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Family Projects to Improve Backyard Habitat
Photo courtesy of Kyle Testerman/WMI
Looking for some outdoor activities to promote wildlife habitat this summer? We have compiled a list of 10 family-friendly projects to enhance your backyard's value for wildlife (and none of them include putting out bird feeders). Some projects include installing a bird bath, planting native butterfly host plants, using downed tree limbs to build a brush pile, setting up trail cameras, and more! No matter how small your backyard is, you can help create a valuable natural area with only a few hours of effort.

Report Wild Turkey Poult Sightings
Photo courtesy of Michele Nevue Titus
The Wildlife Division conducts the annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey to estimate the average number of turkey poults (young-of-the-year) per hen statewide and to assess annual fluctuations in the turkey population. CT residents are being asked to record observations of all hens and poults (not gobblers) observed during normal travel through August 31 on a tally form. Please send forms (paper or email versions accepted) back to the Wildlife Division (see details on the form) in early September. 

Report State-listed Species
Wood turtle, a CT species of special concern.
The wood turtle is just one species of special concern in Connecticut. If you encounter a state-listed species (plant, invertebrate, or vertebrate), please take a few moments to fill out a survey form for DEEP's Natural Diversity Data Base (NDDB).   Because of the comprehensive nature of the NDDB, the Wildlife Division is interested in obtaining new and updated information on critical natural resources from Connecticut's citizens. Please submit field notes, photographs, and a map with detailed locations of state-listed species and critical habitats. 

Join Us on iNaturalist
Curious about the plants and animals you see every day? Join us on the Discover Outdoor Connecticut iNaturalist project and show us what you are seeing and hearing. iNaturalist is a free online platform where you can share observations, like photos and audio files, of the plants and animals you find. Experts and other naturalists from around the world can help identify what you share. 
 
New to iNaturalist? Register for our upcoming webinar on July 21 at 3:00 p.m. and learn how to join projects, contribute observations, identify species, and more!

Leash Laws Are #ResponsibleRecreation 101
State regulations require all pets permitted on state lands to be kept on leashes less than 7 feet long that are held by the owner or keeper. On many state park beaches, dogs are not allowed at all during the shorebird nesting season. These regulations are not only for the protection of wildlife, other dogs, and people who do not want to interact with dogs, but also to reduce the chance of conflict with black bears and other large animals.  Dog owners are also encouraged to become familiar with dog and leash regulations for town properties, land trusts, and properties owned by non-governmental organizations, such as Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, and others, before heading to those areas.

Before bringing your dog to one of the state parks, check "Related Information" on each individual park webpage on the DEEP website  to read the rules for pets.

Connecticut Bird Atlas Project
The Connecticut Bird Atlas, a partnership of many conservation organizations, is a monumental effort to catalog breeding, migrating, and wintering bird assemblages in Connecticut. All of this incredible work will enable the conservation community to do a better job of protecting critical habitat for birds into the future. Learn more about the strategies and findings of this project by reading some of the blogs posted on the CT Bird Atlas website.

Species of the Month: American Beaver
The beaver has played an important role in the ecological and cultural heritage of North America. For thousands of years, beavers have created and enhanced wetlands across their range. Beaver ponds and their associated wetlands provide habitat for a wide variety of animals, such as insects, spiders, frogs, salamanders, turtles, fish, ducks, rails, bitterns, flycatchers, owls, mink, and otters. Dead standing trees killed by flooding provide preferred nesting habitat for colonies of great blue herons and cavity-nesting birds, such as the wood duck and hooded merganser.

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You'll find each issue packed with information about wildlife, hunting, fishing, and natural resource-related issues in Connecticut.
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