Arlington Bioblitz: Nature is Alive and Well in the ‘Burbs!

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by Phil Klingelhofer and Lisa Stern

Arlington’s first bioblitz began early in the morning on Saturday, May 20 with a team of bird lovers in the parking area of the Long Branch Nature Center. While waiting for the rest of the teams to arrive, volunteers spotted and identified several birds and the bioblitz was officially underway!

Photo taken during the 2017 Arlington BioBllitz

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) at Glencarlyn Park. Photo courtesy of Steve Young.

Conducting a bioblitz in Arlington was the brainchild of Alonso Abugattas, Arlington’s creative and enthusiastic Natural Resource Manager. A bioblitz is a 24-hour survey to evaluate the biodiversity of a specific area’s flora and fauna (plants and animals).

Nineteen teams of volunteers, each led by an experienced leader, were set up to focus on a specific area of wildlife, including birds, mammals, fish, insects, plants, bees, ferns/fungi, and more. Because this was the first time Arlington had ever engaged in such an enormous and widespread effort, and because so many volunteers were needed, it was not clear how successful the bioblitz would turn out. But when the sun finally set on an exciting and busy day, 92 volunteers (many Arlington Regional Master Naturalists) had identified and reported 1239 observations representing over 460 individual species across eight regional parks!

Photo taken during the 2017 Arlington BioBlitz

Redbreast sunfish (Lepomis auritus) at Glencarlyn Park. Photo courtesy of Steve Young.

Photo taken during 2017 Arlington BioBlitz

Periodical cicada (Magicicada) at Tuckahoe Park. Photo courtesy of Christine Campe-Price.

Photo taken during 2017 Arlington BioBlitz

Virginia Sweetspire (Itea virginica) at Tuckahoe Park. Photo courtesy of Christine Campe-Price.

Scientifically, the bioblitz was a big success. Volunteers (citizen scientists) used the new phone app, iNaturalist to document observations, which helps professional scientists gather data so they can map where wildlife is living and how changes occur over time. Cataloging the presence of wildlife (what might be missing or new to the environment) is critical in determining how well or poorly we are protecting species. The bioblitz information will be used, along with data from other observations over the course of the year, to update the Arlington Natural Resource Management plan.

But just as important as the raw data collected, the bioblitz was successful in engaging the public and raising awareness of Arlington’s extraordinary diversity of plants and animals, which is remarkable for an urban community with limited natural park land. Several bystanders happened upon the organized bioblitz teams and clamored to join in, including a pair of cyclists. Having just learned about the event from one of the teams, they returned breathlessly to report seeing a Common watersnake eating an American eel just around the bend.

Photo taken during 2017 Arlington BioBlitz

Common Watersnake ((Nerodia sipedon) eating an American eel (Anguilla rostrata) at Glencarlyn Park. Photo courtesy of Alonso Abugattas.

Other highlights of the exciting day included Mr. Abugattas engaging in a patient, careful dance with an oddly-behaving raccoon (ensuring that it did not harm anyone), volunteers (under staff supervision) rolling over large logs to uncover buried beetles, and eager team members anticipating new findings as a wooden plank was lifted to reveal snakes curled beneath. And, imagine the expression of wonder when a child volunteer learned how his team expert could tell that the small dried remains on the ground were indications that a raccoon had passed by recently. Not to be outdone by the other teams, the fish team experts, in gear reminiscent of Ghost Busters, waded into Four Mile Run to gently shock and identify the fish. Then, at the very end of the day, Penny and Robin Firth in Rachael Tolman’s team discovered a huge 40 centimeter puffball! There were smiles across faces of all of the teams participating!

Photo taken during 2017 Arlington BioBlitz

Giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea) discovered by Penny and Robin Firth. Photo courtesy of Alonso Abugattas.

Though this one day of excitement and discovery is now history, there will be another chance to participate in the next bioblitz in the fall of 2018. Keep your eyes open for the announcement.

In addition, the raw data from this year’s bioblitz needs to be categorized in taxonomic order, along with existing inventories of plants and animals in the county. If you are interested in working on this project or need additional information, please contact Alonso Abugattas at Aabugattas@arlingtonva.us.

Finally, if you are interested in cataloging your own observations in nature, go to www.inaturalist.org to download the app.

