Exploring Arkansas
Exploring Arkansas October 2010
Season 6 Episode 10 | 26m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
Turpentine Creek Big Cat Refuge, Pond Cr National Wildlife Reserve, Kingfisher & Arkansas
The largest big cat refuge in the world happens to be near Eureka Springs-which rescues distressed big cats throughout the U.S. Great Egrets and gators are some of the wildlife you can see at Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Texarkana. Two lesser known trails at Pinnacle Mountain State Park offer unique opportunities-along the Kingfisher Trail you hike amongst giants-huge 600 year
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Exploring Arkansas is a local public television program presented by Arkansas PBS
Exploring Arkansas
Exploring Arkansas October 2010
Season 6 Episode 10 | 26m 45sVideo has Closed Captions
The largest big cat refuge in the world happens to be near Eureka Springs-which rescues distressed big cats throughout the U.S. Great Egrets and gators are some of the wildlife you can see at Pond Creek National Wildlife Refuge northwest of Texarkana. Two lesser known trails at Pinnacle Mountain State Park offer unique opportunities-along the Kingfisher Trail you hike amongst giants-huge 600 year
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipEVERY WANT TO GO TO AFRICA WITHOUT LEAVING ARKANSAS ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW I THINK WE JUST MAY BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT FOR YOU.
THIS IS THE ARKANSAS AFRICAN OWE STARKS IF YOU WILL AT TERPEN TYPE CREEK WILD LIFE REFUGE BIG CAT COUNTRY COME ALONG WITH US AND WE'LL SHOW WHAT YOU WE'RE TALKING ABOUT.
WHAT'S UP BIG BOY?
>> HE WAS BOUGHT AT AN AUCTION FOR $175,000.
♪ >> SINCE 1992 TERPEN TYPE CREEK WILD LIFE REEF UJ SOUTH OF YOU'RE EEK ASPRINGS OFF HIGHWAY 23 HAS BEEN RESCUING DISTRESSED BIG CATS FROM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY PROVIDING THEM A LIFETIME HOME.
IT'S BECOME ONE OF THE LARGEST BIG CAT REFUGEES IN THE WORLD.
EACH CAT, OF COURSE, COMES WITH A STORY.
SUCH AS COLBY.
COLBY CAME FROM US FROM SOUTH TEXAS THREE HOURS SOUTH OF HOUSTON EVEN AND HE WAS RESULT OF PET TRADE.
THIS WAS A GUY TRAVELLING DOWN THE ROAD AND HAD HIM IN THE BACK OF HIS PICKUP TRUCK IN HAPHAZARDLY BUILT CAGE AND THEY SAW COLBY IN THE BACK OF THIS TRUCK THIS GUY AND HIS FRIEND AND FLAGGED HIM DOWN AND BOUGHT HIM BECAUSE HE LIVED IN THE COUNTRY AND KNEW HE COULD GIVE HUM A BETTER LIFE.
HE WENT HOME AND BUILT A CAGE FOR COLBY AND TOLD HIS WIFE AND YOU KNOW HE WAS ALSO -- AND TOLD HIS WIFE AND 3-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER THAT HE WAS GOING TO BRING HOME A TIGER.
WELL HIS WIFE DIDN'T BELIEVE HIM.
SO, SHE DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF.
IT UNTIL HE ACTUALLY DID BRING COLBY WENT BACK AND PURCHASED THE TIGER AN BROUGHT HIM TO HIS HOUSE AND PUT HIM IN THE CAGE AND HIS WIFE TOLD HIM BEFOREHAND IF YOU BRING A TIGER TO OUR HOUSE, THAT I'M GOING TO TAKE OUR CHILD AND LEAVE.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT A SAFE THING TO HAVE A TYING AREA ROUND WITH A 3-YEAR-OLD KID.
SO, WHEN COLBY CAME THE WIFE AND CHILD LEFT.
