Wildlife Day at the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center took place this year on Oct. 4 in Addison.

By Fiona Medeiros

ADDISON — It was one of those picturesque, sunny Saturdays. Aromas from a crackling fire pit and crockpots full of potluck treats blended with the sounds of people gathering, animals chattering and cars arriving for an annual celebration of nature.

Wildlife Day at the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center took place this year on Oct. 4 in Addison. People from around the state came for demonstrations, family activities and presentations from wildlife advocates, biologists and natural resource managers. 

The nearly 3,000-acre, state-owned wildlife area runs through Addison, Bridport and Panton along Lake Champlain. It is home to more than 200 species of birds and other animals and continues to write a rich history of land and wildlife management. 

Wildlife Day is sponsored by the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department. For some visitors, the event provides “the opportunity to connect with nature in a way they haven’t before,” said Amy Alfieri, wildlife biologist and manager of Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA).

The annual event also provides a window into the field of conservation going back to the 1950s, when the state began conserving the many parcels that now make up the area known for its water fowl, fish, game and mix of ecosystems, including swamp, creek, marsh and valley lands. 

Dead Creek is “a really special place” and a “mosaic of habitats,” Alfieri said. It’s also easy to find and accessible for visitors, with trails and wildlife viewing stations, she added. Dead Creek WMA is situated at the intersection of Vermont 17 and Vermont 22A.

Hillary and Dana Joyal came to Wildlife Day from Charlotte with their two children. Raising her kids to appreciate nature and involving them in hands-on, interactive activities is important, Hillary Joyal said.

There was plenty of opportunity to do both at Wildlife Day. Participants could carve soap, build bird houses and study the coats of fur-bearing animals. 

The canine demonstrations spotlighted various dogs eager to show off their keen pointing, finding and retrieving abilities. 

One in particular, Newt, grabbed the attention of his audience as he demonstrated his talent for locating the wood turtle, which is part of his full-time job. The 6-year-old fox red Labrador retriever, who formerly worked to find endangered toads on Cape Cod, is now trained to locate and protect one of Vermont’s at-risk turtle species.

A ceramic replica of a wood turtle was hidden in the tall grass by various eventgoers. Then, to the shock and delight of his onlookers, Newt was able to find it and signal to his handler its location within seconds every time, demonstrating how animals and humans can collaborate on conservation goals.

Along with viewing Newt’s exploits, visitors had the chance to chat with Kathy Ferris, a volunteer at the Dead Creek Visitor Center. Her table featured models of local creatures’ skulls and stuffed animal renditions of local birds with accurate real-life weights. 

She explained the importance of birds to the natural landscape and how Dead Creek is a hotspot for migrating geese to “stop in and hang out” during their long journeys south.

Ferris recommends her favorite spot, the viewing platform near Vermont 17, to visitors of the WMA. Snow goose migration has begun and will likely continue into November. 

Wildlife Day also included a celebration of humans and their special attributes. The Sally Laughlin Award is presented yearly at Dead Creek Wildlife Day to exemplify a leader in the conservation community. 

This year’s recipient, conservation ecologist Liz Thompson, whose career has included work with the Vermont Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, was honored for her many contributions to Vermont’s conservation community. Thompson expressed appreciation for the award and for the state’s leadership in conservation and prioritization of ecological health. “Vermont stands out,” Thompson said. “Other states look to Vermont.” 

Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont journalism internship