New trails at Sulphur River WMA offer glimpses of birds and beasts

BY Kirsten Bartlow

FOUKE — Sulphur River Wildlife Management Area is known for its remoteness, but the recent addition of an AGFC water trail and birding trails makes the area more accessible for outdoor enthusiasts.

The 18,155-acre area in Miller County is the largest remaining tract of bottomland hardwoods in the Red River Valley of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana. Access to the WMA is limited, except by boat. For those searching an escape in a serene setting and a touch of adventure, it’s worth the effort.

“Sulphur River is unique because of its continuous bottomlands, remoteness and limited access,” Cameron Tatom, an AGFC biologist, said. “It can test any hunter’s skill and dedication in their pursuit of their chosen game. It is also a great place for a paddling or wildlife-watching day trip. It presents opportunities for an outdoorsman of any skill level to explore the wild.”

Mercer Bayou Water Trail
The newly designated Mercer Bayou Water Trail meanders 14 miles along the old river channel on the west side of the WMA. Water control structures allow the bayou to hold water year-round and paddlers may choose from three access points. Fourteen miles is a long stretch on flat water, so paddlers may choose to park and paddle – put in at any of the access points and paddle out and back.

A half-mile canal offers access to the northern portion of the trail, which traverses open water while the southern end of the trail narrows, meandering through trees. Key turns have trail markers, but otherwise, the trail is not marked. Download a georeferenced map to follow the trail route.

Approximately four miles south of the canal boaters will witness a large, forested sandstone formation, known as the upper mound, rising above the bayou. Be sure to scan its wooded hillsides for migratory songbirds and nesting bald eagles.

Some large alligators lurk in the area’s watery habitat and the WMA is one of a few where a lucky hunter can draw a permit for the public-land alligator hunt each September. Paddlers should keep a safe distance from gators.

Swallow-tailed kites have been confirmed breeding at Sulphur River WMA, outside of their traditional range. Brad Imhoff/Macaulay Library at Cornell University.

Birding Trails
A tremendous variety of songbirds and wetland birds thrive on Sulphur River WMA. Roads closed to vehicular traffic offer prime wildlife-viewing opportunities and three have been designated birding trails.

Canal Birding Trail:
Enjoy a one-mile-out-and-back path along a levee to Mercer Bayou. Be on the lookout for wading birds and waterfowl. Scan the skies for swallow-tailed kites along with a host of other birds of prey.

Henry Moore III Waterfowl Rest Area Birding Trail:
Walk along a one-and-a-half-mile-out-and-back gravel levee road. Two moist-soil units – managed wetlands – provide critical feeding and resting habitat for migrating waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds.

River Road Birding Trail:
Hike along a gated road that traverses northwesterly 6 miles. A variety of warblers, woodpeckers and other songbirds flock to the trail’s bottomland habitat. American and least bittern can be spotted on the road.

Informational Signs on Mercer Bayou Water Trail offer education and direction when navigating this remote area. AGFC photo by Kirsten Bartlow.

Plan Accordingly

Paddlers and birders should plan their visit. Navigate the sprawling WMA with more confidence by downloading free georeferenced maps prior to a visit.

Waterfowl hunting is popular on Sulphur River WMA during fall and winter. Paddlers should wait until after shooting hours (mid-day) to take to the water during waterfowl season. Also, be aware that the Henry Moore III Waterfowl Rest Area Birding Trail is closed November 1 to February 15. This managed wetland provides a safe haven for migrating waterfowl, wading birds and shorebirds.

The area’s birding trails are mowed infrequently – be prepared with sturdy shoes and bug spray. Birding opportunities change with the seasons. Check out eBird’s checklist for the area before visiting and target waterfowl, wintering songbirds and raptors in the fall and winter, while spring and summer bring warblers, gallinules, bittern and herons. Be sure to scan the skies April through August for swallow-tailed kites. Documentation of breeding kites in 2020 generated excitement because the WMA is out of the bird’s established range.

Monster Mart in Fouke caters to adventurous souls after a glimpse of the rumored inhabitant of Boggy Creek. Photo courtesy Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism.

“Other” Resident Wildlife?

A trip to Sulphur River WMA is not complete without wandering into Fouke – a town of about 800 people in Miller County – widely known for one of America’s most popular legends – the Fouke Monster.

The town drew press in May of 1971 when a local resident reported he was attacked at his home by a human-like creature. The story took off in 1973 when director Charles B. Pierce – an adopted Arkansan – released “The Legend of Boggy Creek,” a low-budget film shot in a documentary style in and around Fouke.