AND THEY WENT TO HER MOTHER'S HOUSE AND LIVED THERE AT HER MOTHER'S HOUSE UNTIL HE FOUND TERPEN TYPE CREEK AND THERE WAS A PERIOD.
OF THREE MONTHS BEFORE WE AGREED TO TAKE HIM BEFORE WE HAD ROOM TO BRING HIM IN.
DURING THAT THREE MONTHS THE GUY'S WIFE AND CHILD DID LIVE WITH HER MOTHER.
THE WEEK AFTER WE CAME TO GET HIM HE GOT BACK TOGETHER.
THE WIFE MOVED BACK HOME AND CHILD MOVED BACK HOME AND WE FOUND OUT A MONTH AGO THEY'RE LIVING HAPPILY EVER AFTER AND AT THE SAME TIME WE LET COLBY OUT INTO THIS BIG AREA AND NOW HE ENJOYS A LIFE IN THE BEST OF THE AFRICAN OZARKS WE CAN GIVE HIM.
♪ THE STORY OF ALL THE CATS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THEM AT PETS THEY COME TO TERPEN TYPE CREEK FOR THAT REASON.
THEY SEEN THEM AND BROUGHT THEM HOPE AND SOON FOUND OUT OTHERWISE THE BIG CATS DON'T MAKE GOOD PETS.
>> REALLY SAD, I MEAN, PEOPLE STILL THINK THEY LOOK AT A LITTLE BOB CAT AND THINK, OH, HE'LL BE BE CUTE LIKE A KITTY TO TAKE HOME.
NO IT WILL GROW UP BIG AND EAT YOU.
IT'S PROBABLY NOT A GOOD IDEA TO TAKE THEM HOME GOOD PROBABLY NOT.
>> IT'S KIND OF HUMANITY YOU JUST KIND OF WONDER SOMETIMES.
THIS POOR LOOIP DECIDED HE WAS A HOUSE CAT.
WHICH IS CRAZY.
AND HE WAS DOING REALLY WELL IN THE HOME UNTIL HE ATE THE FAMILY RECLINER.
I'M THINKING DAD WAS UPSET AT THAT ONE BUILT YOU KNOW, I THINK IT DEPENDS HOW RATTY THE OLD RECLINER WAS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A PLUS.
>> WELL I WAS VERY IMPRESSED WITH THE CARE OF THE ANIMALS THEY'RE GETTING THEY ALL LOOK EXTREMELY HEALTHY AND I'LL TELL YOU I'M LONG RETIRED VETERINARIAN AND YOU DON'T REALLY SEE CATS LOOKING THIS HEALTHY FREQUENTLY EVEN IN SOME OF THE ZOOS.
>> I KNOW VICE-PRESIDENTIAL COME TO SEE YOU IN A WEEK.
I WAS GONE FOUR DAYS OF THOSE I PROMISE.
>> I KNOW.
>> AW.
>> ANYTHING TO SAY TODAY.
WHY DON'T YOU LAY IN THE DEN.
GO IN THE SHADY DEN.
HU?
WE PUT IT THERE FOR YOU.
>> THE RELATIONSHIPS YOU XWULD BUILD CONTACT CATS ARE LIFE LONG.
I DON'T GET TO SPEND AS MUCH TIME WITH THEM AS I WOULD LIKE TO.
WE HAVE OVER 100 OF THEM.
THE ONES REAL CLOSE TO ME CERTAINLY TAKE TIME OUT MOST DAYS TO GET DOWN AND SPEND TIME WITH US AND THEY REALLY ENJOY AND CRAVE HUMAN ATTENTION AND AFFECTION.
SADLY ENOUGH, A LOT OF PEOPLE THE WAY I THINK ABOUT A TIGER IS A LIKE A 2-YEAR-OLD KID WALKING A ROUND WITH A COOK LOADED GUP WAVING IN THE AIR.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE TRIGGER GETS PULLED AND NO CONCEPT OF THE OUTCOME OF THEIR ACTIONS.
