A visit to the Grand Canyon Deer Farm

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WILLIAMS — In March I got a chance to visit the Grand Canyon Deer Farm. It was the first visit I have made to the Deer Farm petting zoo that I made since coming to Williams. For nearly 50-years, the family owned business—owned by Pat and Randy George—has welcomed visitors to Williams and the Grand Canyon.

The petting zoo is an amazing collection of animals from around the world. Before entering you can purchase some food to feed the animals.
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When you enter you are greeted by the friendly cockatoo Mozart. Next is the cute Marmosets native to South America, but some have been spotted as far north as Mexico.
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Next you can meet with Pokeahanus and Qullian the African porcupines. They have two Bison , Mary Ann and Ginger, who came to the zoo in 2008. Gracie the Camel also arrived at the petting zoo at 3 months old. She loves to greet visitors. You can see Llamas, Zebu miniature cattle, Zonky—the half-Zebra, half-Donkey—pigs, goats and a variety of other animals.
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Of course the feature is the deer. You can see Cupid and Vixen; the only two reindeer in Arizona. They have a Mule Deer named Gillian who is a rescue. While they do not normally rescue animals, the Arizona Game and Fish department asked them to take care of this Stormy Rocky Mountain Elk.
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When you bring food into the main area, you will be greeted by the deer to get feed. Surrounded is more like it. The deer are European Fallow deer and Japanese Sika Deer. They like to find out what is in your food bucket and your pocket. Don’t worry, though. Friendly staff members are available to keep them under control.

Staff member, Amy Kravitz, said, “They are really good at picking pockets. I have retrieved several dollar bills from their mouths.” She also recommends long pants and close-toed shoes.
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The gift shop, run by Mary, is stocked with a variety of gifts and souvenirs that you will find no where else in Williams. The Grand Canyon Deer Farm is open seven-days a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the summer months. During the winter they are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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The Grand Canyon Deer Farm offers a new interaction program where you can go in with the Kodamundee, wallabees and other animals for a separate cost of $20. They also offer a Junior Zoo Keeper program which lasts about 3 hours for ages 8 to 15. General admission is $11.50 for adults, $10.00 for seniors, and $6.75 for kids 3 to 6. A family membership is $85.

If you are planning to visit Williams anytime during the year, this is one place you have to visit.

Sheriff Department Woods Watch training Wednesday June 15

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Department will be holding a Woods Watch Training on Wednesday, June 15, 2016 from 6-8 pm at the Law Enforcement Administrative Facility, 911 E. Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

Please remember that to continue as a Woods Watch Participant, we need you to attend / renew this training annually and complete an updated application / waiver form.

If you plan to attend, please RSVP at 928-226-5012 or sheriff@coconino.az.gov

Concerns about dry conditions, wind, and the impending Wildland Fire Season are on the minds of many community members in our cities and unincorporated areas of Coconino County. Community members can help keep our communities safe through a partnership with government and public safety agencies by volunteering for the Woods Watch Program.

To sign up, community members need to attend an approximately 2-hour training and complete a simple application process. The training and application need to be completed / renewed annually to ensure all information is current.

The Woods Watch Program is similar to Neighborhood Watch and is of vital importance in residential areas that interface with forested land. Volunteers are trained to assist local officials in watching for and properly reporting people accessing closed areas or people who are using fire carelessly or against fire restrictions, especially on forested lands. Community volunteers make a commitment to join local law enforcement officers to keep our communities and our forests beautiful, safe and free of wild land fires.

Each year over 100 volunteers have attended Woods Watch training and assist by being good witnesses to suspicious activity occurring on or near our forested lands and communities. This first class of this year will be held on June 15, 2016 at 6:00 pm in the Law Enforcement Administrative Facility Auditorium at 911 E. Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ. Please register by calling (928) 226-5012 to help us plan accordingly.

Surface treatment to begin on SR 64 south of Valle

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VALLE — Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews will be applying surface treatment on an 8-mile segment of State Route 64 just south of Valle (milepost 205 to 213) during daylight hours on Wednesday (June 15) through Friday (June 17). During construction the roadway will be reduced to one lane of traffic with a pilot car escort to allow for alternating travel through the work zone.

Delays to the Grand Canyon can be anticipated during construction. ADOT advises travelers to allow for extra time for travel in the area, and to watch for crews and equipment in the work zone.

ADOT works to inform the public about planned roadway restrictions, but there is a possibility that unscheduled closures or restrictions may occur. Weather can also affect a project schedule.

Arizona Antelope Foundation seeks volunteers for project June 25-26

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Pronghorn_-_Buck_1_2GREER — The Arizona Antelope Foundation is seeking volunteers for a fence modification project June 25-26 near Greer, adjacent to River Reservoir in the White Mountains.

This area has been identified as a pronghorn migration route between higher elevation summer and lower elevation winter ranges. The project activity includes removing about 1.5 miles of existing four-strand fencing and modifying about 0.3 miles of fencing by removing the bottom strand of barbed wire and replacing it with a single strand of smooth wire 16 inches above the ground.

The project begins at 7 a.m. both days. The Arizona Antelope Foundation will provide dinners Friday and Saturday nights, as well as continental breakfasts with coffee and juice Saturday and Sunday mornings. Volunteers are asked to provide their own lunches to eat in the field. Volunteers also should bring work gloves, snacks, water and personal gear.

Sign up by Friday, June 17, by e-mailing info@azantelope.org. For more information, contact Glen Dickens at (520) 247-4907. For a printer-friendly map to the campsite, visit www.azantelope.org.

