Visitors have until Nov. 25 to visit the Salato Wildlife Education Center in Frankfort before its seasonal closure for the winter. This will be the last time that visitors will have the chance to see the center’s newly acquired bobcat as a kitten.
“Our new bobcat is roughly half grown at this point and we don’t expect it to be kitten-sized by the time that we reopen March 1,” said acting Salato Center Manager Brent McCarty. “When the bobcat reaches adult size, it will be placed on permanent exhibit.”
The kitten will remain on display from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday until the center closes for the season at 5 p.m. Nov. 25.
The winter closure allows the staff to conduct needed maintenance and upgrades on existing exhibits, trails and enclosures, assuring a quality experience for the center’s 75,000 yearly visitors.
The center features a variety of native animals, including a black bear, an eagle, bobcats, elk, deer, bison, snakes, frogs, turtles and fish. The center has numerous indoor and outdoor exhibits and miles of hiking trails open to the public.
The Salato Center is operated by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. The center is located off U.S. 60, approximately 1 ½ miles west of the U.S. 127 intersection. Look for the bronze deer statue at the entrance of the main Kentucky Fish and Wildlife campus.
Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern) Tuesday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Eastern) Saturday. Salato is closed on Sunday, Monday and state holidays.
Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for youth 5 to 18. Children under 5 are admitted free. The center also offers annual memberships for individuals and families.
Public fishing access area at Meldahl Lock and Dam in Bracken County reopens
A popular public fishing access on the Ohio River is now back open to public use after an extensive renovation as part of a larger hydroelectric project at Meldahl Lock and Dam in Bracken County.
“Anglers will now have improved recreational facilities and access to the tailrace area of the new hydroelectric facility adjacent to Meldahl Lock and Dam,” said Ron Brooks, director of fisheries for the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. “This area has long been popular with bank anglers.”
The new improvements include a fishing pier, multi-level fishing platforms, concrete walkways for angler access, better lighting, improved parking, picnic areas and restroom facilities.
“There is a concrete ramp for access for mobility-impaired anglers,” said Mike Hardin, assistant director of fisheries for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “This ramp leads from the parking area to an elevated pier at the confluence of the hydroelectric plant tailwater and the Ohio River for an excellent fishing spot.”
Safety is now improved by providing life preservers and devices to warn visitors of excessive changes in the Ohio River’s level.
The new walkways include two different levels to allow anglers to fish during normal and high flows. Workers also installed shoreline undulations 50 feet apart both upstream and downstream of the fishing pier to create current breaks that enhance fish habitat.
“This is one of the Northeastern Fisheries District’s best opportunities for sauger fishing from the bank in fall, winter and spring,” said Tom Timmerman, Northeastern Fisheries District biologist for Kentucky Fish and Wildlife. “You can put together some full limits of high quality, tasty fish for the cost of a few jigs and a walk out to the fishing pier.”
The Meldahl tailwater area also has productive fishing for hybrid striped bass, catfish, black bass and panfish.
“Fishing large rivers can be intimidating,” Timmerman said. “This pier puts you right where you want to be to catch sauger and other sport fish.”
Meldahl Lock and Dam is located off KY 8 just east of Foster, Kentucky in Bracken County.
From F&W Communications