By Trish Percival
*UPDATE*
Due to the overwhelming response, the location has been changed – it will now be held in the Granby Senior Center. Thanks, Jill Ford (Administrator at Holcomb Farm.)
As the black bear population continues to rebound in Connecticut, it is important that people better understand these magnificent creatures. To help Granby residents of all ages learn more about bears, the Granby Land Trust and Holcomb Farm will co-host a family-friendly bear talk on Wednesday, April 22, at 7 p.m. at the Holcomb Farm Workshop.
Led by Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) bear biologist and Granby resident Jason Hawley, the talk will focus on the natural history of bears in Connecticut, bear biology, current research being conducted by the DEEP, research techniques, bear management in the state, and the dos and don’ts of living in bear country.
There will be hands-on activities for children. Hawley will bring bear pelts, skulls, and collars for everyone to handle. Weather permitting, Hawley plans to demonstrate the usage of a culvert bear trap as well as bear tracking using telemetry.
Hawley grew up in Hartland and received his Bachelor of Science degree from UMass Amherst in Wildlife Conservation and a Master of Science degree from Central Michigan University in Conservation Biology. His graduate work involved researching management options for wolves in the Midwest. He then worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on the Mexican Gray Wolf reintroduction project in Arizona and New Mexico. He also worked on the Island Fox recovery project on San Clemente Island off the coast of California. Hwley has been a wildlife biologist on the Black Bear Program for the CT DEEP Wildlife Division for about 10 years. His work involves researching and managing black bears in the state. Jason lives in Granby with his wife and three children.
If you would like to attend the bear talk on April 22, please register with Dave Emery at dwemery79@gmail.com.