Outside With a Guide

11/16/2024

Whether it's a leftovers-picnic or a fall hike, we invite you to with us on Thanksgiving weekend — in just two weeks. We can help you plan your park visit here: https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/optoutside

11/16/2024

If you're visiting a state forest this weekend, bring your blaze clothing! 🦺 Virginia’s general fi****ms deer season begins tomorrow. 🦌 Only some state forests allow hunting, and hunters must obey all signs, respect safe zones, follow all state regulations and obtain a state forest use permit in addition to required hunting licenses through Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

Learn more about hunting on state forests: https://ow.ly/1qg650U88fP

10/10/2024

10/06/2024

Reports about many deceased migratory songbirds are coming in from multiple locations around the state today, and we also admitted eight injured migratory songbirds from several locations throughout our region. At this point, biologists with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources suspect these mortality events are related to migrating birds encountering poor local weather conditions. Last night was the highest migratory night of the season, with more than six million birds passing through our area.

If you're in Virginia, and you find a number of deceased migratory birds in one area, please call the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline at 1-855-571-9003 with the following information:

• Your name and contact information
• The date the birds were first observed
• The address where the mortality event occurred
• The type of structure associated with the event (e.g., type of building)
• The number of birds (indicating if it's an estimate or precise count)
• The side(s) of the building/structure where birds were found (if possible, broken down by the number of birds per side).

Photos are extremely helpful for biologists in understanding the event and identifying the species involved.

Thank you for helping wildlife – citizen reporting can make a big difference to biologists and officials working to address these events.

10/06/2024

10/04/2024

The National Park Service continues safety and damage assessments in national parks throughout the Southeast. A listing of parks that are currently closed can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/severe-weather-response.htm

Check individual park websites to learn about closures, conditions in the park, and safety information.

The National Park Service is also monitoring a disturbance in the western Caribbean approaching the Gulf of Mexico. As needed, parks will maintain and implement emergency preparedness plans to protect visitors, staff, and park resources.

10/02/2024

📰 VDH advises the public to avoid natural bodies of water after severe weather. During heavy rainfall and flooding, pollution and waste from the land washes into rivers, lakes and streams. Learn how you can stay safe at https://ow.ly/IO3l50Tzt55

10/02/2024

This annual sale is a great and affordable resource for native trees & shrubs!

Our seedling store is now open! 🌳🛒 From paw paw to white pine, red maple to eastern redbud, there are 57 species of trees and shrubs to choose from. Get your order in now, some species sell out fast! ➡️ BuyVATrees.com

10/01/2024

Just because an animal is venomous, doesn't mean it deserves to die! Please respect our wildlife, including the ones that aren't defenseless. 🐍

09/15/2024

A friendly reminder that the Zoom presentation on Virginia Tidal Freshwater Marshes by Maeve Coker is coming up next week, on 09-19 at 7 pm. Chapter members, please join us a bit earlier, at 6:45 pm, to vote at our chapter Board Officer elections (an email was sent to all members with directions for voting). For more info about the presenter and to get the Zoom link, click here: https://vnps.org/johnclayton/events/virginia-tidal-freshwater-marshes-coastal-plain-gems-a-zoom-presentation-with-maeve-coker/

09/14/2024

09/14/2024

Anyone up for a mushroom log workshop?? My neighbors just had a bunch of trees taken down, so I have some good logs! Maybe Oct 13 or 19 or 20?? Haven’t done one in a few years ! 😃👍🍄‍🟫

09/12/2024

💪😃👍

This makes us want to pick up a hobby with a mission.

OLAUG—Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage—search and remove underwater garbage in Cape Cod. And they have a lot of fun doing it. Why the very specific and straightforward name?

There are a few requirements to join the club. You must be able to swim a half a mile in under 30 minutes, be at least 64 years old, and be able to free dive at least eight feet. That, and a desire to clean up Cape Cod waters, and you’re in. After a day’s work, they’re paid in cookies and hot chocolate by 84-year-old founder, Susan Baur. 🍪

📸 Boston Globe photographer Stan Grossfeld

09/10/2024

Hello friends!
Please consider a donation to the Coastal Virginia Wildlife Observatory in support of our Bird-A-Thon team, “What the Flock?!” Thank you so much!! Click link and scroll waaaay down to find us at the bottom, where we may end up in the standings as well 😂 But we’ll have a lot of fun doing it!!

Protecting Wildlife through Field Research, Education and Habitat Conservation for since 1994

09/10/2024

🌙🐛 Calling all adventurers! The 2024 BioBlitz is on, and we need your help to document Gloucester’s natural wonders. Whether it's a tree, insect, or flower, every observation is valuable. Join us and contribute to local conservation efforts!

Download the iNaturalist app and join our project " GloCoVAPollinatorBioBlitz 2024 " and start documenting your findings! 🌺