Wildlife Habitat in the Champlain Valley: an inter-town conversation

By Holly Sullivan

Who are our non-human neighbors with whom we share the land and water? Where in our town do these critters live? What kind of habitat, and how much habitat do they need to find food, raise their young and thrive? How can we grow communities that will include them? Why is it even important? If you have ever wondered about these questions, you now have a rare and wonderful opportunity to find out more. Come join Sue Morse, expert naturalist, one of the top wildlife trackers in the United States and founder of Keeping Track, Inc. for a free slide show workshop on Thursday, June 18 from 7-9pm at Lake Champlain Waldorf High School in Shelburne.

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about wildlife in the Champlain Valley. Morse will discuss topics including where the best wildlife habitat is in our Champlain Valley towns; how close our human communities can be to wildlife homes; what‘s the big deal about forest perforation and habitat fragmentation, especially when we already have so many deer and bunnies around; how do we know if we are being good stewards; and why we even need to care about all of this anyway. She will cover the importance of wetlands, river corridors, and forest blocks. Attendees will learn how our local habitats can best connect to regional habitats, and what role culverts, underpasses and overpasses play.

The accompanying slide show will highlight her stunning photography of resident wildlife and the status of the common and most vulnerable wildlife species. She will show attendees how to read wildlife signs and presence, and how to read the local landscape for both habitat health and opportunities for restoration.

Following the presentation there will be an inter-town conversation. Wildlife planning maps and other land use tools from Shelburne, Charlotte, Hinesburg, Monkton, and Starksboro will be used to view the variety of habitat types located in the different towns and where our contiguous habitat and historic travel corridor areas are. Together, we hope to learn more about the local critters and identify inter-town conservation priorities for the upcoming years.

Refreshments, courtesy of Shelburne Farms and Lewis Creek Association, will be offered. There will also be a raffle of Woody Jackson art in support of the Monkton wildlife habitat connectivity project.

The event is sponsored by the Lewis Creek Association, in conjunction with the Lake Champlain Waldorf High School, Shelburne Farms, and town conservation commissions.

For more information contact Lewis Creek Association, martyillick@gmail.com.