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Conservation Corner
Conservation Corner consists of 14 short conservation video segments for use in the middle school classroom. Topics span the seven seasons of Outdoor Journal and range from animal protection and habitat preservation to water issues. We’d like to thank Vermont Fish & Wildlife for their help in identifying four teachers around the state to work with their students to assemble classroom materials for use in conjunction with the videos. We’d also like to thank the four teachers who were willing to take on this activity in their classrooms and share their work with others for replication: Mary Anne Deer, Robin Gannon, Sam Nijensohn and Len Schmidt.
Teaching Materials:
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Bats
Vermont is home to 9 species of bats. Biologists recently discovered that large numbers of Indiana bats spend the summer in the Champlain Valley.
Download the teaching materials created by Mary Anne Deer (and students), Putney Central School, Putney, VT. |
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Bear Habitat
Thanks to returning forests and habitat protection, the bear population in Vermont is growing 3 to 5% each year.
Download the teaching materials created by Robin Gannon (and students), E. Montpelier Elementary School, E. Montpelier, VT. |
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Bobcat Research
Bobcats range through portions of all 48 contiguous states, yet in recent years they have become a species of concern here in Vermont.
Download the teaching materials created by Len Schmidt (and students), Community High School of Vermont, S. Burlington, VT. |
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Spruce Grouse
The boreal forest of the Nulhegan Basin is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species. Located in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont this area is a wildlife viewer’s paradise.
Download the teaching materials created by Sam Nijensohn (and students), Wheeler Mountain Academy, Barton, VT. |
Additional Video Segments:
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Beaver Baffles
In this segment, we look at a unique project called the "Cooperative Beaver Baffle Demonstration Project" that uses water control structures to properly manage beaver dam water levels.
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Big Night
On warm early spring nights amphibians across Vermont are on the move. Salamanders and frogs migrate in mass from their upland wintering habitat to wetland breeding grounds.
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Deeryard
A deeryard is a wintering habitat, a dense, overhead canopy of softwood trees such as hemlock, cedar, fir and spruce.
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Duck Banding
Banding birds requires capturing them and when it comes to waterfowl the most effective method is the use of rocket netting.
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Duck Boxes
Thanks to conservation efforts such as the construction and installation of wood duck boxes in wetlands this beautiful bird has had resurgence. |
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Moose Survey
Vermont’s Moose population was virtually extirpated by the late 1800’s. By 1980 an estimated 200 moose had made their way back into the mountains of the Northeast Kingdom and the numbers have been on the rise ever since. |
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Muskie Research
Recently a few anglers have landed some huge fish, rekindling an interest in angling for these water monsters and sparking a muskie restoration program. |
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Spiney Softshell Turtles
Spiny Soft-shell Turtles are part of Vermont's natural heritage. But these shy creatures are at risk of vanishing in both Vermont and Quebec due to waterfront development of their natural habitats. |
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Timber Rattle Snakes
Mention the word “rattlesnake” and the reaction you’ll get is either awe and fascination or fear and loathing. |
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Wise on Weeds
For centuries various plant species have been imported from other countries as ornamentals for various landscaping projects. They may look great when manicured by a landscaper but when these plants are spread into the wild they can become extremely invasive. |
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