Firefighters respond to Wildcat Fire in Saddle Mountain Wilderness

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FREDONIA — North Zone firefighters on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest are currently responding to a new fire start called the Wildcat Fire, which was discovered earlier today. They intend to suppress the fire which is about 20-acres.

The fire is south of Highway 89A and southwest of the Forest Road 8910 and 211 junction within the vicinity of the South Canyon trailhead in Saddle Mountain Wilderness. Visitors can expect to see smoke as the wildfire is highly visible from Highway 89A.

The Wildcat Fire is primarily wind driven and currently moving north-northeast. The cause of the fire is currently unknown.

Fire restrictions to begin Wednesday on four National Forests

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FLAGSTAFF/WILLIAMS/PRESCOTT — Campfire and smoking restrictions will begin 8 a.m. Wednesday (June 15) on the Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in order to protect public health and reduce preventable human-caused fires.

Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal and wood stoves are allowed in developed campgrounds only, which are managed by concessionaires or have campground hosts. The restrictions also limit smoking to within enclosed vehicles or buildings or in developed campgrounds. Using a device that is solely fueled by liquid petroleum or LPG fuels that can be turned on and off is allowed in areas that are clear of flammable materials. Fireworks are always prohibited on all National Forest lands. On the Prescott National Forest, Stage I restrictions will not allow shooting firearms due to the drier conditions. However, this activity will be allowed on the other National Forests.

The forests use fire restrictions to help prevent unwanted, human-caused fires and to limit the exposure of users during periods of dangerous fire conditions. Implementation of fire restrictions normally occurs based on a combination of factors that are carefully measured. Criteria used to determine when to implement restrictions include things such as current and predicted weather, fuel moisture, fire activity levels and available firefighting resources. Additional restrictions may be applied as conditions warrant. In-depth details and criteria for implementing fire restrictions can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/firerestrictionscriteria. Additionally, an explanation of the different stages of fire restrictions and what is typically prohibited during those stages can be found online at http://tinyurl.com/firestagesexplained.

Fire restrictions typically remain in effect until the forests receive significant precipitation, at which time they will be rescinded.

Forest officials would also like to remind forest users that building and maintaining a campfire on the National Forest while under fire restrictions is a violation that carries a mandatory appearance in federal court. Visitors should use extra caution when recreating on all public lands during fire season.

Know Before You Go!  The public can obtain additional fire information via the following:

Closure of bridge at I-40 Twin Arrows (Exit 219) on Tuesday

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Arizona Department of Transportation crews will be applying asphalt overlay on the bridge for the Twin Arrows Traffic Interchange (milepost 219) Tuesday (June 14) from midnight to 10 a.m.

Access across the bridge will be closed for traffic during construction; however a detour will be in place to allow for travel in the area and to Interstate 40. Please see information below for details:

Detour for I-40 Eastbound exiting north (Twin Arrows Casino)

  • Travel east on I-40 past the Twin Arrows exit to Buffalo Range exit (milepost 225), then continue westbound on I-40 to Twin Arrows exit (milepost 219).

Detour for traffic exiting Twin Arrows Casino to travel eastbound on I-40

  • Travel west on I-40 to Winona exit (milepost 211) and exit eastbound onto I-40 at this location

Please observe reduced speed limits and allow for extra travel time while traveling through the work zone.

Summer Wildlife Series moves from terrestrial to aquatic

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Roundtail_ChubKINGMAN — The Summer Wildlife Series, presented by the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s regional office in Kingman, has remained on solid ground – until now.

After kicking off the ninth season of its popular program last month with a presentation on the desert tortoise, department personnel will shift from land to water and conduct a one-hour lecture on native Colorado River fishes, beginning at 6 p.m. June 16 at the Kingman Mohave County Library, 3269 N. Burbank St., in Kingman.

The event is free, although seating capacity is limited to 52 on a first-come, first-served basis.

David Partridge, aquatic wildlife specialist, will discuss different species of native fish, provide biological information, explain which fish can be caught by anglers, and the importance of reintroductions and protections. Partridge also will provide tips on where species that qualify as sport fish can be caught, as well as the best types of bait.

Some of the fish to be discussed will include roundtail chub (photo), various species of suckers and dace, and the relationship between many fish species. Matt Chmiel, the region’s aquatic program manager, said most Arizona residents know little about the state’s native fish.

“This presentation will provide people of all ages with an opportunity to come and learn about these species of fish that have learned over years how to survive in the harsh Arizona environment,” Chmiel said.

The series continues with mountain lions (July 8) and Habitat and Wildlife (July 29). For more information, call (928) 692-7700.

Inmate who committed suicide identified

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Sheriff has released the identity of the inmate who committed suicide after identifying the next of kin. The man was identified as 38-year-old Alvin Omar Berrios-Martinez. The man was being held on a warrant for previous damage to jail property.

Weather forecast on the spot

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WILLIAMS — Tonight the weather service updated their web site at 9:35 p.m. to include a 100% chance of thunderstorms and rain before 11 p.m. That is about the same time that thunderstorms and rain hit Williams.

Though thunder could be heard in the distance starting about 9:15 p.m., rain started about 9:35. The winds and rain gave Williams a nice respite from the recent heat experienced in the Williams area.

The chance of thunderstorms drops to 50% after 11 p.m. and there is a 20% chance of thunder showers tomorrow. The rest of the week clears with temperatures in the mid-80s.