And be sure to view the wonderful video of the 2017 Arlington Bioblitz at: https://www.voanews.com/a/3878744.html

Calling All Citizen Scientists Who Like Insects and Data!

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by Louis Harrell

Read on for information on two volunteer opportunities.

There are two interesting projects for which ARMN is asking the assistance of both experienced and amateur citizen scientists.

The first should be of interest to the old “bug lab” alumni and anyone else who is interested in learning more about insects. The other project is to analyze raw data from the recently completed Arlington bioblitz as well as other information collected about plants and animals in the county. The schedule for both of these projects is flexible and training is available for the microscope used in insect identification.

Identifying Insects for Arlington County

Arlington County needs assistance with processing and identifying insects caught in various traps around the county. If you are familiar with a particular taxonomic category or group of insect or would like to learn about identifying insect groups, please consider helping with this effort.

Photo of volunteer using microscope

We plan to use the Arlington Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Leica EZ-4D microscope to capture good photos of the insects and make identifications easier. If you have never used this equipment or are a returning user, Kirsten Conrad, Arlington’s Cooperative Extension Agent, will provide training at the VCE office located at 3308 S. Stafford St., Arlington, VA 22206. You can sign up for this training at: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/60B0B4FA8AB22A31-training.

Cataloging Bioblitz Species . . . and More

The recent bioblitz event recorded 460 species of plants and animals.

Photo of a hummingbird

This raw data needs to be categorized in taxonomic order, along with existing inventories of plants and animals in the county. The goal is to create a database of Arlington’s fauna and flora with updated scientific names to which new information could be added in the future.

If you are interested in working on this project or need additional information for either of these projects, please contact Alonso Abugattas at Aabugattas@arlingtonva.us .

To Be or Not to Be: A Mason Bee Monitoring Project Observes Virginia’s Native Bees

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by Louis Harrell

Earlier this year, Virginia Master Naturalists were offered an opportunity to participate in a citizen science project to gather much-needed field data about the status of native blue orchard bees in Virginia and to determine possible competition with non-native bees. Louis Harrell participated in the project and shares information about the bees, the project, and results to come.

I learned about a volunteer project to monitor native mason bees from the Virginia Master Naturalist program. Mason bees are part of the genus Osmia, which include both natives and non-native invasive bees. These bees are solitary and nest in hollow cavities. The native mason bee species known as the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria), is one of the few native bees used for agriculture pollination. However, environmental scientists are concerned that this bee may be declining in numbers and may be adversely impacted by invasive species including Osmia cornifrons and Osmia taurus, both of which look similar to the blue orchard.

Photo of the blue orchard bee (Osmia lignaria)

Osmia lignaria. Image from USDA Forest Service.

Photo of invasive mason bee species Osmia cornifrons

Osmia cornifrons. Image from BugGuide.Net.

Photo of invasive mason bee species Osmia taurus

Osmia taurus. Image from BugGuide.Net.

To analyze the impact of the invasives on the blue orchard bee, University of Virginia graduate student Kathryn (Kate) LeCroy and her faculty mentor, T’ai Roulston designed a project to test for the presence of the bees and also determine whether mason bees would inhabit “bee hotels” so they could be monitored, and if so, which type of hotel they would prefer.

The primary goals of the project are to track the native blue orchard bee as well as the invasive bee species that are spreading in the mid-Atlantic and to determine which of these species are more likely to use the bee hotels. The program included 100 sites located across Virginia in rural and urban areas. A subset of the rural part of the sample used bee bowls to sample the range of bees in their areas. My two bee hotels (one tubular and one box design) were delivered in February of this year and I installed them in my backyard in Manassas.

Mason bees have an ability to detect very slight changes in position and the test needed to have the hotels mounted about 4 feet above the ground. The hotels were attached with zip ties and tape to two trees.

Photo of bee hotels used in UVA study of native mason bees

Mason tubular (left) and box-shaped (right) bee hotels. Photo courtesy of Louis Harrell.