THEY'RE A 2-YEAR-OLD KID CARRYING A HAZARDOUS KID.
WELL TIGERS ARE THE SAME WAY THEY WANT TO PLAY WITH YOU LIKE A 2-YEAR-OLD WANTS TO PLAY AND WHEN THEY JUMP ON YOU AND KNOCK YOU DOWN AND GRAB YOU BY YOUR LEG AND TAKE OFF RUNNING THROUGH THE WOODS THEY DON'T REALIZE THEY'VE DONE SOMETHING WRONG.
SO WHEN WE HEAR OF YOU KNOW ALL AROUND THE WORLD WHERE PEOPLE GET HURT BY TIGERS IT'S NEVER THE TIGER'S FAULT.
NEVER THE ANIMALS FAULT.
IT'S ALWAYS THE PERSON'S FAULT AND IT'S ALWAYS THE PEOPLE INVOLVED THAT TOOK THE RISK.
♪ SO COME AND SPEND TIME FOR YOURSELF IN THE ARKANSAS AFRICAN OZARKS AS TURPENTINE NEAR YOU'RE EEK ASPRINGS WHERE YOU CAN SPEND THE NIGHT IF YOU WISH.
MAY WE RECOMMEND THE DELUXE TREE HOUSE OR BETTER YET THE ZOO LIEU SAFARI LODGE MODELED AFTER AFTER BEGAN LODGING SO YOU FEEL LIKE ARE YOU THERE.
♪ POND CREEK NATIONAL WILD LIFE REFUGE IS ANOTHER ONE OF THOSE TUCK AWAY FORGOTEN ABOUT PLACES LOCATED IN SOUTHWEST ARKANSAS NORTHWEST OF TEXARKANA NEAR MILLWOOD LAKE.
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO FISH IS THAT THE NOT CROWDED, WELL, THIS IS IT.
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR FILL OF BLUEGILL, CRAPPIE, LARGE MOUTH BASS AND CATFISH PROVIDING OF COURSE ONE OF THE RESIDENTS GATE TORES DOESN'T GET TO HIM BEFORE YOU DO.
POND CREEK NATIONAL WILD LIFE REFUGE IS DISSECTED BY INTEREST KIT SYSTEM OF RIVERS SUCH AS COSSATOT, FOX BU AND OX LAKE THAT MOVE THROUGH BOTTOM LAND HARDWOOD FORREST.
>> WELL STAING LAKE IS A PART OF POND CREEK IT'S GOOD FOR FISHING OPPORTUNITIES AND BIRD WATCHING IN THE WINTER AND IT'S JUST A NICE PLACE TO BE TO GET AWAY FROM PEOPLE.
>> JUST ABOUT ANY PLACE ON THE REFUGE IS A NICE PLACE TO BE LIKE WHERE WE LOOKING AT THE GATOR.
I GUESS THERE'S ONE OR TWO IN HERE AS WELL.
>> I'M SURE.
QUITE A FEW.
>> THE HABITATS OF THE REFUGE SUPPORT A LARGE VARIETY OF BIRD SPECIES THAT USE THE WETLAND TO NET NEST AND FORAGE AND REPLACE ENERGY RESERVES FOR LONG JOURNEYS TO AND FROM WINTERING AREAS.
>> A LOT OF MIING TOREY TROPICAL MODE THAT COMES FROM SOUTH AMERICA AND I USUALLY STOP HERE TO REST AND SOME OF THEM DO MAYBE NOT MANY OF THEM BUT THEY DO STOP AND REST A LOT OF TIMES AND SAYS HEAD ON THEIR WAY.
ONE THING I ENJOY MOST IS BRIV DRIVING AROUND.
BEING ON THE ROADS OF THE REFUGE I GET TO SEE A LOT OF WILD LIFE, DEER RUNNING CROSS THE ROAD, BIRDS HERE AND THERE.
AND IT'S JUST RELAXING AND PEACEFUL TO BE OUT HERE.
