Got ants?  Tired of ladybug invasions in the fall?  Brought home bed bugs from your last trip?  Alabama Cooperative Extension professionals will moderatre a free webinar series that will take on all of these topics.  In 2013, most of the webinars will be on fire ants and other invasive ant specias.  Other topics for the year include bed bugs and various insects that invade homes each autumn.

Alabama Extension entomologist Dr. Kathy Flanders says these free webinars are designed for homeowners and the general public.

"We will provide them wilth sound, research-based management solutions for these pests from some of the best experts around the country," she says.  "The webinars are specifically for ordinary people wno need answers they can use."

"Participating is as simple as clicking on a web link."

Each webinar will begin at 1 p.m.

The Alabama Wildlife Federation’s Outdoor Classroom (OC) Grant Program provides financial and technical assistance to schools enrolled in the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program that wish to create effective and sustainable outdoor classroom sites on their school grounds.

The application deadline is March 8th!

Create your next Outdoor Learning Station, Activity Kit, and/or Educational Signs using an AWF OC Grant!  Grants are available up to $500.

For more details and to download and print the AWF Outdoor Classroom Grant Guidelines and/or the Grant Proposal Application, click here.

Source: Alabama Wildlife Foundation

Alabama Power has cancelled plans to temporarily lower Lake Thurlow this winter to help control aquatic weeds. The drawdown was expected before mid-March, but a lack of consistent cold weather has forced its cancellation.

Lingering drought conditions last year at Lake Thurlow contributed to the growth of variable leaf milfoil, an aggressive aquatic plant that forms dense mats. Drawing down Lake Thurlow and exposing the weed’s roots to freezing temperatures can help kill it.

The drawdown, coordinated with help from the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Alabama Power may request approval from both agencies for a drawdown next year.

For the latest on lake levels, visit www.alabamapower.com and click on the "Lake Conditions" link at the left side of the page.