and delta traps can be utilized for a variety of
flying insects, especially moths. A pheromone lure is placed
inside the trap, and insects get stuck when they fly or crawl
inside.
State parks and campgrounds are often included in plant
pest surveys, because invasive pests can easily hitchhike
on firewood and recreational vehicles. Visitors may notice
insect traps while exploring their favorite park or camping
area. While these traps may cause a few second looks, they
pose no danger to humans.
Firewood can spread invasive plant pests. Help protect
our state by using locally-harvested firewood whenever you
camp. Do not take firewood camping; get it when you arrive.
Leave leftover firewood behind; don’t bring it back with you.
For more information on NDA’s plant pest surveys, visit our
website at nda.nebraska.gov/plant/entomology/index.html.
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
53
MIXED BAG
GEOCACHING GAME SHOWCASES STATE PARKS
By Renae Blum
Summer is in full swing, and if
you’re looking for something fun to do
outdoors, the Venture Park Adventure
makes for an engaging afternoon or
weekend.
This nontraditional geocaching
game will take you to four metroarea state parks: Platte River State
Park, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park,
Schramm Park State Recreation Area
and Louisville State Recreation Area.
Using an app, you’ll navigate to special
points of interest in the park, where
instead of searching for caches, you’ll
answer questions about what you see.
Program manager Kelly Ekue says
it’s perfect for anyone who enjoys the
Great Park Pursuit or the Nebraska
Passport program. “I have completed
it in two hours, but I would plan for
four hours if someone wanted to go
fishing, hiking, or plan a picnic or other
activities in the parks as they go,” she
Geocaching at Platte River State Park.
54
Nebraskaland • July 2022
said.
The program makes it easy to do so,
showcasing a variety of landmarks
or park features that invite further
exploration. One of the sites is near
Crawdad Creek, a relatively new
feature at Platte River State Park
where kids can get muddy and interact
with minnows, tadpoles, crawdads
and frogs.
Questions are relatively simple to
answer and involve some aspect of
the surroundings at each site, such as
the color of a bench or the wording
on a sign. To answer each question,
you need to get fairly close to the park
feature in question, and then the app
“unlocks” the question.
Since its start in 2020, over 100
participants have taken part in
the Venture Park Adventure, with
66 participants completing all six
questions between the four parks.
“What a great way to see these
wonderful parks!” one participant
commented. “Take your time and
do some hiking. The start of this
adventure lab is based off your location
so you can start at any of the parks
listed. So much fun.”
For those looking to take their
time, overnight lodging options are
available at Louisville, Platte River
and Mahoney.
To start, download
the
Geocaching
Adventure Lab mobile
app. Use your phone’s
QR code scanner to open
this adventure in the app, or use the
following URL: Labs.geocaching.com/
goto/NGPCVentureAdventure.
A low to moderate amount of
walking is required to complete the
course. A valid Nebraska state park
entry permit is required for all vehicles.
RENAE BLUM, NEBRASKALAND
July 2022 •
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55
MIXED BAG
FIVE TRAILS TO HIKE THIS SUMMER
By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist
While Nebraska doesn’t have snowcovered Rocky Mountains or scenic
views of the Pacific Ocean, that
doesn’t mean that we don’t have great
places to go hiking. Read on about five
places in Nebraska that will surely
become new favorites.
WINDLASS HILL TRAIL
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
Ash Hollow State Historical Park
near Lewellen was a major stopover on
the Oregon and California trails, and
ruts etched by west-bound wagons are
still visible on the bluffs. The park
offers nearly 9 miles of trails total,
but if you’re looking for a place to hike
where there’s little chance of running
into people, then Windlass Hill Trail
might be for you. Although Windlass
is only a ½-mile loop, it can be
moderately challenging. Take it slow
and admire the wildflowers, listen for
grassland birds and be on the lookout
for a variety of wildlife.
LAKE OGALLALA TRAIL
Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area
Looking for a longer hike? Lake
Ogallala Trail offers 9 miles around
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
the “little lake,” located on the east
side of Kingsley Dam and next to
massive Lake McConaughy. This
little jaunt will take you around the
campgrounds and water, and the best
time to go is March through October as
the flowers will be in bloom, wildlife
will be abundant, and the weather
will be most favorable. Lake Ogallala
Trail is also a fantastic place to view
waterfowl, grassland birds, owls and
eagles.
rare beauties in the state. Day hikers
will find a variety of trails to suit
their moods, with the most scenic
views along the Missouri River. The
Rock Bluff Run Trail’s 5.9-mile loop
is somewhat challenging due to the
steep elevation gain and often washedout sections. However, accept the
challenge, and you will be rewarded by
this park’s diversity in flora and fauna.
The trails are also open year-round.
HIT THE
TRAILS
WITH US
Find horse-friendly campsites
and new trails to explore at
OutdoorNebraska.org/Equestrian.
