Oregon Department of Forestry

✨ Happy STEM Day, everyone! 🔬 Let's celebrate the wonder of science, technology, engineering, and math and inspire future innovators! Cheers to the joy of learning! #STEMDay

Extended hunting for youth deer season is Nov. 9-10. State Forests offers many recreation opportunities including this special hunt. See https://ow.ly/j5fx50U1I0q for eligibility and hunting regulations. Go to the state forests website to see many of other recreational opportunities available in your state forests. https://lnkd.in/guxdN9r8

ODF’s J.E. Schroeder Seed Orchard in Marion County and two Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District sites have agreed to test Oregon ash seedlings for resistance to emerald ash borer. Seedlings will be grown from seed collected across the tree's native range from California to British Columbia. The young trees will be monitored to several years to see if there is any resistance to EAB and if so, at what level. Seed will be sown in spring 2025, with the first plantings expected in fall 2025. The project is funded by the USDA Forest Service. EAB eventually kills upwards of 99 percent or more of all ashes in areas it infests, virtually wiping out ash trees.

Fire season is over, so what's next? Fostering healthy, resilient landscapes and forests! Here's one opportunity.

November is Native American Heritage Month. Each week this month, we hope to honor and recognize those that have been managing the land since time immemorial by highlighting the many essential and unique contributions Native Americans have made. This month gives us the opportunity to reflect on how the cultures and traditions held dear by tribal nations continue to advance resilient and vibrant lands nationwide. The value and applicability of indigenous knowledge continues to be affirmed and can have significant, positive implications in land management.

The Tillamook Forest Center will close for the season Dec. 1. However, there are still many November events being held at the TFC including: the Rain Festival, Holiday Wreath Making, and wildlife presentations on elk, cougars, birds and more. Check out their website for dates and times. https://lnkd.in/gh_fJYXA

Over the past two weeks, ODF has partnered with OSU Extension Fire Program, NRCS, Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians and DFPA to host Certified Burn Manager (CBM) trainings in Roseburg and Sisters with a live prescribed fire exercise in Roseburg following the course. The overall goal of the CBM program is to reduce barriers to prescribed fire in Oregon by increasing available resources on non-federal, ODF-protected lands. When landowners within ODF protection districts use a certified burn manager and follow the required burn plan, it protects both from civil liability. Learn more about the program and more at https://lnkd.in/gnBVXZeC

As you go about this Halloween past yards decorated with graves, ghosts and goblins, you might tuck an acorn in your pocket as protection. Pre-Christian Europeans thought of oaks - large, long-lived trees with valuable wood - as sacred and under the protection of the gods. Bringing acorns into one's home was thought to convey some of this protection, which is why well into modern times curtain pulls, finials and chair ends would be acorn-shaped. Carrying an acorn around was also thought to be a form of protection. Acorns were also associated with fertility, long life, prosperity and good luck. However, be careful walking on pavement beneath oaks, as fallen acorns pose a trip hazard, which is bad luck indeed!

In pre-Christian Europe, the holly tree was associated with the pagan god of thunder, Thor. The trees were therefore thought to protect against lightning strikes, leading to holly being planted near houses for that reason. Witches were thought to fly along hedgerows, but were stopped by the prickly leaves of holly. So farmers planted holly in their hedges as a defense against wandering witches. It's just as likely, though, that birds eating the bright red fruits spread holly seeds along the hedgerows in their waste. That's the same way this introduced European tree spreads in Northwest forests, where it has become invasive.

The Oregon Department of Forestry is happy to announce the launch of the Prescribed Fire Liability Program. This pilot program is intended to increase use of prescribed fire and cultural burning and support fire practitioners by providing liability coverage for enrolled burns. Learn more about the program and how to apply at https://ow.ly/nSi250TVy0O