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SpruceNeedle's Stats

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3 Product Reviews
19 Forum Posts


SpruceNeedle.com - Community for Outdoor Adventurers

SpruceNeedle.com Message Board

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 Poison Ivy to get Itchier with Global Warming Message #20
News reports this morning are indicating that poison ivy vines will grow faster and bigger as the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere rise. In fact, studies have shown the poison ivy vine can grow 3 times larger!

Vines that grow with an increase in carbon dioxide levels also produce more of its rash-causing chemical, urushiol.  Urushiol can cause an itchy blistering rash on hikers when they come in contact with the leaves of a poison ivy plant.

Details of the study can be found in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.


comments (0 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 12:34:38 EST
 
 Canadian Halts his Everest Climb to Rescue Man Message #19
A man from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Andrew Brash, and his climbing group, halted their summit of Mount Everest to rescue another man that was left for dead on Everest this week.

Lincoln Hall, an Australian climber, had reached the summit with his Russian-led expedition.  When he began his decent, Lincoln Hall became delirious - a sign of fluid on the brain.  His team decided he could not be moved and they reported to Hall's wife and teenage sons that he had died on the mountain.

Hall spent the night alone at 8,700 metres before Andrew Brash and his team found him the next morning.  They gave him tea and oxygen and a radio for communication.  Sherpas moved him to a warm tent and gave him medical attention.

Brash gave up his chance of reaching the summit to help Hall.  He was only 200 metres from the top of Mount Everest.  His wife said "I'm sure he has some mixed emotions, maybe not right now, but in... Click here for full article.


comments (1 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Sunday, May 28, 2006 - 18:47:09 EST
 
 Man left to die on Everest Message #18
As David Sharp lay dying, gasping for air, on Mount Everest, more than 40 climbers passed by him, offered no assistance, and continued their climb.

David Sharp, a British mountaineer, died of oxygen deficiency on his descent from the summit of Mount Everest.

The mountaineering world has been roiled from the death and accusations of inhumanity have been expressed at the climbers who didn't come to his assistance.

Sir Edmund Hillary, the first to reach the summit of the mountain, has said ""Human life is far more important than just getting to the top of a mountain.  It was wrong if there was a man suffering altitude problems and was huddled under a rock, just to lift your hat, say 'good morning' and pass on by."

Other climbers have said they were taught to never risk their own life to save another person.  David Sharp was only about 1,000 feet short of the 29,035-foot summit.  Carrying him to safety would have been imposs... Click here for full article.


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Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Thursday, May 25, 2006 - 11:24:10 EST
 
 Sherpa Guide Reaches Mount Everest Peak for the 16th Time Message #17
Appa, a sherpa guide who carries gear and supplies up Mount Everest for trekkers and mountaineers, has reached the top of Mount Everest for the 16th time!  No one else has reached the peaks of Mount Everest more times than Appa.

Appa, who is 46, and his family, rely on the $1500 he earns from his annual climb.

Since New Zealander Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit of Mount Everest on May 29, 1953, more than 1,400 climbers have scaled the peak. Another 180 people have died trying.


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Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Friday, May 19, 2006 - 11:27:37 EST
 
 Grizzly-Polar Bear Cross Message #16
Sport hunter Jim Martell of Idaho thought he was shooting a polar bear on a recent guided hunting expedition in Canada's Northwest Territories, but when the went to collect the animal they noticed it's strange colouration.

The Department of the Environment and Natural Resources collected the bear and did genetic tests.  After all, if it turned out to be a grizzly bear, Martell would not only lose his trophy, he'd be charged for shooting a grizzly bear that he didn't have a tag for - punishable with up to 12 months in jail!

The bear turns out to be a very rare Grizzly Bear - Polar Bear cross. It may be the first one every known of in the wild.

Since the two species of bear mate in completely different environments - polar bears on ice, and grizzy's on land - it is nearly impossible for the two species to mate.

Martell, who spent $50,000 on his hunting trip, will get to keep the hide after all.