AND I WISH MORE PEOPLE COULD SEE IT THE WAY I SEE IT.
>> AND THAT'S BEEN THE PROBLEM I GUESS IN PREVIOUS YEARS IS EDUCATING PUBLIC OF EXACTLY WHAT'S OUT HERE FOR THEM.
>> YEAH.
WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO JUST ENJOY GETTING OUT.
WE HAVE FISHING.
THERE'S HUNTING.
THERE'S BIRD WATCHING.
AND MANY PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT WE DO HAVE ALL OF THESE THINGS FOR THEM TO ENJOY.
UNIMPROVED ROADS AND A TVRLT V TRAILS SERVE AS POPULAR PATHWAYS THAT LEAD YOU TO GREAT WILD LIFE OBSERVATION AREAS.
>> THIS IS ENJOYING WILD LIFE NATIONAL REFUGE.
>> ONE OF THE WILD LIFE AREAS CON TAN A GOOD NUMBER OF EGRETS AND GREAT EGRETS.
SO THE NATIONAL WILD LIFE ROUGH UJ SYSTEM IS FIRST AND FOR MOST FOR WILD LIFE.
AND THESE ROUGH UJS ARE FOR THE BENEFIT OF PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS OF AMERICANS AND IN KNOWING THAT, EXPLORE FOR YOURSELF WHAT AMERICA'S BEST KEPT SECRET REALLY IS ALL ABOUT.
♪ >> HERE AT PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK AT LITTLE LOOK ROCK THERE'S A LOT OF TRAILS.
THE MOST POPULAR ARE THE ONES THAT GO TO THE TOP OF PINNACLE MOUNTAIN.
THERE'S A COUPLE OTHERS I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE AWE LONG.
THE FIRST ONE BEING KINGFISHER TRAIL.
EXCELLENT FOR KIDS TO TAKE A HIKE ON ESPECIALLY ALONG THE LITTLE MAUMELLE RIVERA LONG THE HUGE CYPRUS TREES AND OF COURSE IT'S NAMED AFTER OUR FRIEND THERE KINGFISHER.
THE KINGFISHER AND ARKANSAS ARBORETUM TRAILS ARE LOCATED SOUTH OF MIN CALL MOUNTAIN ALONG THE MILL MAUMELLE RIVER.
-- THE LITTLE MAUMELLE RIVER.
AT FIRST, YOUR WALK ALONG THE KING FRISHER TRAIL MIGHT NOT IMPRESS YOU ALL THAT MUCH.
YOU MAY THINK IT'S JUST ANOTHER TREK THROUGH THE WOODS.
WAIT WAIT UNTIL YOU REACH THE HALFWAY MARK ALONE THE HALF MILE LOOP WHERE IT FOLLOWS ALONG THE BANKSZ OF THE LITTLE MAUMELLE RIVER.
HERE YOU'LL SEE NOT ONLY ALL THE AQUATIC LIFE IN THE RIVER BUT ALSO THIS.
HUGE FIVE TO 600 YEAR OLD BALANCED CYPRUS TREES WHICH MEANS THEY'VE BEEN AROUND SINCE THE TIME COLUMBUS DISCOVERED AMERICA.
FIVE TO 600 YEARS IS JUST AN ESTIMATE AS TO THE AGE OF THE CYPRUS TREES.
ACCORDING TO STATE PARK OFFICIALS, THEY MAY EVEN BE OLDER THAN THAT.
SINCE THE KINGFISHER TRAIL IS PAVED AND FAIRLY LEVEL IT IS ACCESSIBLE TO THOSE PHYSICALLY LIMITED.
AT THE 80-ACRE, THREE QUARTER MILE WRONG ARBORETUM TRAIL OFF PINNACLE VALLEY ROAD YOUR TREE KNOWLEDGE CONTINUES.
INTERPRETIVE SIGNS WITH RECORDED MESSAGES INTRODUCE THE STATE'S TREES ALONG WITH THE SIX NATURAL DIVISIONS.
