For the past several years, a lively group of volunteers has been giving wildlife presentations and leading nature walks in the Upper Valley. "It seems that during every talk someone in the audience has an 'Ah-ha' moment," reports volunteer Linda Lauer. "It makes me realize that I'm making a difference. Like the woman who, when we were talking about woodcock and imitating their call, suddenly realized that she hadn't been hearing frogs at night--she had woodcock on her property!" Volunteers like Linda have presented over fifty free talks, and they've learned what works while reaching thousands of new people interested in wildlife, habitats, and conservation. Read More

With over 80% of New Hampshire's forestland in private ownership, private landowners play an integral role in creating, enhancing and maintaining wildlife habitats. Many of the habitats required by rare wildlife in NH require active habitat management to maintain their unique characteristics. However, like any big project, there are many obstacles to doing this valuable work on private lands. Whether you are hiring a brontosaurus (a large machine that grinds young trees) to create shrublands habitat, cutting down low-quality timber to create a wildlife opening, or forgoing income to delay the mowing of a hay field to provide breeding habitat for grassland birds, there is no denying that wildlife habitat management can cost landowners money. Luckily, here in New Hampshire, there are many programs available to help put this important work within reach of most landowners.  Read More

When the Taking Action for Wildlife Team approached the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust to participate with four town conservation commissions to help identify how those towns could best use information from the Wildlife Action Plan, we saw it as a great way to interact with our partners. Town Conservation Commissions are important partners on whom we depend to help identify and, often, fund the most important land conservation projects. The timing was perfect for the Bradford Conservation Commission, which was already developing maps for their Natural Resource Inventory (NRI).   

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Newsletter Editor:  Amanda Stone (UNH Cooperative Extension)

Photo Credits:  Frank Mitchell (Banner photo, Red spotted newt), Malin Clyde (Fall Workshops, Habitat Management), Amanda Stone (Land Trusts, Fall Wetland)