The Fouke Monster, sometimes called the Boggy Creek Monster, has become the South’s version of Sasquatch. Numerous films, television programs, articles and books have been produced about the beast. Swing by Monster Mart on Highway 71 for a snack, souvenir and some fun local lore.

Visit www.agfc.com/things-to-do/water-trails to learn more about Mercer Bayou Water Trail and other great paddling destinations in The Natural State.

Just in Time: Genoa Mom Grateful for Lifesaving Visit from UAMS MammoVan

By Marty Trieschmann

A 45-foot van in the parking lot of your child’s elementary school might seem an unlikely location for one of the most important medical exams of your life. It was ideal for Lyndee Braley.

The busy mother of three from tiny Genoa, Arkansas, population 972, had just turned 40 when she saw a notice on the school district’s message board that the UAMS MammoVan was coming to town.

“Genoa is so small. I was so surprised they came here,” said Braley. But Genoa and rural communities like it are exactly where the MammoVan wants to be.

Located in Miller County, Genoa sits in one of 28 Arkansas counties that lack an FDA-approved mammography facility. To fill the gap, the UAMS MammoVan travels the state — more than 300,000 miles so far — to small, rural areas to provide screening mammograms for breast cancer.

Just in Time: Genoa Mom Grateful for Lifesaving Visit from UAMS MammoVan

Alligators a steady presence in Arkansas

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture 

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas is known as the “natural state” for a reason, and the abundant wildlife is a major contributor to the reputation. Lions and tigers, not so much. Bears — sure, here and there. But for residents across the state’s southern tier of counties, alligators make more than the occasional appearance.

KNOW YOUR ZONE — The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has established fize management zones in Arkansas, three of which alllow permitted hunts in September each year. (Graphic courtesy AGFC.)

In Miller County, for example, spotting the occasional reptile is just part of life. Jen Caraway, Miller County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said they’re not uncommon in areas where waterways are essential to agricultural operations.

“There’s not much you can do if you encounter one, other than stay clear and call it in,” Caraway said.

Decades ago, American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in the United States were hunted nearly to extinction. In 1973, they were identified in the Endangered Species Act, but were ultimately removed from the list in 1987 once their population numbers rebounded.

Becky McPeake, extension wildlife biologist for the Division of Agriculture, said alligators have managed to thrive throughout much of the south in the intervening years.

“We’ve had great success reintroducing them to Arkansas,” McPeake said. The state lies at the northern edge of the animal’s natural range, she said, with most of the northern half of Arkansas being simply too cool an environment for alligators to survive.

Sometimes, McPeake said, alligators are just part of the neighborhood, including one known specimen that nests near a site of frequent field research.

“Whenever we go out there to do any kind of research or environmental survey, the first thing we do is locate it," she said. "Once we know where it is, we can avoid it.

“Honestly, they prefer to avoid people,” McPeake said. “It’s when they become used to being around people that they become dangerous. Some people want to feed them for some strange reason. Please don’t. It can have terrible consequences for both people and pets.”

McPeake said that if a person spots an alligator, they should stay at least 60 feet away from it, whether it’s on land or in a body of water. She said that one way to help livestock avoid crossing paths with alligators is to make sure they have their own secure sources of drinking water.

“We recommend that producers maintain water tanks for their livestock, rather than letting the livestock drink from ponds,” she said.

In November 2023, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, introduced a new nuisance wildlife hotline. The number, 833-345-0315, is intended to respond to reports of wildlife that may pose a threat to people, livestock or property. The number is monitored 24 hours a day.

The commission has published annual Alligator Management Reports since 2007 and has records of alligator nuisance reports dating back to 2000. In that year, the commission reported 11 nuisance reports across the state’s five alligator management zones. The number has varied year to year, peaking in 2009 with 108 complaints across all three zones. In 2023, the commission reported 57 alligator nuisance complaints.

Among the five alligator management zones, alligator sport hunting is only allowed in the three southern-most zones (Zone 4 includes about a dozen counties in the northeastern corner of the state; Zone 5 includes most of the counties covering the northwestern third of the state).

Alligator hunting on public lands is limited to Alligator Management Zone 1, the southwest corner of the state, and Zone 3, the southeast corner of the state. These permits are drawn, so some luck is involved. Alligator hunting on private land is allowed in any of the three zones, including Alligator Management Zone 2, which encompasses more than 16 counties in central and south-central Arkansas. Private Land Alligator Permits can be purchased outright.