AMONG THE NARROW FLAT TOP HILL THAT MEANDER VALLEYS OF THE OZONE PLATEAU YOU'LL FIND A FIXTURE OF TREES AND PLANTS INCLUDING SOME LEFT BEHIND AFTER THE LAST ICE AGE.
>> GUIDED TOURS FOR GROUPS AND FIELD STUDY CLASSES MAY BE SCHEDULED ON A STAFF AVAILABLE BASIS BY APPOINTMENT AS WELL AS FOR THE KINGFISHER TRAIL.
SO, ENJOY AND EXPLORE A COUPLE OF THE OTHER TRAILS AT PINNACLE MOUNTAIN STATE PARK.
IF YOU DO GET THE URGE TO GO TO THE MOUNTAIN TOP THAT OPTION, OF COURSE AWAITS YOU AS WELL.
♪ IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE VISITING DEGRAY LAKE STATE PARK NEAR ARCHDELPHIA BY ALL MEANS SIGN UP FOR A GUIDED KAYAK BUILDINGS ESPECIALLY IF IT HAPPENS TO BE JASON PARRIE.
>> YOU HAVE A GREAT BLUE HERRON.
THEY CALL THAT OLD MAN RIVER.
MOSTLY BECAUSE HE'S GOT A LONG BEARD SOMETIMES UNDERNEATH HIS NECK WITH FATHERS.
ALL RIGHT.
PARKER.
HOW ABOUT YOU AND DAD.
LEAD THE WAY.
>> TO SAY JASON GETS EXCITED ABOUT HIS WORK WOULD BE AN UNDER STATEMENT AND I PROMISE YOU AFTER YOU PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF JASON'S KAYAK OUTINGS IT'S AN ADD VENTURE YOU WILL NEVER FORGET.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF LEARNING KAYAKING.
GETTING IN AND OUT SAFELY AND HOW YOU TO PADDLE IT AND THEN THE SECOND PART IS LET'S INTERPRET THE LAKE.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE TREES AND BIRDS AND WHATEVER HAPPENS TO COME UP.
DEPENDING ON THE GROUP AND DEPENDENTING ON TIME WE MIGHT SPEND MORE TIME ON MECHANICS OR MORE TIME ON THE NATURE.
IT'S A DOUBLE WHAMMYY.
>> THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF YOU KNOW DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IS GOING OUT ESPECIALLY THIS LAKE AND LEARNING ABOUT SOME OF THE NATURE AROUND HERE AND MRAPTS AND WILD LIFE.
>> WHAT DO YOU ALL HEAR?
CICADAS THANK YOU FOR NOT SAYING LOBE UST YOU HEAR THAT A LOT LOBE USTS ARE LIKE BIG GRASS HOPPER LOOKING THINGS AND CI CADAS LOOK LIKE GIANT HORSE FLIES MUTANT HORSE FLIES HUGE.
THOSE ARE THE GUYS THAT DO THE SUMMER SONG HERE THAT ARE ALL COMING OUT AND GIVING THEIR MATING COURSE ALL AT ONCE.
YOU'LL FIND THEIR LARVAL FORM HOOKED UP ON TREES AND FENCES AND THINGS.
I HAVE TO SAY PART OF THE MOST SATISFYING THING FOR ME IS TO TAKE A GUEST WHO HAS NEVER KAYAKED BEFORE AT ALL AND IS PRETTY UNSURE OR MAYBE NERVOUS ABOUT GETTING IN THE KAYAK, GO THROUGH A LITTLE INSTRUCTION AND GET OUT ON THE WATER AND BY THE END NOT ONLY ARE THEY PADDLING WELL BUT THEY'RE EXCITED BY GETTING ON THE WATER AND PADDLING AND TALKING WITH WHAT KIND OF KAYAK COULD YOU BUY, WHERE IS A GOOD NICE GO GET KAYAKS AND WE'VE HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO WERE INTRODUCED TO OKAY ABING THAT PARK AND WENT OUT AND BOUGHT KAYAKS AND ARE LOVE LONG KAYAKERS.
