Place to go, Things to do

See wild buffalo and more at Lone Elk Park

Special guided tours to see wild buffalo at Lone Elk Park will be held Saturday, Nov. 24, and again Dec. 1. You're likely to see other wildlife also.

The St. Louis County Parks system is sponsoring what it calls "buffalo hunts." But, no guns are allowed. Rather, kids and families are urged to bring binoculars and cameras.

The walking tours start each Saturday at 2 p.m. Be sure to wear good hiking shoes. The tours are likely to last up to 2 hours, according to Dennis Hogan. He's an outdoor programming supervisor for the county parks.

Admission is $5 per person and advance registration is recommended. To make reservations, call (314) 615-4FUN.

Lone Elk Park is home to a herd of eight buffalo, or some call them bison. There's an adult bull, four adult cows and three calves. They are in a restricted 120-acre part of the park.

Elsewhere in the 420-acre park is an 18-member elk herd along with white-tailed deer. Hogan said, "Also, at that time of the year, visitors are likely to see migratory waterfowl on the two lakes in the park."

He urges everyone to dress for a hike. But, he guarantees you'll see buffalo. Park officials will scout the area in the mornings to see exactly where the buffalo are.

For complete St. Louis County park information, visit www.stlouisco.com.

Also, for additional information about the "buffalo hunts," you can call Hogan at (636) 391-0922.

Lone Elk Park is in southwest St. Louis County. You can get there by going on either I-44 or Highway 141. When you get to the intersection of those highways in Valley Park, take the North Service Road west along I-44. That road leads directly into the park. You then go to the Visitors Center.

 

Kids can fish for trout in local lakes

For local kids who like to fish, November is the start of a unique urban fishing opportunity. The trout are coming to St. Louis area lakes.

Ordinarily, if you fish for trout, you go to spring-fed lakes and streams where water is cold. The water in St. Louis lakes is too hot in summer months to let trout live survive.

But, now colder fall and winter weather is moving in. That means the Missouri Department of Conservation can start its Urban Trout Fishing program.

Starting Nov. 1, crews will stock rainbow and brook trout in nine park areas. Kids under 16 can fish for trout without a state license. But, everyone needs a trout permit.

The park areas involved:

• August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area, Lakes 21, 22, 23, 24 and 28.
• Suson Park in South St. Louis, Lakes 1, 2 and 3.
• Tilles Park Lake in St. Louis County.
• Vlasis Park Lake in Ballwin
• O'Fallon Park Lake in City of St. Louis
• Boathouse Lake in Carondelet Park in City of St. Louis
• January-Wabash Lake in Ferguson
• Wild Acres Park Lake in Overland.

Fishing in some lakes is on a "catch and release" basis. In others, you can keep the trout you catch (5 per day). For permit information, call the Regional Office at (636) 441-4554.

Complete details are on the department's website at www.conservation.state.mo.us.

The lakes will be stocked once or twice a month through the end of January, 2003. The department doesn't announce stocking dates in advance. But you can keep track by calling the Fish Stocking Hot Line at (636) 300-9651.

Also, Young Saint Louis.com featured some of kids who caught fish on opening day last November. You can read that story by clicking on the Past Stories tab at the top of the home page. Then, click on the December, 2001, issue.

 

A fun winter hobby: snowflake photography

Snowflakes come in many sizes, shapes and designs. Now, you can learn ways to photograph them from a well-known expert.

The Green Center is a unique nature area in the middle of University City. It features wetlands and prairie displays right in the middle of town. But, it also sponsors workshops for families on a wide range of outdoor activities.

One of the most unique will be held on Sunday, Nov. 10, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. That's when nature photographer Rick Walters will hold his "Amazing SnowFlakes" workshop.

The workshop is open to adults and children from 6 years and up.

But, attendance is limited. Be sure to call ahead for reservations at (314) 725-8314.

To learn more about Green Center programs and tours, visit www.thegreencenter.org.