Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Post

Changes in species macro and micro habitat ranges is picking up, first die off of established cedar trees across the PNW in recent years due to extreme events on some sites, and now the southern flank of the Douglas-fir range in southern Oregon is showing die off. https://lnkd.in/gj7xiNUE

Vermonter, conservationist, and former Executive Director of the International Wolf Center, Walter Medwid responds to David Foster’s piece, “Wolves Are Expanding in Agricultural Denmark. Why Not New England?” in the Winter 2025 issue of From the Ground Up. Medwid illuminates a disconnect between public sentiment, which strongly supports coexistence with–not dominance over–wildlife, and public policy, which continues to villainize predators as nuisances and vermin. If coyotes, which partially fill the ecological role once held by wolves in New England, are hunted without restriction, what hope could there be for a return of their larger relatives? Wolves may add a degree of complication for wildlife managers and livestock owners , but with our ecosystems lacking the balance that apex predators create, Medwid makes a compelling case supporting their return. Further, restoring wolves “taps into our hardwired urge to repair past harm and right the wrong of defining high-order predators as something negative and unnecessary,” he writes. Read more of Medwid’s thoughts on the “dream of returning the wolf to New England,” and questions to consider before making that dream real: #conservation #newengland #northeast #landconservation #wwfc #winter2025 #vermont #rhodeisland #newhampshire #connecticut #maine #massachusetts #wolves #coyotes #cougar

We talk a lot about the important role that prescribed fire has on our landscapes, but good fire is just one tool in our vegetation management strategy. We often prepare for fire by creating shaded fuel breaks – reducing surface and ladder fuels in strategic locations to slow fire spread and create buffer zones. This winter, we worked with the talented teams at Spye General Engineering and Hanford to implement the Rodger’s Ridge Shaded Fuel Break at our Live Oaks Ranch Preserve. The one-mile-long, 16-acre stretch is a prominent ridgeline between Knight’s Valley and Calistoga, and is critical to slowing the movement of wildfire into the nearby city. We will now be able use the shaded fuel break as an anchor for prescribed fire and forest health thinning on an adjacent 22-acre hillside, which will reinforce the ridgeline work. We secured funding from the Natural Resource Conservation Service and Sonoma County Ag + Open Space District’s Vegetation Management Grant Program to implement this multi-benefit project, preparing it for prescribed burning in partnership with Northern Sonoma Fire District in fall 2024. Returning good fire to our landscapes is the most effective method to improve forest health and build resilience to future wildfires. Learn more about our Living with Fire program at https://ow.ly/hSVJ50RooyV #GoodFire #vegetationmanagement #PrescribedFire #SonomaLandTrust

"Fire is an integral component of functioning and productive habitat for grizzly bears, moose, elk, mule deer, sheep, and all those that share the landscape. Burns create food for wildlife by regenerating the soil and letting in sunlight, which creates ideal conditions for new plants and berries to grow. Using fire intentionally, under expert management, rejuvenates the land with little risk to people and property. In fact, it protects people and property." Read the full post at https://lnkd.in/g7pisNtP

Wetlands are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. They provide a multitude of ecological, economic and social benefits, including habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants. They are nurseries for fish and the foundation of our nation’s water supply. They even help protect us from storms and flooding! 3M Flat Branch-Hinkson Creek Wetlands - These wetland cells right here in Columbia, MO treat stormwater runoff from approximately 140 acres of urban (HINKSON) watershed and can store and filter an estimated 10,000,000 gallons of runoff. Please come visit the site and enjoy walking the wetland trail to read the wetland educational signs and observe the wildlife. In fact, www.e-bird.org listed the 3M Wetlands as a world “hot spot” for bird sightings! LEARN MORE HERE: https://lnkd.in/gCCQF25K Think differently. Think sustainably. Think #comowatersheds

🎣 North Carolina is home to four native black bass species: largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, Bartram's bass, and spotted bass. Known for their aggression, fighting ability, and stamina, these fish are a favorite among anglers. Largemouth and smallmouth bass are the most common and can be found from mountain streams to coastal waters. The rarest is Bartram's bass, only found in three North Carolina rivers: Chattooga, Horsepasture, and Toxaway. However, the Alabama bass, an invasive species, poses a threat to our native bass by competing for habitat and interbreeding. Efforts are underway by NCWRC to manage and rehabilitate the native black bass species impacted by this invasive fish.

Riprap is an effective way to protect pond shorelines from erosion. It involves placing large rocks along the shore to absorb the energy of waves and runoff, preventing soil erosion. Riprap not only stabilizes the banks but also enhances the pond’s natural look and provides habitats for aquatic life. It’s an ideal solution for maintaining shoreline integrity where water flow is strong. 📩 info@alanhort.com ☎ 630-739-0205 #lawnmaintence #fall #landscapemulch #naperville #mchenry #downersgrove #alanhort #fungus #landscapemaintenance #Turf #lawn #townhome #townhomes #townhouse #commericalproperty #commerical #businesses #propertymanager #propertymanagement #communitymanagement #reviews #clientsatisfaction #chicago #fertilization #chicagolandscape #falldecorations

Did you know Austin's iconic Barton Springs is directly tied to the land we stand on at the Wildflower Center? We're part of the recharge zone for the Edwards Aquifer, a vital water source - and the very system that feeds Barton Springs. Here’s how it works: 🌧️ Rainwater seeps into the ground here via caves, cracks and crevices, filtering through layers of limestone and soil to replenish the Edwards Aquifer below. 💦 That water travels underground and emerges at Barton Springs, supporting wildlife and providing drinking water in Central Texas. In periods of prolonged heavy rain, water entering Wildflower Cave can discharge at Barton Springs in two to three days! This connection between land and spring might not be obvious, but it’s vital. Protecting the recharge zone means protecting the very heart of Austin’s water system. The Center is also in the Barton Springs-Edwards Aquifer Conservation District (BSEACD), which works to protect the Edwards and Trinity aquifers and groundwater resources in parts of Travis, Hays, and Caldwell counties. While it’s been exciting to see some rain recently (and more in the forecast), much of this rain gets absorbed by parched soils rather than flowing into the recharge zone. For a meaningful boost to groundwater levels, we’d need sustained, heavy rainfall like the October storms of last year, which sent water rushing through recharge features, making a real impact. 🎥 Rainstorms (October 2023) and rainwater flowing into a sinkhole on Center grounds (2016). For more info, check out this video from Austin Water Wildland Conservation: https://lnkd.in/g4jtu6fi #WildflowerCenter #EdwardsAquifer #BartonSprings #Groundwater

Beaver dams trap water in pools, making the flow of water slower so the surrounding ecosystem can reap the benefits of the moisture while making it more difficult for forest fires to start. https://lnkd.in/gt39fgyF

Bottomland hardwoods are an ever-changing landscape, ranging from swamp-like conditions to dry woodland settings throughout the year. This dynamic environment supports diverse wildlife and provides essential ecosystem services like flood mitigation and water quality improvement. Our Louisiana Lowlands project is a classic example of bottomland hardwoods. Learn more about the importance of conserving these forests: https://bit.ly/3KSPcRd.