I heard some interesting terms while attending the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association conference a few weeks ago. These are really great learning opportunities and we try to get to the national and international symposiums every year. There were over 100 lectures, workshops and seminars crammed into a week period. These are programs designed by veterinarians, rehabilitators and other people involved directly with wildlife....not domestic animals and pets. There is no other source to get the training necessary to keep current with wildlife issues. Ginnie has attended these symposiums for over 10 years....that's over 2000 specific and invaluable learning experiences.
  The term "natural treasures" was used to describe our native wildlife by one of the presenters and I thought how true a description that is. Believe it or not, I have talked to people as close as Patchogue that have never seen a chipmunk. I find that fact incredulous. That's only a half hour away from us.
  It seems the existence of wildlife on Long Island is directly proportionate to the development of our geographic area. We slowly and surely change our wild population by " habitat alteration."      In some cases, we unwittingly en- hance a species and at other times  we destroy by only the thought of what shrub or bush we think will be pleasing to the eye of the passerby. Do we really have this right? How about thinking of what vegetation means life or death to indigenous wildlife and planning a habitat that will allow us to live in harmony with our wild neighbors? Do you think this is even considered by most local landscapers?
  As we travel west the variation of  wild animal species begins to decrease. As man expands his empire, the wildlife population decreases dramatically. It culminates in a spot only slightly over an hour away where the natural treasures consist mainly of pigeons, rats and cockroaches.
  The answer, of course, is public education. But it all depends on the directional thrust of the education. That  leads me to the last of the terms I have recently acquired. The mouthful is "charismatic megafauna" and is used to describe large animals that appeal to everyone in general.  They have been the focal point of the educators efforts. Every school child who watches Animal Planet knows that many animals around the globe such as elephants, rhinoceros, whales, tigers and many others are in trouble...this is very good....but so few of them know or understand the animals that exist in their own backyard.
  Our "natural treasures" are not the larger than life animals that most of our kids (or us for that matter) will never have the chance to see in their natural habitat. They are mostly  the small and meek that live in our backyards. In reality, they are our closest neighbors, yet we treat them like the plague.  But, as we destroy them, we surely destroy ourselves.
  Recently, we had an encounter with a woman who was "held hostage" all weekend by a raccoon who haphazardly wandered onto her deck. Her answer was to have it trapped and destroyed. After all, they have grandchildren who may visit. What a sad state of affairs. This animal must die out of pure misinformation. Instead of embracing the opportunity to let the grandchildren see a wild animal in it's natural habitat, (Yes, this is it's habitat!) they opt to destroy.
  Our education committee would be happy to speak to interested audiences regarding wild animals and their habitat requirements. If your group or organization is interested in learning how to live in harmony with our "natural treasures," then please contact us at 728-4200 and we will arrange a date for a very informative talk.

James Hunter