Presentation on Habitat and Forestry Management

[Smallie_Stalker]

For Immediate Release: December 4, 2017

Media Contacts:

Andrea Shortsleeve 802-477-2257
Hannah Dallas 802-622-4169

State Biologist and Foresters to Present on Habitat and Forestry Management in Weathersfield

WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and the Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation are hosting a two-part event in Weathersfield on December 7 and 9 for landowners interested in improving wildlife habitat and forest health on their property.

The event begins with a talk at the Weathersfield Town Hall in the village of Ascutney on Thursday, December 7, at 7:00 p.m., and ends with a field visit to a private property in the village of Perkinsville on Saturday, December 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Both presentations are free and open to the public, and people may attend either or both.

On Thursday evening in Ascutney village, Andrea Shortsleeve, habitat biologist with Vermont Fish & Wildlife, and Hannah Dallas, private lands forester with Vermont Forests, Parks and Recreation, will describe in detail a program that provides free advice and technical assistance from state wildlife biologists and foresters, as well as federal financial assistance to pay for habitat and forestry improvements. The program is sponsored by the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service. Thursday's presentation is sponsored by the Weathersfield Conservation Commission.

On Saturday morning, Shortsleeve and Dallas will lead a field visit in Perkinsville village on a privately-owned property. The visit will also be facilitated by Dan Healey, a consulting forester with Long View Forest Management Company, who oversees forestry management on the property. This presentation will compare tree harvesting methods, look at invasive plant species management, discuss long-term management goals, and examine how wildlife uses a variety of forested habitats.

The field visit group will meet at 10:00 a.m. at the end of Asa Grout Lane in Perkinsville. Participants are asked to wear appropriate footwear for walking in the woods off trail and to wear proper attire for winter weather in Vermont.

Please RSVP to Andrea Shortsleeve for directions, questions, and weather updates at [Please enable JavaScript to see this content] or 802-477-2257

Participants are asked to consider purchasing a Vermont Habitat Stamp, available at www.vtfishandwildlife.com to support habitat conservation and outreach in Vermont.