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Newsletter
| January 10, 2014
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 EDITOR'S BLOG
One of the ways we try to differentiate ourselves from the traditional environmental media is by looking at things evenly. For example, a press release showed up in my inbox the other day with a headline that screamed: Cold Snap Will Be A Killer For Birds, Group Warns. We didn't sound the alarm...
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 THE OUTSIDE STORY
Some Like It Cold
Rachel Sargent
We humans tend to cringe at winter temperatures. We put on extra layers, crank up the thermostat, and wait impatiently for the tell-tale drip of spring thaw. However, there are plenty of tiny organisms all around us that aren't just biding their time; they're thriving in the bitter cold...
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Jurassic Fluff?
Li Shen
A New England January would be hard to bear without that winter essential: the puffy down jacket. It's a great accessory for leisurely walks, but when we exert ourselves and speed up the pace, a down jacket quickly gets too hot...
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We stumbled upon these strange markings in a thin cover of snow. What created them?
Every other week we run a photo of something unusual found in the woods. Guess what it is and you'll be eligible to win a copy of The Outside Story, a paperback collection of our Outside Story newspaper columns. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner's name, will appear in our next e-newsletter.
This week's contest deadline is 8:00 AM, Wednesday, January 22, 2014.
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 Previous Contest Answer
Congratulations to our winner Amie Charland of Ipswich, MA! Amie receives a copy of our book, The Outside Story.
Russ Cohen, rivers advocate with the Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game, took this photo in September in southern Vermont. It seems appropriately colorful and festive for this time of year, so we ask: Who ate what?
NW Answer: This was a tough one, even for the experts we consulted. The consensus, based on the photographic evidence, is that those are winterberry, and they were left behind by a coyote. Visit our What In The Woods Is That? contest archive. |
 NORTHERN WOODLANDS NEWS
"Investigating Wildlife" Workshop
Lynn Levine will lead an "Investigating Wildlife" workshop on February 1 from 9:30 to 12:30 p.m. in the woods of the Nature Conservancy on Black Mountain, located in Dummerston, Vermont. Participants will learn to think like the animals they are tracking and connect with the forested landscape. Participants should dress for the outdoors and bring snowshoes. Inside, Lynn will share her collection of scat and fur. Please bring a bagged lunch. Pre-registration is required since there is a maximum of 15 participants. Call the Vermont Woodlands Association at (802) 747-7900 or email by Jan 27 to register.
Looking For Wildlife Tracks And Signs
Norton (Massachusetts) Conservation Agent Jennifer Carlino will lead a wildlife tracks and signs workshop on January 25 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Cornish Town Forest and Lincoln Woods Conservation Area. These managed woodlands are home to wildlife species including squirrels, rabbits, beaver, otter, raccoons, coyote, deer and turkeys. Participants should dress for winter conditions and bring boots and snowshoes. The cost is $10 per person and the snow/rain date will be January 26, at the same time and location. To register, email Jeff Hutchins.
Vermont Farm Show
The Vermont Farm Show will be held January 28-30 at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. The event is open to the public. In addition to many exhibitors showcasing their products and services, there will be judged competitions for maple syrup/maple products, Christmas trees/wreaths, honey, apples and other farm crops. More information on attending, as well as contest registration deadlines and rules, can be found on the Vermont Farm Show website.
NHACC Names New Executive Director
New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions (NHACC) has named its fifth executive director in its 44-year history. Nicholas "Nik" Coates comes to NHACC after six years as a planner with the Central New Hampshire Regional Planning Commission (CNHRPC). NHACC began in 1970 and is a nonprofit conservation organization that provides education and assistance to the 215 municipal conservation commissions in New Hampshire. More information about NHACC can be found here.
Good News From The Cold?
During the recent bout of artic air that swept the country, Minnesota Public Radio aired a story titled, "Extreme cold may wipe out high percentage emerald ash borer larvae." Lee E. Frelich, director of The University of Minnesota Center for Forest Ecology, explained that, "Winter mortality for emerald ash borer is definitely temperature dependent. The larvae can supercool to a certain point, but they die if they freeze, and there is variability in tolerance among individual insects. A recent study from the Forest Service in Minnesota showed that 5 percent of the insects die at 0°F, 34 percent at -10°F, 79 percent at -20°F and 98 percent at -30°F." Frelich noted that temperatures could be 2-7 degrees warmer under the bark, but said that prolonged periods below zero minimizes this effect "and greatly limit the survival and reproduction of the insect." But he said that there is great variability in temperatures depending on topography and other factors, and added that the "the few insects that do survive the cold spell might be more resistant to cold than an average insect, and give rise to a new generation of more cold-tolerant insects." Much more will be understood in the coming year as research is able to measure the impact the cold has had, said Frelich. |
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We Welcome Your Questions and Comments
Postal Address:
Northern Woodlands
1776 Center Road
P.O. Box 471
Corinth, VT 05039
Toll-Free: (800) 290-5232
Phone: (802) 439-6292
Fax: (802) 368-1053
Email: mail@northernwoodlands.org
General inquiries form
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The mission of the Center for Northern Woodlands Education is to advance a culture of forest stewardship in the Northeast and to increase understanding of and appreciation for the natural wonders, economic productivity and ecological integrity of the region's forests. Our programs give people the information they need to help build a sustainable future for our region. Through Northern Woodlands magazine, the Northern Woodlands Goes to School program, and special publications, we make a difference in how people care for their land.
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