Ranger Bob’s Extraordinary Adventures

Winter/Spring 2008 Trip Itinerary - for outdoor, nature and wildlife enthusiasts of all ages, adults and children alike

Lost Valley of the Susquehanna (Hike in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania) - February 18, 2008, Monday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Harford County public schools are closed that day). Cost: $30. This steep, 3-mile Lancaster County hike will take us to an undiscovered valley of the Susquehanna.

Ancient Hemlock Grove (Hike at Broad Creek) - March 29, 2008, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost: $30. This is a 3-mile hike to a remote grove of ancient 75- to 150-foot Eastern Hemlocks off of Broad Creek in northern Harford County.

Chesapeake Bay Shoreline Kayak Paddle (at either Swan Harbor Farm or Furnace Bay) - May 17, 2008, Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost: $39. This 3-mile moderate flat water paddle includes beach walks, shoreline animal tracking, examination of fossils and artifacts and points of historic interest.

For more information, trip discounts or a registration form, contact Ranger Bob at (410) 457-4766 or chancetreefarm@aol.com

Volunteers are needed for the sixth annual Harford County Arbor Day Celebration and Conservation Project.  The event is co-sponsored by the Harford County Forestry Board, Harford County Government and the Department of Natural Resources Forest Service.

The project will take place on Good Friday, March 21, 2008, beginning at 9:00 AM.  Volunteers will be joined by various county officials in planting 900 tree seedlings and installing tree shelters.  The trees will be planted on a three acre tract of land set along a tributary of Deer Creek.  The planting site is located on the Scarboro Landfill property near Sandy Hook Road in Street, Maryland.

Be prepared to get your hands dirty while helping to keep the Chesapeake Bay clean.  Volunteers are asked to bring work boots and gloves, a hammer for driving in tree shelter stakes and a bag lunch.  Parking will be available at the site and the planting will occur rain or shine.  The project qualifies for community service hours and youth groups are encouraged to participate.

For directions or more information, contact Department of Natural Resources Forester Michael Huneke at 410-836-4579.

New DNR Study Shows Benefits And Need For Additional Trees In Frederick

FREDERICK, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service recently completed a study of the City of Frederick’s existing and potential urban tree canopy. Finding that Frederick’s urban tree canopy covers 12 percent of the city (1,592 acres), the report’s analysis estimated that an additional 72 percent of the city (9,553 acres) could be covered by trees in the future.

“Tree cover provides so many benefits to City residents in addition to esthetics, that it is greatly important that the City maintain and expand its urban tree canopy,” said Frederick Mayor William J. Holtzinger.

Recognizing the benefits of overall tree canopy cover as a water quality best management practice in urban areas, the Chesapeake Bay Executive Council established a goal for 120 communities in the Bay watershed to adopt an urban tree canopy goal by 2020 at its recent meeting last December. The City of Frederick committed to establishing an urban tree canopy goal in April of 2007. To date, 38 communities in Maryland have committed to adopting urban tree canopy goals.

DNR has completed assessments for three communities and two cities – Annapolis and Baltimore - have adopted goals.

“Frederick’s urban tree canopy is a vital city asset,” said Michael F. Galvin, DNR Urban Forestry Supervisor. “Trees reduce storm water runoff, enhance quality of life, reduce the city’s carbon footprint, and provide wildlife habitat. Improving the condition and extent of tree canopy in urban areas is vital to community livability as our cities grow.”

Eighty-six percent of Marylanders live in urban areas. Residents can help by planting trees and maintaining local trees by watering and mulching around the base.

Collaborating with the U.S. Forest Service and the University of Vermont, the DNR report utilized high-resolution satellite data and GIS information to calculate various types of land cover (trees, grass, buildings, roads) at the parcel level across the city. Click here to view the full report.

Yesterday was my first day on site at Wildlife Rescue in Hampstead, Carroll County, Maryland. The weather was to be a sunny 52 degrees and I dressed for it. Only when I arrived it was snowing and sleeting. I was so excited to be there I did not notice that my nose was draining and my lips were numb. My rookie mission was to clean out the birds and bunnies. They hang out together outside in a pen. There are geese, ducks, chickens and rabbits all living together.

