A fisher captured on a trail cam. Photo courtesy Massachusetts Audubon.
In our Fall 2021 issue...
While Maryland's "blue paint law" makes it easier to mark your woodland boundaries, trespassing does happen; learn what can happen next. There's news about two recent awards for the Woodland Stewardship Education program, and information about the native Southern Pine Beetle. Our regular features include the "Woodland Wildlife Spotlight," "Invasives in Your Woodland," plus the events calendar, the Brain Tickler challenge, and the News and Notes section.
Jonathan Kays, Forestry Specialist, University of Maryland Extension
*This article is not intended to be a substitute for counsel from a lawyer or insurance agent regarding a particular situation.*
With hunting season around the corner, many landowners wish to control who will have access to their property. Posting conventional no trespassing signs can be an expensive and time-consuming project. A Maryland law passed in 1989 makes the chore of posting much easier and cheaper for landowners by allowing the use of vertical strips of oil-based blue paint as an alternative to signs.
Dr. Jim Finley was one of the three original authors of “The Woods In Your Backyard” (WIYB) guide, published in 2006 and revised in 2015. He was the Professor Emeritus of Private Forest Management and Human Dimensions and Natural Resources at Penn State. His recent passing was a great loss to the forestry community.
In the past few months, the University of Maryland Extension’s Woodland Stewardship Education program has received two awards from national organizations.
Andrew A. Kling, Faculty Associate
Maryland is home to four members of the weasel family: mink, river otters, long-tailed weasels, and fishers. In the state, fishers are second only in size to river otters, but they occupy a distinctly different ecological niche. Of these four species, the fisher is perhaps the most elusive, due in part to its mostly nocturnal behavior, but once you have seen one, you won’t confuse it with another species.
Andrew A. Kling, Faculty Associate
Afforestation is the process of planting trees in formerly open space. Because trees take time to mature, it is important to ensure that the seedlings have sufficient light and nutrients to grow. This often involves controlling growth of other species within the planting area, including invasive species such as the distinctive Johnsongrass. And once established in an area, Johnsongrass can out-compete many other species for nutrients and over-top them to rob them of sunlight.
The News and Notes roundup for this issue features a way to get caught up on this fall's Woodland Wildlife Wednesday webinars, a way to remove adult Spotted Lanternflies using an empty water bottle, how to have your business listed in our new Natural Area Management Services Providers Directory, and how to order seedlings for spring planting projects from the Maryland State Nursery.
Agnes Kedmenecz, Woodland Stewardship Education Program - Wye Research & Education Center
Disturbances such as fire, wind events, landslides, tree falls and pests allow forests to remain dynamic and provide habitat for many woodland flora and fauna. Native species have adapted to these disturbances, including the Southern Pine Beetle (SPB), which is native to Maryland and the southeastern United States.
** We have a correct answer for this issue! The results will be announced in our Winter 2022 issue, due to be released next February. Thank you for participating! **
In the Summer 2021 issue, we asked you an historical question. Congratulations to Catherine Shelton for correctly answering that the U. S. Forest Service was created during Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency.
December 8, 2021, 3:30 - 5:00 pm
Women’s Forest Congress
Online
Hear stories from organizations who share values and are raising the profile of gender equity in the broader forest, conservation, and recreation spaces. Participants can also join “book club” style networking discussions.
Registration is free but limited to the first 300 individuals who register. Go to https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsceurqT0oGNOM41rQWghD27QnJi4es2ij to register.
January 11-13, 2022
Mapping with Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)
Online
This three-day intensive “drone boot camp” is offered through Virginia Tech and is designed for Extension agents / specialists, Private industry, Natural resource professionals, Planning professionals, Local/State government employees, Public safety professionals, Agricultural operators, and more who want to learn how to use drones for mapping, natural resource management, and much more. No previous experience is required. Registration closes December 11, 2021 and space is limited. For more information and to register, visit https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/workshops-events/.
March 8-10, 2022
BeaverCON 2022 - Building Climate Resilience: A Nature-Based Approach
Delta Hotel, Hunt Valley MD
BeaverCON 2022 is a biennial, three-day, international, conference for restoration professionals, researchers, and practitioners to learn what works in nature-based approaches to tackling the most pressing environmental challenges of our time: flooding, drought, fire, and water quality, as well as cutting edge approaches to beaver conflict management and leveraging beaver for watershed restoration efforts. To learn more and to register, visit https://www.beavercon.org/