ONE JE GENTLEMAN IN PARTICULAR STARTED KAYAKING HERE TEN YEARS AGO AND GOT IN THE PROGRAM AND NEVER KAYAK'D BEFORE AND GOT EXCITED AND KAYAKED AND NOW HE COMES OUT EVERY YEAR AND JOINS US ON PADDLING EXERTIONS HE'S A DEVOTED LIFE LONG KAYAKER AND IT ALL STARTED AND THE SEED WAS PLANTED RIGHT HERE THAT'S THE STUFF THAT TURNS ME ON.
KM.
>> IT WAS OKAY.
WE WENT OVER THE LAKES AND SITTING ON TOP OF OF THE WATER YOU KNOW.
>> AFTER YOU GET THE FEEL OF IT KEEPING YOUR BALANCE.
>> IT FELT ALL RIGHT.
AT FIRST I THOUGHT I WOULD TIP OVER IF I PADDLED TO ONE SIDE TOO HARD.
>> YOU THINK YOU MIGHT LIKE TO PICK IT UP AGAIN.
>> IT MIGHT BE FUN.
IT MIGHT BE FUN.
>> I'VE DONE IT BEFORE I GOT ITTY A TRIP TO COSTA RICA AND DO IT ON A LAKE BEFORE.
I ALWAYS TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT AND GET EXERCISE AND HAVE FUN AT THE SAME TIME.
SO IT'S GOOD EXPERIENCE AND NICE BEAUTIFUL DAY OUT AND BEAUTIFUL LAKE SO NOTHING BETTER.
>> WHAT IS THAT?
RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT'S AN EAGLE?
RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT'S A BUZZARD?
RIGHT AT THE TREE TOPS.
RAISE YOUR HAND IF IT'S A TURKEY VUL TOUR.
TURKEY VUL TOUR YES.
I'LL TELL YOU ON AN EAGLE TOUR IF WE'VE GONE THE WHOLE TOUR WITHOUT SOOING A EAGLE THOSE TURKEY VULTURE MORE OF INTO EAGLE LIKE CHARACTERISTICS.
ONE WAY WE CAN TELL THAT'S NOT AN EAGLE.
WHEN YOU SEE HIM SOARING NOTICE HIS WINGS ARE SHALLOW V. THING V FOR VULTURE.
A HAWK OR EAGLE THEIR WINGS COULD BE OUT STRAIGHT HORIZONTAL.
THEY ALSO HAVE TO FLAP A LITTLE MORE OFTEN.
VUL TURZ ARE LIKE FLAPPING IS FOR THE BIRDS WE'LL SOAR [CHATTER] NOT ONLY WILL YOU ENJOY ADVENTURE USE OUTING BUT YOU'LL HAVE AN UNDERSTAND OF HOW NATURE, WILD LIFE AND HUMANS COEXIST IN HARMONY.
>> SO OFTEN WE HEAR MAN YOU CAN'T REALLY HAVE A NATURAL PLACE IF PEOPLE GO THERE THEY'LL TEAR IT UP AND RUIN IT OR CHASE OFF ALL THE WILD LIFE.
YOU CAN'T HAVE PEOPLE IN THE WILD LIFE TOGETHER.
AND YET HERE WE ARE.
THE LAKE IS 40 YEARS OLD.
WE HAVE NOT RUN THE STUFF OFF YET.
THEY'RE STILL DEER AND EAGLES AND RIVER OTTER AND BEAR AROUND THE LAKE.
ALL THOSE THINGS I'VE SEEN WITH ME VERY OWN EYES, I HAVE.
SO IT'S NOT A HEY, YOU KNOW, THEORETICALLY THEY COULD BE HERE.
I'VE SEEN THEM.