Look, I’m not a hippie, but holy hell, I loved being out there wrist deep in bird shit-cleaning out ponds in sleet! My new best friend in the bird pen is Matilda - a huge gray goose…who bites.

There is a porcupine next to the birds. He is laid back and quite handsome…and begs for handouts.

I was taken out to the “big guys” on the farm. This included “big mama” the llama…who was weary of me, a crapload of goats, rams, sheep, alpacas, llamas and a pot belly pig. Oh yea…and the aggressive donkey who wasn’t mean to me…but was drawn to my crotch and boobs. Try having a semi-intelligent conversation with a donkey in your ass.

I also was privileged to meet the only 2 fawns they have right now. One male isn’t growing. At one point I had a fawn licking my nose and a fawn behind me chewing my hair. Look, I used to not care about deer hunting so much. I mean we need to keep the population down…but after being with those 2 I can’t understand why someone would want to kill something so gentle? Like..whoa dude, you’re tough..shooting that man eating deer! You’re lucky he didn’t kill you out in the field man.

Plus I learned an interesting fact. Maryland’s Department of Natural Resources will kill a fawn on site if you have it illegally on your property as a pet or rescue and you don’t have a permit. They also require the rescue centers to tag the deer prior to release. Hunting is a huge income for Maryland…tagging them is like a big bullseye on their backs…they want all the deer in the woods for killing to make that money. I hate you.

I didn’t meet the bald eagles. I saw multiple owls, red tails, red shoulders, and vultures. There are also 9 coons outside in kennels to be released in spring. Oh, there was a bunny there…a thin little black and white, who was missing the tops of his ears due to frostbite. He was tossed in a Dumpster.

One of those 2 coons is Smokey. She was in a chimney with mom and some brothers and sisters when the homeowners decided to “get them out” by starting a fire. All but Smokey died. The people felt bad after they had the fire going and no one was really dying right away…so then they called rescue.

I helped build a raptor cage yesterday. We had it up in less than an hour. It was hard work, but awesome of course.

Plus Gerda makes the best damned apple pancakes i have ever had in my life. I would volunteer everyday for her cooking.

Seriously kids…if anyone comes across wildlife get a hold of me somehow. While I was there they got a call in for an injured baby owl, but the number was busy every time they tried to call back. Another buttbag called and said he had a rabid bunny in the back of his pick up. Gerda (she runs the rescue) told the person on the phone straight up they were foolish! A rabid rabbit. Sure buddy…we all know how evil those guys are. IDIOT.

DNR Trains Volunteers For Stream Monitoring
Maryland Stream Waders Program Offers Three Volunteer Training Sessions

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will be training volunteers to help monitor the health of local streams across the state. DNR relies on volunteer “Stream Waders” to support its annual Maryland Biological Stream Survey which monitors the health of more than 10,000 miles of streams to provide critical information needed to protect and restore our aquatic resources, including the Chesapeake Bay.

“The Chesapeake Bay begins in the small streams located in many Marylander’s backyards,” explained Ron Klauda, Director of DNR’s Monitoring and Non-tidal Assessment Division. “Successful protection and restoration of Maryland’s rivers and the Chesapeake Bay requires monitoring, protecting, and restoring the thousands of miles of headwater streams that feed them.”

Over the next month DNR will hold three Stream Waders volunteer training sessions from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.:

• Saturday, February 16 at the Patuxent River 4-H Center
  18405 Queen Anne Road in Upper Marlboro (Prince George’s County)
• Saturday, February 23 at the Fairview Outdoor Center
  12808 Draper Road in Clear Spring (Washington County)
• Saturday, March 1 at the West Nottingham Academy
  1079 Firetower Road in Colora (Cecil County)

“Maryland’s volunteer Stream Waders provide valuable support and water quality data that enable the DNR to assess local stream health,” added Dan Boward, DNR Biologist.

Interested volunteers may register for a training session by emailing streamwaders@dnr.state.md.us or calling 1-877-620-8DNR (x8623). For additional information visit http://www.dnr.state.md.us/streams/mbss/w_new.html.