Renowned Wildlife Biologists and Bear Expert Leads Walk

The October 30 bear walks led by Dr. Lynn Rogers received a wonderful response.  Close to forty enthusiasts joined Largess Forestry and Dr. Rogers at the Fisherville Brook Wildlife Refuge in Exeter.  Many more participants attended his two lectures. The walks and book signing raised more than $1400 for the Wildlife Research Institute where Dr. Rogers and other staff dedicate their time as unpaid volunteers furthering research on black bears and other forest inhabitants.

Dr. Rogers guided the morning and afternoon groups through the trails disproving or confirming bear signs, including bear teeth and claw marks found in a beehive destroyed by a bear in his search for honey. One participant living adjacent to the refuge showed photos of a bear in her backyard. Walk participants included local Department of Environmental Management staff,

Corless Auditorium at the URI Bay Campus the evening preceding the walk.  A slide show and book signing at the Norman Bird Sanctuary followed later that evening. Dr. Rogers concluded his first visit to the area with a bird-watching tour led by Sanctuary staff the next day.

As Largess Forestry develops its preservation and education programs, we are anxious to bring our clients and local communities similar events.  We remain committed to assisting Dr. Rogers further his research and look forward to hosting him in 2002.  We seek to involve more communities and local officials who regularly address the public's concern on bears and wildlife.

As part of our education programs, we are producing segments for Cox Cable.  Watch for our program, "Magic Forest:  RI Forests and the Wildlife Within," featuring Dr. Rogers to air this winter.