Bear, pelicans, Good Witch, blue catfish: Notes, Chicago outdoors

A bear, American white pelicans, the Good Witch and a really big blue catfish are among the notes around Chicago outdoors.

Notes come from around Chicago outdoors.

WILD OF THE WEEK

Curt Pazdro sent this bear photo from last weekend on a fishing trip with his All-American son Wyatt to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I’ll grab any chance to run a bear photo.

WOTW, the celebration of wild stories and photos around Chicago outdoors, runs most weeks in the special two-page outdoors section in the Sun-Times Sports Saturday. Send nominations to @BowmanOutside on Twitter or Instagram, to Dale Bowman on Facebook or email BowmanOutside@gmail.com.

WILD TIMES

HUNTER SAFETY

Oct. 11-12: Dyer, Ind., (219) 515-2197

Oct. 12-13: Joliet, (815) 727-4811

Oct. 19-20: Tinley Park, (708) 342-4200

TRAPPING CLASS

Saturday: Sept. 28: Joliet, (815) 727-4811

DUCKS UNLIMITED

Friday: Sept. 27: Fox River Valley dinner, Gaslite Manor Banquets, Aurora. Contact John Tricoci, (847) 456-7641

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Today, Sept. 23: Des Plaines, Chas. Hague, sailnrails@gmail.com

DALE’S MAILBAG

``For about three weeks in August, we saw a flotilla of pelicans on the pond along the Old Plank Road bike trail, the one between Central and Ridgeland Avenues, the headwaters of Butterfield Creek. . . . They disappeared, but a lone pelican has been at the pond this week. We’re used to seeing them on the Illinois River near Starved Rock, but this is the farthest north (and east) we’ve ever spotted them. Does this sound unusual to you?’’ Patty Houlihan

A: Unusual? Yes. Unheard of? No. Illinois has long been on the eastern fringe of their migration. In recent years, Braidwood Lake has even become a regular stop for squadrons of American white pelicans. I still marvel at them.

BIG NUMBER

91.87: Pounds of a blue catfish caught by Tim Spence last Saturday during in the inaugural Alton Catfish Classic, according to The Telegraph. Click here for the story.

LAST WORD

``Hey you never know, especially at this time of the year. They’re like the good witch in ``The Wizard of Oz,’’ they come and go so quickly around here. LOL.’’

Stacey Greene at Park Bait, on the coming and goings at Montrose Harbor of salmon and trout in fall.