The bees seemed to prefer the tubular hotel design while ants really liked the box shaped design. It took two months for bees to start nesting in the tubular design and for the ants to move into the box shaped design.  Once the ants moved into the box shaped hotel, no other insects were observed.  The bees had not yet emerged from the tubular hotel by the time my role ended, so I cannot say anything about the species of bee using the hotel.  Each week, I sent a report to Kate LeCroy on the status of the bees. The reports included a photo of the bee hotels and some text if anything interesting happened.  Reports were dull until the end of April, when the bees started to fill in the tubular hotel.  Five bees moved in to the tubular hotel and filled the entrances with mud.  LeCroy picked up both hotels in June and she and Roulston are beginning the arduous work of identifying and counting the collected bees. By the end of this year, they should know more about the numbers and distribution of mason bees in Virginia. So, more information is yet to come.

You can read more about the project here:  https://news.virginia.edu/content/help-citizen-scientists-uva-researchers-count-virginias-bees. Projects such as the mason bee research give ARMN members and Master Naturalists from other chapters the opportunity to participate in significant research and learn something about insects and important conservation issues.

ARMN: Getting to Know Caroline Haynes

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From time-to-time, ARMN’s Membership Committee posts profiles of our members including how they came to be master naturalists, which parts of nature they most enjoy, and how they have an impact on the environment around them. The latest biography is for ARMN’s founding member, Caroline Haynes, who established and graduated from our first training class in 2008. Alison Sheahan conducted the interview.

Photo of ARMN past president Caroline Haynes

Caroline Haynes

Tell us about the ARMN projects you spend time with.

I currently serve on the ARMN Board as a past-president, now with a purely advisory role. There is tremendous talent and enthusiasm on the ARMN Board. They are a terrific group of people—so smart and committed and fun to be with. I actually look forward to these meetings!  I enjoy the people that are drawn to ARMN, as they are so talented, and come from so many diverse backgrounds.

I’ve always enjoyed being able to sample a variety of volunteer activities: Earth Sangha (note: Caroline arrived at the interview lunch fresh from sorting seeds with Earth Sangha), Plant NOVA Natives, Audubon at Home, outreach and education events like the Arlington County Fair, presentations to community and school groups, biotic surveys like those with the National Park Service along the George Washington Parkway, invasive pulls, and restoration plantings. I also still review the applications for each new class of Master Naturalist trainees. I ran the first six ARMN training classes, so I appreciate the huge volunteer effort involved with the basic training classes and am still glad to contribute.

What brought you to ARMN in the first place?

Well, there was no ARMN until I talked to Alonso Abugattas, then the naturalist my kids and I knew at Arlington’s Long Branch Nature Center (LBNC)! Frustrated that Arlington County residents would not be allowed into a neighboring Master Naturalist program, we explored starting a chapter in Arlington. I chaired the coordinating committee back in 2007, and had lots of support from Alonso (now, the Arlington County Natural Resources Manager), Rachael Tolman, a naturalist at LBNC, other naturalists in Arlington, as well as Rod Simmons, Alexandria’s Natural Resource Manager and Plant Ecologist. It took us a year to get ARMN up and running, especially demonstrating that there would be enough demand for another program in such close proximity to the Fairfax Master Naturalist chapter. Alonso agreed to be one of our first instructors and I was actually part of the first training class in the fall of 2008, along with 24 others including current ARMN president Marion Jordan. I became president of the chapter then, and served in that role until December 2013.

My “local” journey toward finding and founding ARMN probably had most to do with our purchase of some property in West Virginia. The more time I spend in the woods, the more my curiosity is sparked by what I observe. I began taking classes in the Natural History Field Studies program at the Audubon Naturalist Society in Maryland. That is where I first heard about the Master Naturalist program forming in Virginia.

Tell us something about your childhood/adulthood experiences that shape your perspectives on nature and your work for ARMN.

Well, I grew up in Colorado! So hiking, camping, and being outside in beautiful places were always part of the deal. After earning a degree in International Finance/International Relations, I came to Washington to work in the Senate and then later as Deputy Assistant Secretary with the Treasury Department. I feel like it is my experience on the Hill that led me to see how important it is for people to “have a seat at the table” to get anything done.

I also met my husband on the Hill and we settled in Arlington, soon joined by our two daughters.

Is there anything else you’d like to share? It seems like you are always trying to get groups of people to put the naturalist perspective “on the table.”

