Massachusetts

UPCOMING EVENTS

The following events may be of interest to Teaming with Wildlife Coalition members.

June Events*

June 23-- Project WILD & Aquatic WILD Workshop For Educators, Norwell--The South Shore Science Center invites all educators to participate in this exciting workshop! The Project WILD/Aquatic workshop is a series of wildlife activities workshops designed for all educators who work with kids of all ages and who want hands-on, interdisciplinary activities focusing on wildlife, people and the environment. Participants experience useful wildlife activities, receive the Project WILD Guide and other wildlife materials. Scout leaders, youth group leaders as well as classroom teachers find the materials and workshop experience very valuable. PDP's are available to classroom teachers. Workshops are led by MassWildlife's Project WILD volunteer facilitators. Pre-registration is required. Contact Karen Kurkoski 781/ 659-2559.

June 23--Managing Grassland and Shrubland Habitat, Turners Falls (Montague)-This "in the field" workshop will feature Jill Liske-Clark, MassWildlife's Upland Habitat Management Program,who will describe the process of planning and implementing management for grasslands and shrublands at Cass Meadows, part of the Millers River WMA in Athol. Learn about the importance of these habitats to wildlife, and how to create them on your property. Examples of the equipment used for habitat management will be demonstrated. Technical and financial resources available to interested landowners will be discussed. This workshop is part of the Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Landowner Workshop Series arranged in collaboration with Refuge partners. Call 413/863-3221 to register and for details on meeting place.

June 23-- Project WILD Workshop For Educators, Norwell--The Kettle Pond Farm invites all educators to participate in this exciting workshop! The Project WILD workshop is a series of wildlife activities workshops designed for all educators who work with kids of all ages and who want hands-on, interdisciplinary activities focusing on wildlife, people and the environment. Participants experience useful wildlife activities, receive the Project WILD Guides and other wildlife materials. Scout leaders, youth group leaders as well as classroom teachers find the materials and workshop experience very valuable. PDP's are available to classroom teachers. Workshops are led by MassWildlife's Project WILD volunteer facilitators. Pre-registration is required. Contact Nancy Possinger (508) 824-4814 or BMagical12@aol.com.

Black bear breeding season begins in mid-June and runs through mid-July. Unlike most animals, in bears, the fertilized egg (blastocyst) will float free for a number of months. If the female is well-nourished, the blastocyst implants in the uterine wall in late November and the small feeble cubs are born in the den in mid- to late January. Litter sizes range from 1 to 4 cubs, usually 2 or 3 in Massachusetts.

July Events*

Quabbin Deer Hunt Applications Available --The Dept. of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Division of Water Supply Protection has information and applications available about the Quabbin Deer Hunt. Contact the Quabbin Visitor's Center at 413/323-7221. Applications due to the DCR-Quabbin by August 15.

July 1--Crow season opens.

July 5--Two weeks left before the Antlerless Permit deadline for statewide antlerless deer permits! ALL DEER HUNTERS FOR ANY SEASON MUST HAVE A PERMIT TO TAKE AN ANTLERLESS DEER. Applications must be postmarked by July 16 in order to be included in the drawing of permits. The drawing will be held in early August. Shorebird Migration Begins.

The first week of July heralds the southward migration for Least and Solitary Sandpipers as well as Short-billed Dowitchers who nested and raised young up north. These birds will pass through the Bay State on their flight to the southern states and the Caribbean.

July 14 -- Whitman's Pond Family Fishing Festival, Weymouth -- This event is designed to introduce curious or beginning anglers of all ages who have an interest in learning about fishing. On the shores of Whitman Pond, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. No equipment is needed, but if you have your own, bring it along! 10 AM - 3 PM. The Festival is organized in cooperation with Whitman's Pond Association and the Weymouth Youth and Family Services. MassWildlife Angler Education volunteers will be on hand to assist. For more information, contact Marie Feely at 781/340-6976.

July 16-- Antlerless Deer Permit deadline! ALL DEER HUNTERS FOR ANY SEASON MUST HAVE A PERMIT TO TAKE AN ANTLERLESS DEER. Applications must be postmarked by July 16 for the drawing of permits. Send to MassWildlife Westboro Field HQ, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westboro, MA 01581 ATTN: Antlerless deer permit. The antlerless deer permit drawing will be in early August.

July 16--Season for Bullfrog and Green frog opens.

The Wood-lily, an uncommon find is easily seen and identified by its upright, bright red flowers. The more common Canada lily found in most counties also blooms at this time, but it produces nodding blooms of yellow, orange or orange-red.

July 28 -- Houghton's Pond Family Fishing Festival, Canton -- This event is designed to introduce curious or beginning anglers of all ages who have an interest in learning about fishing. On the shores of Houghton's Pond, cast a line, learn about fish in our waters, safety, ethics, and fishing equipment. No equipment is needed, but if you have your own, bring it along! 10 AM - 2:30 PM. The Festival is organized in cooperation with the Department of Conservation and Recreation's Blue Hills Reservation. MassWildlife Angler Education volunteers will be on hand to assist. For more information, contact Marie Feely at 781/340-6976.

Fireflies are flickering! Over a dozen species of fireflies are found in fields and forests here in the Bay State For the most part, each species has its own code of blinking code to attract a member of the opposite sex. Some fireflies mimic another species code as a way to confuse an individual and will eat an unsuspecting firefly lured in by the mimic.

*Events from MassWildlife Calendar of Events

http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/calendar/calendar.htm

PAST EVENTS

TWW Fly In in DC to lobby Congress for Wildlife Funding
February 27-March 1, 2007
Washington DC

We had a chance to meet with most of the Massachusetts delegation to urge them to support funding wildlife protection and the implementation of the Massachusetts Wildlife Action Plan.