THEY'RE HERE.
AND THEY'RE HERE EVEN WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO THE LAKE EVERY YEAR.
MILLIONS, MILLIONS, CARL SAYINGER WOULD BE PROUD MILLIONS OF PEOPLE COME TO THIS LAKE EVERY YEAR.
LOOK AROUND.
WE'VE GOT NOODLES.
YOU'VE SEEN TRASH HERE AND THERE, IT'S USED.
WE'RE USING THE LAKE.
IS IT TORN UP?
YOU SEE THE OLD BURNED OUT CARS AND REFRIGERATORS AND WOODS ARE ALL CHOPPED DOWN AND HACKED UP?
NOT SO MUCH.
THE REASON IS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE COME TO THIS LAKE EVERY YEAR AND TAKE CARE OF IT.
THEY FOLLOW THE RULES AN TAKE CARE OF THE LAKES.
THEY'RE GOOD STEWARDS.
DUCKS FLYING BY -- JUST LIKE WILD LIFE TO INTERRUPT WHILE I'M TALKING ABOUT WILD LIFE.
THEY'RE WILD.
THEY DO WHAT THEY WANT.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE COME HERE AN WE TAKE CARE OF THE LAKE.
AND YOU KNOW IT WOULD BE EASY TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE A CORE OF ENGINEERS AND STATE PARK AND GAME AND FISH AND PEOPLE IN CHARGE THEY CLAMPP DOWN AND DON'T LET YOU DO ANYTHING.
IT'S QUITE THE OPPOSITE.
HERE'S THE RULES FOR THE LAKE.
CAMP IN A CAMPING AREA.
NOT WHEREVER YOU WANT.
PUT FIRE IN DESIGNATED FIRING AREA THAT'S USUALLY CAMPING AREAS.
NO SEA PLANES.
LEAVE YOUR SEA LEAN AT HOME AND NONE OF THOSE KITE TUBS THE KIND YOU PULL BEHIND A BOAT AND IF GOES UP 40 FEET AND FLIPS OVER AND KILLS YOU OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S YOUR LAKE BABE WHY.
FEDERAL LAKE BELONGS TO YOU GO WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.
YOU CAN GO, TUBING, SWIMMING, YOU WANT TO GO SWIM HERE BAIL OFF DO.
IT NOT REALLY NOT ON MY TOUR.
YOU WANT TO EXPLORE THIS ISLAND GO EXPLORE THE ISLAND.
YOU WANT TO GO SCUBA DIVING AND PICNICKING BOATING, JET-SKIING, YOU NAME IT!
IT'S YOURS TO DO!
YOU WANT TO GO HUNTING, YES.
IT'S PART OF THE WHOLE MANAGEMENT PLAN.
IT HAS TO BE IN SEASON OF COURSE AND HAVE YOUR LES AND THAT SORT OF THING BUT YEAH THERE'S HUNT AROUND HERE.
SURE ENOUGH WE'LL SEE AN INTERESTING HUNTING SITUATION WHEN WE GET CLOSE TO THE VISITOR'S CENTER.
SO THE REAL DEEP THOUGHT BY JACK HANDY QUESTION WHICH I CAN'T ANSWER FOR YOU IS WHY ARE PEOPLE TAKING DARE OF OF THE LAKE HERE?
-- CARE OF THE LAKE HERE?
AND THAT'S REALLY FOR YOU TO ANSWER.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY HAS THEIR OWN REASONS.
SO EXPLORING THE GREAT LAKE DEGRAY LAKE AT SUN SNET A KAYAK.
FOR MORE ON THIS SDST NATION AND MANY OTHERS CHECK OUT THE VIDEOS OR TO ORDER A COPY OF AN EPISODE VISIT OUR WEB SITE AETN.org/EXPLORINGARKANSAS.
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR AN EXCITING ADVENTURE ON "EXPLORING ARKANSAS".
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Exploring Arkansas is a local public television program presented by Arkansas PBS