Yes, I strongly encourage others to get engaged in their local advisory groups. ARMN doesn’t generally count this service for hours, unless it has a direct natural resources connection, but it is important to add that natural resources perspective. I currently serve as the Chair of the Arlington County Park and Recreation Commission, as a member of the Arlington Urban Forestry Commission, and as chair the Natural Resources Joint Advisory Group, which is charged with monitoring the implementation of the county’s Natural Resources Management Plan. I also serve on the Chesapeake Bay Ordinance Review Committee. We review plans by homeowners and developers when building in the resource protection area to ensure that mitigation measures comply with the Chesapeake Bay Ordinances. In addition, I am co-chair of the Plan for Our Places and Spaces advisory group, where we are working on an update of the public spaces element of the county’s Comprehensive Plan. I am also serving as co-vice chair of the Four Mile Run Valley Working Group.

Citizen action is important, now more than ever. Paying attention to plans before they gather the full weight of policy is critical if we are to develop a more environmentally-sensitive direction.

Joan Gottlieb and Toni Genberg nominated for 2017 Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards

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Fairfax County annually recognizes individuals, groups, and organizations in a community-wide celebration of volunteerism. Among the 2017 nominees for awards were ARMN members Joan Gottlieb and Toni Genberg for their outstanding service at Earth Sangha’s Wild Plant Nursery. While they were not chosen for awards in their categories, ARMN is pleased to recognize their work here and share details about their nominations from Katherine Isaacson at Earth Sangha.

Two of ARMN’s most steadfast volunteers were nominated for this year’s Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards. They were each recognized for extensive work at Earth Sangha, which is the region’s largest local ecotype, native plant nursery.

Joan Gottlieb: Inspires Other Volunteers

Photo of ARMN member Joan Gottlieb

Joan Gottlieb

Joan is acknowledged as someone who “does it all” at Earth Sangha’s Wild Plant Nursery. She collects and cleans seeds, plants and transplants native species, weeds, waters, and removes invasive species. She is also a leader who teaches other volunteers, and uses her knowledge of local ecology in both Earth Sangha’s fieldwork as well as her own backyard and neighborhood parks. Read more details about Joan in Earth Sangha’s nomination for her over 250 hours of work.

Toni Genberg: An Advocate for Native Species

Photo of ARMN member Toni Genberg

Toni Genberg

Toni is a long-time volunteer at the Wild Plant Nursery who contributes to everyday tasks while helping other volunteers learn the routine. She also participates in invasive plant removals and native species plantings. As an experienced native plant gardener and naturalist, she teaches others the importance of native plants and the local ecology. And as a professional video editor and videographer, Toni has created an informative video about Earth Sangha’s work. See Earth Sangha’s nomination for Toni as a rising star among Fairfax County volunteers.

ARMN appreciates Joan and Toni’s efforts at Earth Sangha and all their work in the community. They truly represent the best of volunteerism in support of the natural world.

A Bright Outlook for Citizen Science in Arlington

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by Louis Harrell

“The joy of looking and comprehending is nature’s most beautiful gift.” – Albert Einstein

Citizen Science is defined as “the collection and analysis of data relating to the natural world by members of the general public, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists.” Why is it important? It offers many benefits both to residents of a community and local natural resource programs. While there are many citizen science opportunities in the region at large, this piece focuses on how citizens may participate in research projects in Arlington County, improve their knowledge of the local environment, and identify species resident in the County. The County gets to use the expertise of citizens to accomplish needed projects that might otherwise be delayed due to resource constraints.

What can we look forward to in the near future?  A bright outlook for citizen science!

Arlington’s First Bioblitz

 Arlington Bioblitz logo

On May 20, ARMN will be supporting the first Arlington’s Bioblitz as a key focus project for 2017. This 24-hour survey is the first of a series of annual surveys designed to document the plants and animals present in a number of parks in the county. Data collected will be used as part of the Arlington Natural Resource Management plan. Experts will provide support and advice to volunteers who will document local species.

The mammal survey component of the bioblitz will look for proof of locally rare species. Game cameras will be used to monitor species and volunteers will be needed to review photos. An entomologist will support volunteers who will collect, preserve, and send bee samples to other entomologists for additional study. Other insects will also be surveyed. Ornithologists and expert birders will conduct bird walks. Any unusual nesting activity may be included in the Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas.

