[ESSP] Local wildlife tracking 11/12/03

[Vanessa Paulman]

WILDLIFE EVENT COMES TO BELCHERTOWN	(10 minutes from Hampshire)

For Immediate Release
Date:  November 3, 2003
Contact:  Kristin DeBoer, Valley Trackers, 413-253-6720

Pelham, Massachusetts.  Come and learn about our wildlife neighbors the
bear, bobcat, fox, lynx and much more. Explore extensive wildlife
exhibits (consisting of mammal mounts, track molds, examples of wildlife
sign, pelts, skulls and other displays) and see a captivating wildlife
slide show presented by Sue Morse, founder and program director of
Keeping Track.  The family oriented event will take place at 7pm on
Wednesday, November 12th at Belchertown High School Cafeteria (142
Springfield Road, Belchertown, MA).

The event is being hosted by Valley Trackers, a local team of twenty
volunteers who have been trained by Keeping Track to conduct wildlife
monitoring in and between the Holyoke Range and the Quabbin Reservoir.
Volunteer Coordinator Kristin DeBoer said, "We are thrilled to be hosting
this event for the second time in this region.  It is going to be quite a
night that is not to be missed by anyone interested in local wildlife or
the outdoors. We hope that more residents will be inspired to join us in
as trackers after they see this presentation."

Lars Botzojorns, Keeping Track's Executive Director says, "Keeping
Track's Wildlife Event is better than an evening at the movies. There
will be something for everyone: wildlife displays and a spectacular slide
show.  Keeping Track looks forward to being more active in Massachusetts,
assisting local groups like Valley Trackers in identifying and protecting
important wildlife habitat."

Susan Morse is a nationally recognized naturalist, wildlife photographer,
and habitat specialist with over thirty years experience tracking and
interpreting wildlife uses of habitat. She has focused her research
activities on bobcat, black bear, cougar and Canada lynx.  She has
lectured in environmental studies and forest ecology at the university
level and also runs her own forestry and wildlife consulting business.
She founded Keeping Track in 1994, which has been featured on National
Public Radio's "Morning Edition" and in the following magazines, Nature
Conservancy, Smithsonian, Audubon, Amicus Journal, and Forest.  Susan is
also the subject of the recently released book in the Scientist in the
Field series from Houghton Mifflin entitled The Woods Scientist (for
children 9-12).

Keeping Track is a national non-profit organization based in Huntington,
Vermont.  Keeping Track's mission is to inspire community participation
in the long-term stewardship of wildlife habitat. Keeping Track teaches
adults and children to observe, interpret, record, and monitor evidence
of wildlife in their communities, and supports citizens' use of
monitoring data in local and regional conservation planning. Co-sponsors
also include Belchertown Conservation Commission, Connecticut Valley
Summit, Hitchcock Center for the Environment, The Kestrel Trust, and
Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary.

Come enjoy a unique and stimulating evening and come away with a grater
appreciation for our wildlife neighbors!

Tickets may be purchased at the door. $5 for adults, kids are free. Call
413-253-6720 for more information.

-- 
Vanessa Paulman
Science Outreach Coordinator
Center for Science Exploration
Hampshire College

phone: (413) 559-5792
fax: (413) 559-5438
Adele Simmons Hall #132

http://ScienceExploration.hampshire.edu