Atlantic Salmon Are Getting Jacked Up on Pharmaceutical Drugs 💊

In the event that the weekend wasn’t quite long enough for you, here’s to hoping that your favorite dispatch from the outdoor world can give you 5-or-so minutes to prep yourself for yet another week.

So, without further adieu, let’s grab that coffee or whiskey (no judgement) and get caught up on the outdoor news and views from the past few days. 

Here's what's worth reading about today:

• Big pharma fish - Atlantic salmon are swimming a little bit faster now 💊

• No discounts for oldies - Kansas bill for discounted licenses fails ❌

• Deer ticks in Montana - The first deer tick has been found on a dog 🪲

• Mountain lions a go-go - Hunting with dogs to continue in Arizona 🐕

• Another night in Gatlinburg - Watch as a black bear f*cks with everyone in the early evening hours 🧸

A GOOD THING? LIKELY NOT
NEW STUDY REVEALS THAT ATLANTIC SALMON ARE JACKED UP ON PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS

In a new study published earlier this month, researchers from Griffith University have uncovered some surprising effects that pharmaceutical pollution might be having on juvenile Atlantic salmon as they navigate their regular migration routes. The study focused on the effects two common pharma drugs, that are ending up in our waterways, had on migrating salmon and what it could mean for them over the course of their lives.

The unfortunate reality of the world we live in, is that beyond human dependence on these drugs, pharmaceuticals, from painkillers to anti-anxiety medications, are increasingly detected in rivers and streams worldwide due to our consumption of them and shoddy wastewater treatment methods. While much research has focused on their lethal effects, less is known about how low, environmentally relevant concentrations alter animal behavior. This recent study, led by Dr. Jack A. Brand and his colleagues tackle that gap by examining how clobazam (used for sleep disorders) and tramadol (an opioid painkiller) influence salmon migration—a journey essential for their survival and reproduction…

QUICK HITS // ^{_{FROM AROUND THE WEB}}

Turkey hunting season arrives for Ohio: The South Zone turkey season begins April 19 and continues through May 18. Typically, the spring hunt in the Northeastern Zone starts a week later, but because of a calendar anomaly won’t start this year until May 3 in the zone’s five counties comprising Ashtabula, Lake, Cuyahoga, Geauga and Trumbull.  Read the full story.

Kansas hunting and fishing license bill fails to pass after veto, what that means: A bill to restore discounted hunting and fishing licenses to older adults in Kansas and make big changes for non-resident waterfowl hunters is dead in the water this year after it was vetoed by Governor Laura Kelly.  Read the full story.

First known deer tick in Montana found on couple's dog after hunting trip: When a Montana hunter discovered an unusual looking tick on her dog, she submitted it to a research lab where they soon discovered that this was a tick that had never been seen before in Montana. Read the full story.

Wisconsin turkey season opens on April 16: The regular season is open through May 27, and all seven turkey management zones will be open for hunting during the spring season. To provide a high-quality hunting experience, enhance access opportunities and maintain a healthy turkey population, the 2025 spring turkey season is comprised of six seven-day periods running Wednesday through the following Tuesday. Read the full story.

Hunting mountain lions with dogs will remain legal in Arizona after commission vote: The decision April 11 followed close to three hours of public comment at a commission meeting, where hunters who use dogs to legally pursue and sometimes kill predators like bears and mountain lions argued for the wildlife management benefits of hound hunting and defended the GPS technology they use to track their dogs while hunting.  Read the full story.

VIDEO // ^{_{SOME THINGS JUST HAVE TO BE SEEN}}

🧸 Just out for an after-dinner stroll, right? For Gatlinburg residents, this is just another Saturday night in town. Watch as a black bear is filmed streaking through town (again) and wreaking havoc in the process.

Although I think the dude running away was being a tad bit dramatic…

Winter in the ‘hood…Mt. Hood, that is.

📸 : @hunter.leroyy

Oh, and one more thing…