ThinkingAfield.org

‘Minor Find’ second-largest at park in 2024

There is nothing better than memories made while spending quality time with family. For Will and Marshall Barnett, of Buckeye, AZ, a recent father-and-son trip to Arkansas’ famous Crater of Diamonds State Park resulted in the story of a lifetime and the second-largest diamond registered so far this year.

The Barnetts set out on a “boys’ week” road trip from their home in late July, their main goal to visit family and have fun along the way. After learning about the Crater of Diamonds State Park from his uncle, who worked as a park interpreter at another Arkansas State Park, Will decided to stop by Arkansas’ diamond site to try their luck at finding a genuine diamond.

Will and Marshall arrived at the park on the morning of July 27, buckets and shovels in-hand. After renting screens at the park’s Diamond Discovery Center, the two entered the park’s 37.5-acre diamond search area, a plowed field atop the eroded surface of an ancient, diamond-bearing volcano, to start digging. After filling a few buckets with diamond-bearing soil, they headed to the park’s south wash pavilion to wet sift their dirt.

“Wet sifting is one of the most effective methods to search for diamonds,” said Park Interpreter Ashlyn Keys. “The search area has two wash pavilions, with water troughs and tables, for visitors to wet sift. Using screens to separate dirt from the gravel allows you to go through more material in less time, giving a better chance of finding a diamond.”

While sifting, Will spotted a promising, glimmering gem at the bottom of his screen. He quickly called over his son, saying, “Hey Marshall, you should take a look at this!” Marshall excitedly picked out the large stone before asking an experienced miner nearby if they had just found a diamond. Read more

Wondering what to do between now and the anticipated September release of the “Beetlejuice” movie sequel? Consider spending some time outdoors looking for a real destructive pest – the invasive Asian longhorned beetle.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service declares every August as Tree Check Month, the most likely time to see the beetle and the damage it causes to trees.

Reaching up to 1.5 inches in length, the Asian longhorned beetle, or ALB for short, is distinctive. With a shiny, black body flecked with irregular, white blotches and long antennae with alternating black and white bands, it would be a perfect companion to Michael Keaton’s ghoulish troublemaker. But in the case of ALB, the destruction is real and long-lasting. Read more

After consultation with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department captured and relocated a subadult male grizzly bear on July 31, 2024.

The bear was captured and relocated preemptively because it frequented developed areas on private lands in the Wilson, Wyoming area. In cooperation with the USFWS and the Shoshone National Forest, the grizzly bear was relocated to the Camp Creek drainage approximately 30 miles northwest of Cody.

Grizzly bears are relocated in accordance with state and federal law and regulation, and Game and Fish is required to update the public whenever a grizzly bear is relocated.

WHY RELOCATION? Read more