Wild Ideas in Rappahannock!
Get answers to habitat questions at the third annual Wildlife Habitat Open House

February 7, 10 a.m.-3:30 (with a nature walk to follow)
Rappahannock County High School
12576 Lee Highway (Rt. 211)
Washington, VA 22747

Sponsored by the Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection's Biodiversity Task Force and the Piedmont Environmental Council

"By far the biggest problem in protecting the world's biodiversity is habitat destruction" - E. O. Wilson, Biodiversity

With loss of habitat comes loss of species, and less biodiversity, making the world a precarious place for all its species. The good news is that you can help reverse this trend. Find out how at the third annual Wildlife Habitat Open House. Last year's event attracted an estimated 400 visitors.

You can meet with habitat experts from 20 conservation government agencies and nonprofit organizations to talk about your specific habitat issues and interests. Whether you live on less than an acre or own hundreds, you can find out how to help restore and enhance habitat.

Attend special presentations on how to attract bluebirds and other native species to your property, how to prioritize habitat projects in terms of complexity and cost, and how to landscape with native plants and get rid of unwanted invasive non-natives.

Kids aged four years and up will have their own special room for habitat-related activities. The youngest can create nature-related crafts, and children ten years and up can assemble bluebird boxes to take home. Weather permitting, kids can also take part in outdoor nature-related games.

Shenandoah National Park Association will offer books for sale. Some of the other participating organizations will offer nature-related products and references for sale or for free.

Following the main program, Virginia Master Naturalist Jack Price will guide a habitat walk on a nearby property that has great diversity of habitat and native species, including wild turkey.

Participating organizations include American Chestnut Foundation, National Audubon Society, Culpeper Soil and Water Conservation District, Four County Master Gardener Association, National Park Service Mid-Atlantic Exotic Plant Management Team, Old Rag Master Naturalists, Piedmont Environmental Council, Rappahannock County Conservation Alliance, RappFLOW (Rappahannock Friends and Lovers of Our Watershed), Rappahannock League for Environmental Protection, Shenandoah National Park, Shenandoah National Park Association, Smithsonian's National Zoo Conservation and Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service, Virginia Bluebird Society, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Dept. of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Dept. of Forestry, Virginia Native Plant Society.

The event is free. Hot beverages will be available at the open house, but no food. Visitors are encouraged to bring a bag lunch or take advantage of nearby eateries.

For more information, contact RLEP executive director Pam Owen at (540) 317-1449 or Biodiversity@RLEP.org, or visit www.rlep.org, which will have event updates as well as articles and photos on previous open houses.