Mountain Times- Volume 49, Number 18 - April 29 - May 5, 2020

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26 • The Mountain Times • April 29 - May 5, 2020 Electric fencing offers protection against chicken predation “We have had a dramatic increase this spring in the number of complaints about bears, foxes, raccoons, fisher, coyotes, skunks, and bobcats preying on chickens,” said Batchelder. Keeping a small flock of chickens at home to provide eggs and meat has become increasingly popular as people stay home during the pandemic, but many first-time small-scale poultry farmers are discovering that several species of wildlife like the taste of chicken as much as we do. The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department urges poultry owners to use electric fencing and follow other precautions to protect their birds from predation. “We have had a dramatic increase this spring in the number of complaints about bears, foxes, raccoons, fisher, coyotes, skunks, and bobcats preying on chickens,” said Col. Jason Batchelder, Vermont’s chief game warden. “Many of the calls are coming from people who are new at keeping chickens and who do not provide sufficient protection for their birds.” In Underhill, state game warden Jeremy Schmid has responded to several calls regarding a bear breaking into four chicken coops, destroying three of them and killing dozens of chickens as well as ducks, guinea fowl and peacocks. “Once I received these calls and responded to several complaints, I provided advice about several deterrent options that would be effective for this bear,” said Warden Schmid. “Our goal is to get homeowners educated on non-lethal options and deterrents. When these options are implemented, we tend to see a significant decrease in bear incidents. These homeowners took a strong initiative for non-lethal measures, and it has now been a week with no complaints on this bear damaging coops and killing poultry.” Protecting free-ranging chickens is impossible, so Col. Batchelder urges people to keep their birds contained inside electric net fencing and to make sure any wire fencing is secure. Use of one-quarter-inch hardware cloth, especially along the bottom of an enclosure will block most small predators. Weasels can get through a oneinch opening. The electric netting, however, is good extra protection even outside the wire netting – especially against black bears which are strong enough to break into most unprotected chicken coops. Several types of electric net fencing are available. The netting is portable and can easily be used with moveable chicken pens. VTF&W photo by John Hall Vermont Fish & Wildlife urges poultry owners to use electric fencing and follow other precautions to protect their birds from predation. Here are additional tips to help keep your chickens safe: • Apply bacon grease or peanut butter to a spot on the electric fencing as an added deterrent. • Cover the tops of pens with wire or plastic netting to guard against attacks from avian and MAKE FIRST TRACKS climbing predators. • Bury galvanized hardware cloth or netting 12 inches deep around the perimeter of the pen to prevent access by digging predators. • A motion-activated light to illuminate the coop after dark will discourage some predators. Motion-activated alarms also can deter them. • Store poultry feed in a secure indoor location in tight contain- LIVE SIX PEAKS ers, and only feed poultry the amount that can be consumed in one feeding. YES, WE’RE OPEN! Auto Repair & Service Concierge Auto Service MAKE FIRST TRACKS LIVE SIX PEAKS * Zero Point of Contact: Pick up, repair, drop off, wipe down KillingtonAuto.com During these most difficult times in our community, we understand people are making sacrifices and people are out of work and are unsure of the future. As an essential business, we have limited staff but are willing to take care of your auto needs. We can pick up your vehicle, repair it and leave it back at your house. Payment can be made via the phone. Your health is our main concern so we are making these essentials changes and we are offering our services with zero contact with our customers. 2825 Killington Road, Killington, VT, 05751 802-422-3434 LIVEKILLINGTON.COM A Development by LIVEKILLINGTON.COM
The Mountain Times • April 29 - May 5, 2020 • 27 Growing Works of Art contest celebrates trees Burlington—A total of 210 Vermont students from 15 schools and five home school families demonstrated their creativity through artwork and stories about trees for the Growing Works of Art contest, sponsored by the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program (VT UCF) as part of its Arbor Day activities. The theme of this year’s contest was “Trees are superheroes.” Elementary and middle school students were asked to create a drawing and story about why trees are important to them and were encouraged to share favorite memories. The theme of this year’s contest was “Trees are superheroes.” Entries were judged on creativity and originality (50 %) and how well the students communicated their tree story (50 %). In many schools, teachers incorporated the contest into their English, science or art curriculum. One winner was selected from each grade and received a Vermont State Park punch pass. The top entries are featured online at go.uvm.edu/growingart. Winners: • Kindergarten: Levi Woodward, Upper Valley Haven Afterschool Program, White River Junction • First Grade: Thea Lenihan, Rochester Elementary School, Rochester • Second Grade: Hale Marcotte, Fletcher Elementary School, Cambridge • Third Grade (tie): Leo Maiello, The Mountain School at Winhall, Bondville, and Rowan Lawrence, home school student, Tunbridge. Rowan is a two-time winner, also placing first in competition two years ago when in first grade. • Fourth Grade: Porter McDonnell, Rochester Elementary School, Rochester • Fifth Grade: Ziva Baker, Mater Christi School, Burlington; Ziva also had the top entry for her grade in both first and third grade. • Sixth Grade: Sean Early, Mater Christi School, Burlington • Seventh Grade: no entries • Eighth Grade: Lydia Beaulieu, Mater Christi School, Burlington VT UCF is a partnership between University of Vermont Extension and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation. For more info visit vtcommunityforestry.org. Students winners recognized in Rutland and Windsor Counties Courtesy of the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program Kindergarten student Levi Woodward’s entry was among the winners in the Growing Works of Art contest, sponsored by the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program. Levi attends the Upper Valley Haven Afterschool Program in White River Junction. “Rainbow Tree’’ “This is my rainbow tree! It is special because it’s awesome and colorful. If I could, it would be cotton candy flavored. It’s the best tree that I can think of! Trees are important because they are a part of nature and give us air to breathe.” - Levi Courtesy of the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program Tunbridge homeschooler Rowan Lawrence tied for first place in the Third Grade division in the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program’s Growing Works of Art contest. “It was my sister’s first birthday. We went to a nursery to get her a willow tree. Her name is Willow. We brought it home, got it out of the trunk and took it to a wet, sandy place. We broke up the roots, and planted it. My whole family held hands around the tree and sang ‘Happy Birthday.’ My sister was happy.” - Rowan Courtesy of the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program The drawing and essay by Thea Lenihan, Rochester Elementary School, was judged the best among all First Grade entries in the Growing Works of Art contest, sponsored by the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program. “Trees are very pretty. They give us oxygen. If we didn’t have trees, we wouldn’t have life. I have pine trees at my house. We have a fort in one tree with a little doorway. That tree is very special to me.” - Thea Courtesy of the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program The winning entry in the Vermont Urban and Community Forestry Program’s Growing Works of Art contest for Grade 4 was submitted by Porter McDonnell, who attends Rochester Elementary School. “I love the maple trees” “I am writing about how maple trees are my superheroes. Maple trees in the fall stand gleaming in the woods and it calms my body. Red, yellow, orange, and brown sitting up, up, up in the crown. Wind whistling through the trees, goodbye, goodbye now it is time to leave.” - Porter
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Mountain Times- Volume 49, Number 18 - April 29 - May 5, 2020

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