OUT & ABOUT

OUTFIELD

They’re baaack!

Ticks are active in areas around Spokane. Check yourself and your pet after being out and about.

Ticks usually probe around a potential host for a few hours before choosing a tender spot to sink their mouth parts into your skin for a long, leisurely meal.

If one becomes attached, remove it by firmly pinching its head at the skin and pulling gently but steadily until the tick pulls away with its head, mouthparts and usually a bit of skin attached.

Scrub bite with soap and water.

OUTDO

Bird ID class

Learn to identify birds by sight and sound in a free class 7 p.m.-9 p.m., May 1, 3 and 5 at West Valley Outdoor Education Center, sponsored by Spokane Audubon.

Then practice new birding skills on a Turnbull Wildlife Refuge field trip on May 6, for which a donation of $20 is requested.

Preregister: Before April 28, contact Gary Blevins, 533-3661 GaryB@spokanefalls.edu, or Cindy McCormack, 448-3825, cbirds@comcast.net.

OUTCONSERVE

Earth Day cause

Bottled water is a healthy choice over soft drinks, unless we eventually suffocate in the mountain of litter.

Only 12 percent of “custom” plastic bottles, a category dominated by water, were recycled in 2003, according to the Container Recycling Institute. That means 40 million bottles a day were trashed or became litter, contributing to record levels of container waste. The recycling rate for plastic soft drink bottles is around 30 percent.

Recommended resolution: Vow to buy a sturdy backpacking water bottle. Keep it and refill it often.

Participate in Earth Day-related activities, such as:

“Special speakers on Thursday at Spokane Community College Lair-Student Center, at 9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

“Eurasian Milfoil Forum, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Sandpoint Community Hall

“World Music, Dance and Film Festival, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday at Riverfront Park gondola area, with species parade for kids and bike ride for adults starting at noon, and films at the nearby City Hall Council Chambers. Info: 838-4912.

“The Lands Council benefit auction, April 22. Info: 838-4912.

OUTLOOK

Best fishing times

The U.S. Naval Observatory lists peak fishing times in these lunar tables. To maximize results, be fishing at least one hour before and continue one hour after given times. Applies to all time zones.

Through April 23

Today

3 a.m. 3:45 p.m.

Monday

3:55 a.m. 5 p.m.

Tuesday

4:40 a.m. 6:15 p.m.

Wednesday

5:25 a.m. 7:30 p.m.

Thursday

6:10 a.m. 8:45 p.m.

Friday

6:55 a.m. 10 p.m.

Saturday

7:45 a.m. 11:15 p.m.

Next Sunday

8:30 a.m. 12:30 a.m.