Fall Educational Program: “Don’t Attract Bears”
Felicia A. E. Ortner, Connecticut Master Wildlife Conservationist, presented an educational program called ‘The Bear Reality” to a packed house at the Lakeview Lodge in November. Ortner has been studying bears for over 30 years. Her passion for bears inspired her to create an educational program called, “The Bear Reality.” Her intent was to dispel misunderstandings about bears and discuss strategies for coexistence with humans and bears.
Ortner said that there are currently eight species of bears across four continents, but the only bear species found wild in Connecticut is the American black bear. Black bears can grow to be four to seven feet tall and adult males can weigh anywhere from 125 to 500 pounds. They also happen to have good vision, hearing that exceeds human frequency ranges, an incredible sense of smell, and the ability to run more than 30 miles per hour.
Even though bears are known to hibernate throughout the winter, they will leave the den on warmer winter days in search of food. Ortner stressed how important it is for people to never intentionally attract bears. This will prevent the majority of unwelcome encounters with bears.
Any food or garbage outside should be relocated, removed, or secured to reduce the chance of bears being drawn to yards looking for nourishment. Ortner recommended to keep garbage cans clean and secure inside a garage or shed and not to leave pet food or feed for wildlife outside. Additionally, if people still want to continue to have bird feeders in their yards, they should at least be moved to a spot away from the house.
Bethany Land Trust Monthly Hikes
The series of monthly guided hikes this past year has been a resounding success with over 100 hikers joining our guides. The hikes were designed to introduce residents to some of the Land Trust preserves and to identify unique features that make those preserves very special places in town.
On our last hike for 2024 in November, Ali Beres-Nork, an Environmental Science teacher at Amity High School who has a Masters Degree in Environmental Science from Montana State University, served as the guide. Participants hiked through the very active beaver habitat in Mendell’s Folly with three beaver lodges seen in the pond. Evidence of beaver activity was seen along the trail. Hikers visited a beaver dam, where they learned about the installation of the beaver flow system that helps maintain beaver pond water levels.
Save the Dates:
New Year’s First Day Hike – Wednesday, January 1, 2025 1:00 – 3:00 PM
Kicking off our planned series of hikes for 2025 will be a New Year Day afternoon hike through the Hidden Brook Preserve, the most recent Land Trust acquisition. Details to be posted soon on our website, Facebook page and in next month’s Bethany Bulletin.
Three Sisters Preserve Boundary Stone Display in Clark Memorial Library – December & January
Come see the historical boundary stone once used to mark the site where Bethany, Naugatuck, and Prospect meet at the top of a ravine in the Bethany Land Trust’s Three Sisters Preserve. The stone, once lost but now returned, will be on display in the library’s first floor exhibit case during the months of December and January.