Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma

05/10/2026

Thanks Moms, we couldn’t have discovered the great outdoors without you. Happy Mother’s Day!

04/11/2026

Outdoor lighting impacts insect and migratory bird populations. Consider a change to motion lights, timers or yellow/amber lighting for healthier wildlife habitat.

04/11/2026

Back online. We love it!

🦅 With the camera back online and appearing stable, it's easy to see how fast the chicks are growing! The chicks are now in their thermal down, a set of feathers that allow the chicks to thermoregulate their own body temperature and no longer need to rely on a parent to brood them for warmth. Both parents can now spend most of their day hunting, giving the best chance to keep food competition between the chicks low.

04/10/2026

04/10/2026

"There is no scientific justification for the release of farmed white-tailed deer into free-ranging populations for the purpose of CWD prevention or management." - Dr. Mark Ruder

The potential risks of releasing captive deer include:
- Unintentional release of CWD positive deer into the wild.

- The introduction of novel diseases into the wild, including emergence of novel CWD strains.

- Increased susceptibility to existing and more common threats like blue tongue and EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease).

- Stocking additional deer into areas that are near or at carrying capacity could lead to additional agricultural depredation, deer/vehicle collisions and potential liability for those who have sold or released the deer.

Photo credit: Richard Ellis

04/10/2026

04/05/2026

EASTER BUNNY? Or is it a hare? Common knowledge is that people’s ideas of the Easter Bunny may depend largely on where they are from, be it a farm-raised white, an eastern cottontail (most commonly in the U.S.), or a German brown hare (reportedly the original) or a chocolate one (we prefer solid, not hollow). Whatever our vision of "the" bunny, it’s handy to know that there are roughly 30 wild rabbit species and a similar variety of hare species worldwide, all adapted to their specific habitats. Oklahoma is home to swamp rabbits, eastern cottontail rabbits, and black-tailed jackrabbits (a type of hare). Hares are generally taller, lankier, and have longer ears. A baby hare is called a leveret, and they are born furred, with eyes open, and are soon mobile. Most rabbits are more compact, with shorter legs, and a baby rabbit is a kitten, born hairless and sightless in a protected nest, where they remain for three to four weeks. Neither lays eggs, but their association with Easter, fertility, and new beginnings continues. Happy Easter!

03/23/2026

One of our member organizations at work.