TOADSTOOL TRAIL
Ogalala National Grassland
This trail is technically a little under
1 mile, but it is one of the best hiking
trails in the Midwest. And don’t let
its short length fool you. There are
many shorter loop trails and side
trails to explore farther. The scenery
and the epic geological formations at
Toadstool will keep you there longer
than you planned.
ROCK BLUFF RUN TRAIL
Indian Cave State Park
Located in southeastern Nebraska,
Indian Cave State Park is one of those
NIOBRARA LOOP TRAIL
Niobrara State Park
If you’re looking for a beautiful
walk rather than a strenuous hike, I
suggest visiting Niobrara State Park
in northeastern Nebraska. For me, it’s
not always about hiking, but rather
enjoying being in nature and taking
photos. This 1.6-mile loop is great
for wildlife viewing, hiking and trail
running, with the confluence of the
Missouri and Niobrara rivers in the
background. Prairie grass covers the
hills for half of the hike and the other
half is closed in by forested areas.
Niobrara State Park offers 14 miles of
trails total.
Wherever you decide to hike this
summer, remember to stop and enjoy
the magnificent beauty that outdoor
Nebraska has to offer.
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
57
MIXED BAG
A DIFFERENT BAIT SHOP
By Tim McNeil
58
Nebraskaland • July 2022
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
It’s always wise to keep your garage door closed and locked
at night. And not just at night, but at all hours of the day.
Larry Dendinger knows there’s wisdom in safeguarding home
possessions and personal safety, but he runs a 24-hour-a-day,
seven-days-a-week business from his garage. His garage door
is always open.
Dendinger, 75, owns L&A Bait in southwest Omaha. It’s not
the first bait shop he’s owned — Dendinger is an accidental
bait store owner. From 1985 to 1998, Dendinger operated
Millard Bait & Tackle from a storefront in a shopping plaza.
Born and raised in Hartington, Nebraska, Dendinger’s
childhood included milking cows, trapping varmints and
feeding hogs, and in between farm chores, he fished Lewis
and Clark Lake, the Missouri River, farm ponds and Gavins
Point Dam.
“I’d go to nearby creeks and seine my own minnows,”
Dendinger said about a once-common practice that is now
outlawed in Nebraska.
After graduating from high school, Dendinger operated
heavy equipment for Cedar County. He didn’t know it then,
but his experience as a heavy equipment operator would
come in handy as a bait shop owner.
Dendinger’s brother-in-law encouraged him to move to
Omaha and work for the Western Electric Company. As a
heavy equipment operator, he could make more money in one
week than in a month. So, he moved in 1969 and worked 40
to 48 hours a week. But the slow pace didn’t satisfy the harddriving, adventurous Dendinger. He left Western Electric in
1979 and opened a lawn service company — Dendinger Lawn
& Garden. He and nine employees landscaped, fertilized and
mowed lawns around Omaha. He still operates the company
today as its only employee.
Between yard work and raising three children, Dendinger
still found time to fish. He joined Cornhusker Bass Club and
competed in tournaments. He got his minnows at Millard
Bait & Tackle.
One day, the store owner said to him, “Why don’t you buy
me out?”
“I don’t need more work,” Dendinger replied.
Around that time, Millard Bait & Tackle was to permanently
close its doors, and the owner tossed Dendinger a set of keys.
“Look it over,” he said, meaning the shop. “This is what I
want out of it.” He quoted Dendinger a sales price.
Dendinger went home and talked it over with his wife,
Adrian. “We thought, ‘Why not?’” A few days later, the
Dendingers were bait shop owners.
They expanded Millard Bait & Tackle and relocated to a
larger storefront in the same shopping plaza. Adrian had a
significant role in managing the business. Meanwhile,
Dendinger kept the lawn service business going.
Then in 1998, he sold Millard Bait & Tackle. Adrian’s health
was starting to decline. She had a stroke shortly after the
sale. Between 1998 and 2012, the shop changed owners five
times until it eventually closed.
Now that they had one business, life was admittedly slower
for the Dendingers. Then a South Dakota bait representative
showed up at their front door. He tried convincing Dendinger,
a former customer, to open a bait store in Omaha. He said
local fishermen were underserved because of the dearth of
bait shops in the area.
However, Dendinger wasn’t interested in owning another
bait shop. His lawn service was thriving, and Adrian’s health
wasn’t great. He gave the sales rep the names of two Omaha
men who might have an interest in opening a store, but the
men declined. The rep came back to Dendinger, who finally
relented.
“I told him I’d open a bait shop, but only if I could do it out
of my home.”
Subsequently, the Omaha Planning Board didn’t like
Dendinger’s plan and rejected his application. His property
didn’t have enough parking space.
“I told the board that what I wanted to do was no different
than operating a small sweet-corn stand,” Dendinger said.
“People will come in and out of the bait shop in minutes,
because they know what they want to buy.”
