Native Plant Workshop Oct 22nd

Native Plant Training WorkshopOctober 22, 2008
8:30 am - 5:00pm
At the Cary Institute for Ecosystem StudiesMillbrook, NY
Participants will learn techniques and methods for reintroducing native plants to areas that have been managed for the control of invasive plants and will also learn how to preserve existing native plant habitats.

Who should attend: Land managers including local, state and national parks, land stewards, land trusts and preserves, large land owners such as corporations, religious institutions, historic mansions, colleges and residential schools, DEC foresters, landscape architects, horticulturists, growers, nurseries, soil and water conservation district employees, highway workers, NYS Turf and Landscape , EMC, CAC, and Master Gardeners.

Presented in cooperation with NYSDEC Estuary Training Program of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, and PRISM.
For more info, For more information contact: Meredith Taylor 845-889-4745 ext. 109 mjtaylor@gw.dec.state.ny.us

Keeping your cat indoors

Lately I've been thinking about outdoor cats for several reasons. In New Zealand, they have a huge problem with feral cats that prey on native wildlife. There aren't many natural predators in NZ, so cats can easily kill lots of birds that aren't used to be hunted. On continents, feral and outside cats also kill birds and small mammals. I love cats, but I think it's unnecessary for cats to hunt, especially when wildlife also have to contend with natural predators, diseases, cars, and habitat loss. This morning I was woken up at 4 am to the screams of two cats fighting in my backyard- which points out that outside cats have a much shorter lifespan than indoor cats. Even putting a bell on a cat collar doesn't solve the problem, because a study has shown that cat can learn to stalk so quietly that the bell doesn't jingle.
I've found a website that discuss the issues of feral/outdoor cats: http://www.njaudubon.org/Conservation/CatsIndoors/FAQ.html#three
One man in Texas shot a feral cat who was killing endangered shorebirds, and it brings up an interesting ethical question of killing a cat who kills birds: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/magazine/02cats-v--birds-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Scaring away cheetahs and elephants (in a good way)

Well guys, I'm back from Australia/New Zealand, so I'll be updating the blog more. I had an amazing time, learned so much, and met great people. Time for uni to start again and get back to the real world (and figuring out a way to negate the huge carbon footprint I created while travelling...hmmm.).
I went to the zoo in Auckland, New Zealand, and learned how this breed of dog is being used by African farmers to keep the cheetahs out of the farmers' land. Before this program was initiated, farmers would kill the cheetahs, or leave poison for the cheetahs (and whatever else ate the bait) so they wouldn't eat their livestock. The dogs are trained to keep out the cheetahs, keeping the livestock safe and saving the cheetahs. There's more about that program here: http://www.cheetah.org/?nd=46
In a similar story, in Sumatra the WWF has introduced a program for tame elephants to scare off wild elephants. Wild elephants have been entering farms and plantations because their natural habitat is being logged and destroyed. Nine rangers and four trained elephants keep the wild elephants out. Keeps people from killing the wild elephants, and hopefully the wild elephants find better places for food. There's more on it and a video at this website: http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/borneo/item3729.html?enews=enews0808t

Pretty cool, I think- and everyone likes success stories.