Surveys of bats, fish, salamanders, and other amphibians and reptiles are also planned.  Among the locations where you can sign up to participate in the bioblitz are: Barcroft Park, Gulf Branch Park and Nature Center, Long Branch Nature Center at Glencarlyn Park, and Potomac Overlook Regional Park.  The full list of projects and more information is provided here.  Alonso Abugattas has also published an article about the BioBlitz on his Capital Naturalist blog: http://capitalnaturalist.blogspot.com/2017/04/arlington-bioblitz.html.

There are many other projects that are longer-term and often part of a national scope. All offer participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of the environment and do significant field work. Below are some projects that focus on deer, birds, insects, and plants.

Deer Browse Surveys

Deer browse surveys are underway within Glencarlyn Park and Barcroft Park. Additional studies are being planned that will use existing trees and fences to create temporary deer exclosures. The exclosures will allow collection of data using different methodologies than currently used.

Game camera surveys can also be conducted over a long period to capture photos of locally rare species and monitor trends in more common mammals.

Ornithology Projects Including the Annual Christmas Bird Count

Photo of Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronate)

Yellow-rumped warbler (Setophaga coronate)

There are many wonderful citizen science bird programs, too. These include the very popular Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the National Audubon Society in which volunteer birdwatchers contribute to the annual census of birds during the winter. Another opportunity is the eBird Project, co-sponsored by the Cornell Ornithology Lab and Audubon. It is an online database of bird observations in which anyone can enter bird lists to monitor bird species in their area or map overall abundance of a species in an area over time. There is also the Breeding Bird Atlas of Virginia program.  The second Virginia Breeding Bird Atlas (VABBA2) is a follow-up survey to the first Atlas that was published over 25 years ago and surveys all bird species breeding in the state. Data collected will help map the distribution and status of Virginia’s breeding bird community in order to provide better information for natural resource and conservation decisions.

Insect Citizen Science Projects

Photo of Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

The North American Butterfly Association conducts a butterfly count in July.  The Pollinator Partnership sponsors National Pollinator Week in June to collect data on pollinators including bees and monarch butterflies and generally to celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what can be done to protect them. National Moth Week takes place in the last week in July and celebrates the beauty, life cycles, and habitats of moths. People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to learn about, observe, and document moths in their backyards, parks, and neighborhoods. There are between 60 and 70 moth species in Arlington already recorded but even more species could be identified!

Plant Citizen Science Opportunities

Photo of Bee balm (Monarda didyma)

Bee balm (Monarda didyma)

 

Botanists and plant lovers of all levels will also have opportunities. Arlington County is developing some exciting projects:  The Arlington Herbarium needs to be digitized in order to improve the usefulness of the collection for analysis and voucher specimens need to be collected for the State Atlas.

Whatever your interest in nature, there is probably a local or national citizen science project in which you can participate.  Go outside, look, learn, and share!

Getting to Know Ann Ulmschneider

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From time-to-time, ARMN’s Membership Committee posts profiles of our members including how they came to be master naturalists, which parts of nature they most enjoy, and how they have an impact on the environment around them. Here is the latest biography of ARMN member, Ann Ulmschneider, who graduated in the Spring 2010 training class. Alison Sheahan conducted the interview.

Photo of ARMN member Ann Ulmschneider

Ann Ulmschneider.

What brought you to ARMN in the first place?

I always had a really strong interest in nature and science. A friend at church, Mary Pike, told me about ARMN and it sounded like a really good thing to do. I immediately became interested in the service projects with children because of my background.

Which is…?

I have a master’s degree in Child Development. When I first earned my degree I became the director of a child care facility in Fairfax and eventually taught parent education classes for Fairfax County Public Schools. This led to my 30-year career with FCPS Family and School Partnerships, an organization that helps schools engage parents, especially families of English Language Learners and other underserved families. I continued to teach children in various volunteer capacities and enjoyed raising our three daughters but once they were no longer young, I missed children and began to look for other opportunities to be with them.

At ARMN, which child-centered activities do you enjoy?