The hunting dates for either permit include two four-day periods in mid-September. In 2023, Arkansas hunters set a record for alligator harvest, bagging 202 alligators on public and private lands.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

Miller County extension agent organizes donation drive for Little Rock tornado victims

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

LITTLE ROCK — For McKenzie Rigdon, the urge to help those affected by the March 31 tornadoes stemmed from personal experience with the harm a tornado can cause.

MILLER COUNTY HELPERS — McKenzie Rigdon, Miller County extension 4-H agent, organized a donation drive for victims of the March 31 tornado that struck parts of southern and central Arkansas. For Rigdon, the effort stemmed from her personal experience with tornado destruction. She said she wanted to bring along 4-H'ers for the donation drop-off to set an example of community service. From left to right: McKenzie Rigdon, MaKenzie Larey, Carlie Keahey, J.D. Martin and Tori Luker, Miller County extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent. (Rebekah Hall | Division of Agriculture photo.) 

Rigdon, Miller County extension 4-H agent for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said she lived in Atkins, Arkansas, when a tornado struck the area in 2008, causing damage to her family’s home. In 2011, her grandparents’ farm was hit by a tornado near Ozark. When a tornado came through her hometown of Vilonia in 2014, she said she witnessed widespread destruction to her community.

“I lost my job because of the tornado. My best friend was in a house that got hit, so it’s a personal thing for me,” Rigdon said. “I can’t donate my time to help right now, so I felt like I needed to do the next best thing, which was gathering relief items.”

Rigdon said she had the idea to start a donation drive and fill up a 4-H trailer with supplies for victims of the tornado, which would then be delivered to Little Rock. She created a flier and posted it at local businesses and at the Four States Fairgrounds in Texarkana. She also shared it on social media. Rigdon said that through word of mouth, local schools and churches heard about the drive and gathered donations for the effort. Rigdon said Sevier County Extension also provided relief items.

“No donation is too small,” Rigdon said. “With this kind of thing, people need anything and everything you can think of. So, even if it’s a notebook for the kid who lost their backpack or a box of Band-Aids — everything is going to help someone in need.”

Rigdon cataloged all of the 672 items donated to the drive, including canned food, hygiene and baby products, dozens of cases of bottled water and more.

‘I pledge my hands to larger service’

On April 24, Rigdon and Tori Luker, Miller County extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent, along with Miller County 4-H members Carlie Keahey, MaKenzie Larey and J.D. Martin, drove from Texarkana to Little Rock with the 4-H trailer in tow. They donated all the items to the City Center, a ministry of Immanuel Baptist Church, to be distributed to tornado victims. 

After placing the final case of bottled water atop the large pile of items, Rigdon was overcome with emotion. She said she brought 4-H members along for the drop-off because the project ties back to the mission of the organization.

“The four H’s are head, heart, hands and health. The big one that stands out today is ‘hands for larger service,’” Rigdon said, wiping away a few tears. “It teaches these kids about community service and making a difference in your community. And I want them to know that they have an agent who cares and who wants to do the best that they can. I like to lead by example, so I want them to see this example that I’m putting forth. Because it’s big. I hope that I’m a good role model for them.”

Keahey, 17, has been a member of the Miller County 4-H Club for three years, and she said she came along for the donation drop-off because she wanted to give to those in need.

“I very much enjoy helping out the community around me,” Keahey said. “I love helping McKenzie with all her shenanigans she pulls me into. It makes me feel good to help out with stuff like this. Throughout the past three years in 4-H, I’ve grown so much personally, and this helps me grow in my leadership. I love how much I’ve learned through 4-H.”

For more information about 4-H, contact your local county extension agent or visit 4h.uada.edu.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.

SW Arkansas/Texarkana Area New Arkansas Hot Spot for COVID-19

While Northeast Arkansas has been hit hard in recent weeks with a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Texarkana area in the southwest corner of the state has some of the highest 14-day moving average positivity rates.

Miller County, the home of Texarkana, has the highest 14-day moving average rate of 23.3%, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). Rounding out the top five are Sevier County, just north of Miller, at 19.6%; Mississippi County at 19.5%; Lafayette County, just east of Miller County, at 17.2%; and Jackson County at 16.3%.

https://talkbusiness.net/2020/10/covid-19-positivity-rates-highest-in-southwest-and-northeast-corners-of-arkansas/

COVID-19 positivity rates highest in southwest and northeast corners of Arkansas - Talk Business & Politics

While Northeast Arkansas has been hit hard in recent weeks with a rise in COVID-19 cases, the Texarkana area in the southwest corner of the state has some of the highest 14-day moving average positivity rates. Miller County, the home of Texarkana, has the highest 14-day moving average rate of 23.3%, according to the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH).