Lesser-Known Wildlife Talks sponsored by the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas
Join the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas for interesting educational events about the area’s Lesser-Known Wildlife Species, taking place monthly through the fall.
On Tuesday, Sept. 15, Nathrop resident Denny Radabaugh will present “Spiders of Central Colorado,” in which he will attempt to dispel widely felt fears within our culture about spiders. He will also talk about their benefits to humans, such as uses of spider silk, which is as strong as steel.
“Our culture is one of the few in the world in which there is widespread fear of spiders,” Denny says. “I think I will surprise people about where some of the misinformation comes from.”
On Friday, Oct. 2, learn about the surprisingly few cold-blooded animals that live in our region — only eight species of snake, three types of frog, one toad, a lizard and a salamander. During her presentation, “Reptiles and Amphibians,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist April Estep will shed light on each of these little-known critters, including the Colorado checked whiptail lizard. The entire local population of this lizard is female — they don’t need males to reproduce — and instead make genetic copies of themselves so the species survives.
In November, Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Executive Director Andrew Mackie presents “A Birdseye Perspective” to shed more light on our feathered friends that live and migrate though our area. Birds are a great indicator of our environmental health. He will talk about bird species that are declining and what is needed to reverse these trends.
All events take place at the Salida Community Center, 305 F Street, from 7-8:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas members and $10 for non-members. Advanced registration is required and participation may be limited. To sign up, contact [email protected] or call 719-539-7700. Programs are geared toward adult-learners, restricted to ages 15 and older.