I lead birthday parties at both Long Branch and Gulf Branch Nature Centers. I usually do them with a partner, Mary Ellen Snyder. We work well together as a team and enjoy each other’s company.

I also work at Green Spring Gardens in Annandale, leading groups of school children during the week on planned field trips that align with Virginia’s Standards of Learning (SOL). I do the station on frogs and toads for “Metamorphosis and More,” focused on life cycles. For “Fantastic Flora and Fauna” I lead a walk in the woods looking for examples.

Photo of ARMN memeber Ann Ulmschneider

Ann teaching first graders about trees at Green Spring Gardens.

I like that both of these activities involve regular hours and have kept me in contact with groups who need leaders on a regular basis. It’s not hard to make my 40 service hours (needed for annual master naturalist certification)! Also, it helps me to keep learning. Any time I have to lead a group like this, I need to learn ahead of the kids. Understanding the information on a basic level (for instance through the books at the children’s section of a library) has been really helpful to me and less intimidating than learning lots of detail. It’s also pushed me to step out of my comfort zone, so that I recently offered a family program on squirrels for Arlington County’s “SNAG” program. I tried other activities with ARMN over the years like Stream Monitoring and the Bug Lab but I have discovered that I’m not that kind of scientist or naturalist. I’m more of a teacher and I like connecting with the families and children at the nature centers.

What was it about your childhood or other early background that you think fed these interests?

When I was a girl, my best friend and I loved to go roaming in an extensive wooded lot in our neighborhood in Cincinnati, Ohio. In middle grades, I remember going almost every day. We just walked around and went to our “hiding place” (which was probably covered with invasive vines!). I don’t remember particular observations of animals or plants, I just remember loving to be there, surrounded by the trees. To this day, the smell of the woods is imprinted on me, very positively. Then when my husband and I first met we did lots of hiking together and in 1980-82, we began taking classes at the National Arboretum on trees, wildflowers, and ferns. In 2000, I joined the Northern Virginia Bird Club and began to gain knowledge of local birds. I am still a member there along with many other ARMN members.

In summary, what do you like most about ARMN?

It allows me to combine my love of nature and working with kids and families of many cultures, and it lets me keep learning. To me, it’s satisfying just to know information about what we are seeing all around us. In Arlington, we’ve been able to preserve our little swaths of green, and we have this unique mix of people from all over the world who can enjoy it. That’s a great combination and I feel lucky to be a part of it.

ARMN Member Yu-hsin Hsu Receives Bill Thomas Award

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by Caroline Haynes

The Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Award was established as a tribute to lifelong parks volunteer Bill Thomas and to honor and encourage residents who show passionate dedication and support for Arlington County’s programs, natural resources, and public open spaces.

Photo of ARMN memeber Yu-hsin Hsu receiving award

Yu-hsin Hsu, Bill Thomas Outstanding Park Service Volunteer Award recipient for work done in 2016, with Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette, and Park and Recreation Commission Chair Caroline Haynes.

ARMN is proud to announce that member Yu-hsin Hsu has been honored for her work this past year as an ardent supporter of Arlington’s natural resources. Yu-hsin serves in a wide range of volunteer capacities including animal care and other volunteer support with Long Branch Nature Center, responsibility in rescuing and rehabilitating the Arlington Central Library pollinator garden, participation in various invasive removal events, work at the County’s native plant nursery with the Department of Parks and Recreation Natural Resources Management, assistance in the propagation beds with the Virginia Native Plant Society, and work with children in environmental education. Yu-hsin’s incredible dedication and enthusiasm to preserving Arlington’s natural spaces makes her a perfect fit for this award. ARMN celebrates her accomplishments and thanks Yu-hsin for her service.

For a more detailed summary of Yu-hsin’s efforts, see Arlington Public Library blog post.

911 for Wildlife and How You Can Help!

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Text and photos by Lisa Stern

Do you wonder what you should do when you find injured wildlife?  Read on to discover more about wildlife rehabilitation.

Ever wonder what you should do when you find an injured squirrel? Or a baby bird that has fallen from the nest? Or a turtle with a cracked shell? Or, how about a snake caught in garden webbing?

