Hopes fade that Connors Lake loon egg will hatch

Sit and wait. That's what the popular Connors Lake Loon Cam, which is streaming live, has shown the past few weeks as a Pacific loon sits on an egg in its nest, perched on a man-made island in the Anchorage lake.

According to Jean Tam, who the Anchorage Audubon Society has dubbed the Connors Lake Loon Cam Wizard, the egg was laid June 14 or 15 "and the pair started incubating it. They have been sitting on it almost continuously since then."

[Loon Cam live stream]

In recent days, Tam's optimism has faded. Eggs typically hatch 25 days after they're laid. In this case, that's July 10.

"I don't think it's going to happen this year," Tam said. "I think it's not a viable egg."

Last year, the same loon laid two eggs, producing one chick. Three years ago, neither of two eggs hatched.

"We just keep watching," Tam said. "When they eventually abandon the nest, we'll get the egg and give it to a biologist."

Loons can live about 18 years. Tam first set up the loon cam in 2003.

Denali reopens site of recent bear attack

Denali National Park officials Monday will launch what they term a "soft opening" of sections closed when a young grizzly bear obtained human food and attacked a hiker in the Savage River area.

Because no reports of the bear have been received since July 1, "limited and incremental" openings will begin next week.

On Monday:

• Closed portions of Denali Park Road will reopen to private vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• The Primrose area will reopen to park buses and for ranger-led programs.
• The Savage Cabin Trail will reopen to hikers.
• Both Savage River parking areas will reopen, although the Savage Alpine and Savage Loop Trails remain closed.
• The Mountain Vista picnic area will reopen, but the Mountain Vista trails remain closed.
• The Savage River bus stop will reopen.
• Savage River Campground will open to hard-sided vehicles.

Other openings will follow later in the week.

[Full details]

Anchorage invasive weeds targeted

Beware, mayday trees. Anchorage's sixth annual Weed Smackdown begins 10 a.m. Saturday, and the trees are high on the most-wanted list.

Residents will join municipal, state and federal biologists in an effort to evict harmful invasive plants. Volunteers will get a free lunch, T-shirt and a chance to win prizes.

The Anchorage Parks Foundation says the European bird cherry, also known as a mayday tree, is quickly taking over Anchorage woodlands.

"In the worst infestations, the mayday trees have completely crowded out all other trees and vegetation — plants that moose, salmon and people rely on for food," according to a press release from Tim Stallard of the Anchorage Parks Foundation. "In rare situations, the mayday trees can even poison moose."

Other invasive culprits include elodea, reed canary grass, purple loosestrife, Canada thistle and giant hogweed. The latter can cause painful rashes.

Volunteers should meet at the picnic shelter on the southwest corner of Taku Lake Park. Weeding continues until 2 p.m.

Plummeting lynx population triggers restrictions

Due to a low cycle in Southcentral lynx populations now "considered scarce," Alaska Department of Fish and Game biologists are restricting hunting and trapping season in Game Management Units 14A, 14B and 16.

Those units are in the Mat-Su, on both sides of the Susitna River and north to the Talkeetna River.

The two-month hunting season will run Dec. 1-Jan. 31, with a bag limit of two lynx. The trapping season runs Dec. 15-Jan. 31 with no bag limit. Previously, the seasons ran Nov. 10 through the end of February.

About 2,100 lynx were sealed after harvest in Southcentral last year.

The Southcentral lynx population is generally on a 12-year cycle "and we are currently in the low end," said Fish and Game biologist Todd Rinaldi. "Observations of hares have been increasing throughout the region, which will eventually give rise to an increase in lynx."

Campbell Creek greenbelt getting a facelift

A $557,000 project to improve a seven-mile section of the Campbell Creek greenbelt between Dimond and Lake Otis boulevards, approved by Anchorage voters in April, is set to begin.

More than half of the money — $295,000 — will come from a U.S. Forest Service Landscape Restoration grant. The rest is coming from the city, the Anchorage Park Foundation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the state.

Invasive plants will be removed, with native vegetation planted to help stabilize stream banks. Other efforts will aim to boost creek stewardship.

Campbell Creek is home to five species of salmon as well as rainbow trout, moose, bears and beavers. The greenbelt is heavily used by hikers, skiers, bikers and anglers. It also sees polluted runoff that degrades aquatic and wildlife habitat and increases flooding risks.