Never one to be deterred by obstacles, Dendinger
approached the union hall next door. He got permission to
use their parking lot. In exchange, he agreed to mow their
lawn and plow the lot when it snowed.
Dendinger had what he needed to open L (Larry) & A
(Adrian) Bait. But there was a final obstacle. Adrian’s health
was getting worse. She couldn’t give any time to the new
store, and Dendinger still had the lawn service and many
customers to consider. He couldn’t simultaneously operate
L&A Bait and the lawn service, so he did the unthinkable.
Rather than hire an employee, Dendinger decided to do
business by the honor system. Shoppers would choose from
his inventory and deposit their money through a slot on a
wall.
“My friends and family thought I was crazy,” Dendinger
said. “But they didn’t know what I knew. Sportsmen are
trustworthy people.”
The inventory at L&A Bait includes red worms,
nightcrawlers, chubs, minnows, green sunfish, golden
shiners, chicken liver, catfish bait, leeches, ice and minnow
buckets.
“I have an excellent customer base — ice fishermen and
open water fishermen.”
Dendinger raises his bait on a 78-acre farm south of Yutan.
It has 13 small ponds that he dug with a CAT excavator, the
same piece of equipment he operated in Cedar County nearly
50 years ago. Unfortunately, the many mounds of black dirt
ringing the ponds can’t fill the giant hole in Dendinger’s heart
left by Adrian’s death last December. But it keeps him busy.
He visits his Yutan farm to check on the ponds every day.
Many times, it’s dark when he returns to his home in Millard.
The L&A Bait sign above the garage is always lit, and the
double wide door is open for any trustworthy sportsmen.
Water gurgles in aluminum tanks, and every day, at every
hour, at every minute … of the year, a ceiling light illuminates
a sign fastened to one of the tanks: It says “Honor System.”
July 2022 •
Nebraskaland
59
PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST
Pheasant Hunt near Beaver City, 1978
This is the Martin gang from around Beaver City.
From the back left: Mitch, Jeff, Tom, Ron, Rick
and Gary (me). Front row: Tye and Scott.
– Gary Martin, Omaha
Pheasant Hunt near Wakefield, 1988
This photo was taken in the fall of 1988 on the family farm southwest of Wakefield.
My brother, Ed (middle), was home on leave from the Marine Corps. The four brothers
left to right are Gerald, Les, Ed, Rod (me) and my son, Erik, who was 7 years old. My
brother, Gerald, had a .410 gauge that we teasingly referred to as his “pop gun.” The
gun I’m holding is a single shot 20 gauge Winchester Model 37. It was a Christmas gift
from my dad when I was 12 years old, purchased at the Fullerton Hardware store in
Wakefield. I still have that gun. My dad was so impressed with it he drove into town
and purchased the same model in 16 gauge. I have that gun also. I also have the .410
and 12 gauges. Looking for the 28 gauge, but they are rare and expensive!
I am now 70 years old, and my son Erik is now the hunter in the family with many
trophies to his credit.
– Rod Haglund, Wakefield
Rabbit Hunting near
Lodgepole, 1921
My grandfather John Kripal
(right) and his brother Anton
posing for this picture at their
farm outside of Lodgepole.
For many days, rabbits
were the main course for
the evening meal. John and
Anton both enjoyed hunting
for their dinner. Grandpa later
settled in Hebron and at one
point owned a car
dealership there.
– Rick Meyer,
Houston, Texas
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, Nebraskaland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Or e-mail to Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov.
Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have been taken before 2000. We will give
priority to unusual photos or activities. When possible, please include a story about the photograph and identify the people, places and approximate date it was
taken. Text may be edited and photos adjusted for reproduction. All photos will be returned.
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
THE LAST STOP
Share your photos
with
on social media
DON’T CULL TOO HARD
By Jeff Kurrus
I thought this was a cover photo. I
was convinced of it.
I had captured the image in summer
2007, not yet a year on the staff at
Nebraskaland Magazine, and at that
time, I framed every cover photo I
had taken on my office wall. Having
cut my teeth writing articles for
publications throughout the country,
I remained extremely proud, and a bit
surprised, any time a photo of mine
was published.
I also thought I had all the answers,
so when I was working on an American
bullfrog natural history story for the
August/September 2009 publication, I
knew what the cover photo should be.
So I took it to our longtime art
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Nebraskaland • July 2022
director, Tim Reigert, and expressed my
opinion. He nodded pleasantly enough
and then made a simple request: “Let
me see all the images you shot, not just
your picks.”
In our world, we probably save one
out of 10 images. We repeatedly tell
each other, and are told by our bosses,
to “cull hard.” But I always remember
this set of bullfrog photos from more
than 16 years ago, and if I had culled
too hard, Reigert wouldn’t have had
the opportunity to see what he saw —
the possibility of this cover image.
The cover image remains one of my
favorite photographs ever, and one of
my first and greatest lessons in this
industry — don’t cull too hard.
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