Virginia has two terrific resources that fill this vital need: the Wildlife Rescue League (WRL) and Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators (WRs). They are on call practically 24/7 to help. It may look like an easy job; just scoop up that baby bird, or untangle the poor snake, but there are many species-specific laws and regulations governing the handling of wildlife, some training to become a volunteer with the League, and a lot of training and mentoring to become a Wildlife Rehabilitator (WR). Here is more information about each and how you can assist with wildlife rehab.

Wildlife Rescue League

The Wildlife Rescue League (WRL) is a nonprofit, all volunteer organization whose primary purposes are to operate a wildlife assistance hotline (providing the public with advice, resources, referrals to licensed rehabilitators), transport wildlife from shelters and vets to licensed rehabilitators, and educate the public on wildlife laws and how to exist with our wild neighbors, thereby preventing situations that lead to the need for wildlife rehabilitation.

The WRL volunteers field approximately 5,000 calls a year! That helpless baby bird found in the grass really may not need a human to scoop it up—it’s possibly learning to fly and the mom is nearby. Hotline volunteers help the caller determine that, in this case, intervention is not required. What about the snake?

Well, that’s a different story. If he’s cut in several places, lost scales, and is not well, he will need an intervention and transport to a licensed WR. In this case, the hotline volunteer will find a WR and arrange transport.

Photo of injured black rat snake by Lisa Stern

Black rat snake (Pantherophis obsoletus) with injuries from being caught in garden webbing.

 

Once an injured, orphaned, or abandoned animal is transported to a WR, it will be treated until it can be safely released.

Carolyn Wilder, Vice President of WRL, has a wealth of knowledge and experience on wildlife rescue. She got involved in the organization while transitioning out of a legal career with a trade association. She started as a transporter because of her love of animals and eventually became a hotline volunteer which she has been doing for 3 years. Because of her work in both areas, and creating relationships with WRs, Carolyn became involved on the board. She now spends her time coordinating and training transporters, offering group training for hotline volunteers, doing presentations for schools and groups, and working to make WRL function more efficiently.

Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators

WRs are licensed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF). Becoming a wildlife rehabilitator requires a big commitment of time and energy, need for appropriate space, and a true love of wildlife. First, anyone interested in the program must take 6 hours of approved continuing education before even filling out the application to become an apprentice. Apprentices must have a sponsoring licensed WR who cares for the species they wish to rehabilitate, spend two years working under the supervision and guidance of their sponsor, and are generally limited to caring for uninjured, orphaned wildlife. In addition, since most rehabbers work out of their homes, apprentices must have a home inspection completed by the VGDIF to ensure that there is an adequate, quiet designated area for the care of wildlife. They also complete 6 hours of continuing education annually, may be required to have a rabies vaccine, and must maintain a full record of wildlife received.

Most WRs “specialize”—choosing a species and age range that fits their lifestyle and space. For example, pinky squirrels (newborns) need more feedings per day than juveniles. Baby bunnies need to be fed only twice a day. And, how much room do you have? Enough for baby ducklings needing bins of water to swim in and heat lamps?

After two years of wildlife care experience, the apprentice can begin to care for wildlife without a sponsor’s supervision, complete 6 hours of continuing education annually, work with a licensed veterinarian, have inspections of the holding facility, and get any required immunizations based on the wildlife cared for. Additional permits are required for WRs who desire to work with most birds, eagles, and threatened or endangered species.

Rachael Tolman, the Park Naturalist at Long Branch Nature Center in Arlington, has been a rehabber for many years and has been through the certification process several times since each state and country has different regulations and covered species. While a rehabber in Australia, Rachael worked with baby kangaroos! Here in Virginia, her focus is on turtles and snakes.

Photo of Rachel Tolman (Long Branch Park Naturalist) holding turtle, by Lisa Stern

Rachael Tolman holding Woodland box turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina) with a cracked shell.

 

Photo of injured woodland box turtle by Lisa Stern

Close-up of Woodland box turtle.

However, you won’t see any of the injured critters on display at Long Branch, since they are tucked away in quiet spaces to get the rest they need for recovery and eventual release.

Though time consuming to become a licensed WR and to nurse injured animals back to health, rehabbers like Rachael find a deep satisfaction in eventually being able to return wildlife to their natural habitat.

Would You Like to Volunteer to Help Wildlife?