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Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Wednesday, May 10, 2006 - 17:03:07 EST
 
 Bald Eagles Hatching on Web Cam! Message #15
Live from British Columbia, you can watch two bald eagle eggs hatch!

Doug Carrick set up the webcam in his back yard, hidden just above an eagle's nest.

With the hatching expected at any moment this weekend, the website delivering the cam feed has recorded over 3.3 million hits a day!

The webcam can be found here: http://www.infotecbusinesssystems.com/wildlife/default.asp


comments (2 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Saturday, April 29, 2006 - 20:56:46 EST
 
 World's Smallest Fish Discovered Message #14
In Thailand, scientists have discovered the a species that now holds the record as being the world's smallest fish species.

These fish are called Paedocypris progenetica and belong to the carp family.  They only grow to be 7.9 millimetres or 0.31 inches in length.  They have see-through bodies and heads that are not protected by a skeleton.

The interesting thing about these fish, is that they only live in acid swamps. They prefer the water to have a pH of 3, which is at least 100 times more acidic than rainwater.  Water like this is found in acidic peat swamps.

Researchers used to believe these acidic swamps were the home to no life, but recent research has shown they are highly diverse and home to many species that occur nowhere else.

To see a photo:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/01/26/tiny.fish.ap/index.html


comments (0 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Sunday, January 29, 2006 - 10:43:05 EST
 
 Random Species Message #13
I have just added a new feature to this website. In the right hand column you'll find a link to a random species (wildflower, tree, mammal, reptile, amphibian, bird, insect, spider, butterfly, or fish) information sheet.  When you click on the link, a smaller window will open with information about that species, and often a photo, courtesy of eNature.com.

Enjoy!


comments (0 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 21:46:30 EST
 
 Rock slide kills tourists, guides on Mt. Kilimanjaro Message #12
As grateful as I am that my family climbed Kilimanjaro in the fall instead of now, my thoughts are with the families of the tourists killed on Mt. Kilimanjaro yesterday.

Here is the news release:

Rock slide kills tourists, guides on Mt. Kilimanjaro

ARUSHA, TANZANIA (Jan 5, 2006)

Rocks and boulders tumbled down Mount Kilimanjaro and crashed into a group of climbers sleeping in tents yesterday before their final ascent up Africa's highest mountain. Three tourists and an unknown number of Tanzanian guides were killed, officials said.

A sudden change in weather at Kibo peak dislodged the rocks, Tanzania National Parks head Gerald Digurube said. Five other tourists were seriously injured, and were taken to Kilimanjaro Medical Center for treatment, Digurube said.


comments (0 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Thursday, January 05, 2006 - 15:09:33 EST
 
 The Bumper Dumper Message #11
I thought this was a joke at first, but it's not! It's a legit product! Anyone have one?
http://www.bumperdumper.com/


comments (0 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Wednesday, January 04, 2006 - 21:00:07 EST
 
 Montana Resumes controversial Bison Hunt Message #10
Montana's state legislature just opened a 3 month bison hunting season.  Nearly 6200 people applied for the 50 permits that were issued. Sixteen additional permits were reserved for native American tribal members, and 10 went to hunters who had drawn permits for a previous hunt that was cancelled.

The Montana officials were forced to end the Bison hunt in 1991 after animal rights organizations put on nationally televised protests and sparked tourist boycotts.  Previously, Montana state game wardens would phone local hunters when bison strayed outside of the protected confines of Yellowstone National Park.  Animal rights activists were outraged at this activity, questioning its classification as a sport.

Animal rights activists were ready for the first shoot of this new season.  Activists from the Buffalo Field Campaign, a bison advocacy group, filmed the killing of the first bison.  The killing took a reported five bul... Click here for full article.


comments (0 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - 21:11:00 EST
 
 Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Message #9
To follow the recent evidence collecting and habitat preservation for the ivory-billed woodpecker, the best website is from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/  

Their website is equipped with ivory-billed woodpecker video, photos, and sounds.  Full coverage from the American Ornithologists' Union Conference 2005 is also included.



comments (2 so far)
Posted by Lisa (profile) - Chickadee
Thursday, October 27, 2005 - 21:27:38 EST