York Town News
Celebrate the "Year of the Otter" this Sunday
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - Ever wondered what it would like to be an otter?
This Sunday, you can find out.
The York Land Trust and the Center for Wildlife have teamed up to offer something all new for local residents: an "Otter Trek" along the upper reaches of the York River.
The event is scheduled for Sunday, May 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, and marks the first in a series of education programs these two well-known local nonprofits are sponsoring together.
"We are very pleased to be teaming up with the CFW for our otter trek," said York Land Trust Development and Communications Coordinator Dyanna Smith. "Both organizations protect wildlife through their actions."
Describing this new collaboration, CFW Managing Director Karen McElmurry said, "I feel it is a wonderful opportunity to share the importance of the work from both organizations at a time when the environment is at the forefront locally and globally. Land conservation and wildlife rehabilitation go hand in hand, and this event is a great way to educate the public about the importance of both."
It just so happens, in fact, that the York Land Trust and the Center for Wildlife, in addition to both being dedicated to land and wildlife conservation, were both established here in town over 20 years ago, back in 1986.
The other trek is designed for all ages, with the goal of raising awareness about local wildlife and the habitats these animals need to continue to survive in York. Sunday's event marks the first of four seasonal treks to celebrate the York Land Trust's Year of the Otter.
"The otter is a perfect example of why the York Land Trust works so hard to conserve and protect land in York," Smith explained. "Our otters roam for miles - swimming and hunting in the York River, following its tributaries over land. They don't pay attention to human boundaries. That's why it is so important to create protected corridors of habitat, so wildlife like the river otter can continue to thrive and have safe passage throughout the region."
During this Sunday's event, participants will explore 46 acres of protected land along the York River and will learn how to identify otter tracks and discover the daily travels of York's local river otters.
Meanwhile, the Center for Wildlife, famous locally and beyond York's borders for providing a safe haven for sick or injured animals to be rehabilitated and return to the wild, will provide an "up-close-and-personal" look at some of the other wildlife that share the otter's habitat.
"With the help of live, resident birds of prey and reptiles and the use of interactive displays, Center for Wildlife staff educators will present one of CFW's newest programs, ‘We are All Connected: Plants, Animals and People.' Focusing on a discussion of the food web, habitats, ecosystems and the human role in this delicate balance, the program looks at the effects - both positive and negative - that humans can have on the natural surroundings," the announcement of this weekend's event states.
The York Land Trust is a private, member-supported, not-for-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of lands of scenic, agricultural ecological and cultural significance. In honor of its effort to preserve habitat for the diverse plants and animals that can be found in the area, the trust has begun a new initiative: choosing a particular animal or plant to celebrate and focus on throughout each year. Each plant or animal will be "one that is a beneficiary of its work and serves as a symbol of hope of what is possible through local land conservation efforts," according to the trust.
During 2007, the Year of the Otter, the seasonal treks will give local residents of all ages the opportunity to find out more about these members of the weasel family that are known for their playful nature in the wild.
The Center for Wildlife is the region's largest wildlife rehabilitation facility, treating over 1,500 sick, injured or orphaned birds, mammals and reptiles each year. While most are able to return to the wild, those birds and mammals that cannot be released due to the severity of their conditions have become residents of the center, serving as educational ambassadors to thousands.
"Through our community education and outreach programs we want to create a magical experience - a personal encounter with wild animals - while raising people's awareness of how to live in ways that support, rather than threaten, their survival," McElmurry explained. "We are pleased to be starting this partnership with the York Land Trust and excited about working together to raise awareness of wildlife and habitat in our community."
Want to be a part of this Sunday's first-ever event? Register first, and then meet at the York Land Trust's office, located at 449 Route 1 in York, and be prepared to walk in the footsteps of the otter. For more information and to register for the trek, call the York Land Trust at 363-7400. To learn more about the organizations, visit the YLT website at http://www.yorklandtrust.org/ and the CFW at http://www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org/.