If so, contact the Wildlife Rescue League for more information on answering the hotline (training provided), transporting wildlife, or assisting with other activities.

If you’re ready for a greater commitment to becoming an apprentice or licensed WR, there is additional information on WRL’s website on how to begin training for the program.

In either case, you’ll sure to be rewarded by helping our furry, scaled, and feathered friends return to their homes in the wild.

ARMN: Getting To Know Sarah Archer

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From time-to-time, ARMN’s Membership Committee posts profiles of our members including how they came to be master naturalists, which parts of nature they most enjoy, and how they have an impact on the environment around them. Here is the latest biography of Arlington staff employee, Sarah Archer, who graduated in the Fall 2013 ARMN training class. Sarah currently manages Arlington’s Invasive Plant Program and is involved with starting the County’s native plant nursery. She is a valuable collaborator for ARMN on a wide variety of projects.

Tell us about the ARMN projects you spend time on.

I have been able to participate in many ARMN projects over the years, but my favorite has to be the restoration of the Barcroft Magnolia Bog. The success of this project was due to all of the great work done by ARMN members.  Marion Jordan, Jim Hurley, Marty Nielson, and others were instrumental in building momentum around the restoration work through community outreach to nearby homeowners and Claremont Elementary School. We received an award from the Virginia Association of Counties for this project because of the collaboration between county staff and groups like ARMN.

I am also really excited about Arlington’s new Native Plant Nursery . We usually have workdays at the nursery every Thursday from 3 – 5 pm.  I am also involved with the RiP/ARMN supported invasive plant removal events at Tuckahoe, Ft. Bennett, Madison Manor, Long Branch, Gulf Branch, and Haley/Oakridge/Gunston (“HOG”) parks. These events are led by our ARMN volunteer site leaders and are great opportunities for community volunteers to learn about invasive plant identification and removal techniques. I am always amazed at how much drive and passion the site leaders have to act as stewards for their neighborhood parks!

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Earth Day 2014, at an Arlington park. Sarah is second from the right.

What brought you to ARMN?/How did you learn about ARMN?

The first time I heard about the Master Naturalist program was from my mom when she took the training in Illinois. I was lucky to get the opportunity to take the ARMN course when they needed an Arlington staff member to open and close building during the training sessions.

What do you like most about ARMN?

I really appreciate the strong relationships that ARMN builds with their partner groups and how informed and motivated the volunteers are!  Arlington County wouldn’t be able to do many of our natural resource conservation and restoration projects without the support of community groups, particularly ARMN.  ARMN volunteers do so much for Arlington’s Parks and Natural Resources Division including not just invasive plant removal, but education and outreach, project planning, surveying, planting, nursery work, etc.  It’s a pretty long list of all of the different types of volunteer projects ARMN participates in. The ARMN membership is so diverse in expertise and interests that they can support almost any project that we have!

Tell us something about your childhood/adulthood experiences that shaped your perspective on nature.

I was a Girl Scout in elementary school and really enjoyed all of the outdoor activities like camping and hiking.  I actually pulled my first invasive plant, garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), when I was in Girl Scouts! I didn’t really get interested in pursuing a nature-related career until I joined the Student Conservation Association (SCA) in 2007 after I graduated from Illinois State University (ISU), and did several internships with SCA related to environmental restoration.

What is your background?

During college, I worked with a native plant landscaping company and was a gardener for a few private residents during my summers off. In 2007, I received undergraduate degrees in dance and anthropology from ISU.  After college, I went to California to work for the Bureau of Land Management as an SCA intern and then worked on a trail crew on the Pacific Crest Trail. In 2008, I moved to Maryland with another SCA internship with the Nature Conservancy, and managed invasive plants in the Potomac Gorge.

I began working with the Arlington County Department of Parks and Recreation in 2009 and received a master’s degree in Natural Resources from Virginia Tech in 2012.

What would other ARMN members find interesting about the non-ARMN parts of your life?

I enjoy many types of social dance, including square, salsa, blues, and kizomba. In college, I performed as a “koken” in a Kabuki production of Othello under the direction of Shozo Sato, an internationally renowned Japanese theater director.

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Sarah doing a fan dance (not Kabuki, but close).

I also love international travel and have a trip planned to Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay over the Christmas holidays!