There's still lots of ice and snow at higher elevations and streams are running high. It is encouraged that you wear traction devices on your boots and be aware that stream crossings may be treacherous on many trails. The forecast has a wind advisory and temperatures will be in the lower 20s today and tonight. ​

As wildlife move across land or through the water, they increasingly find their habitat shrinking or fragmented  by human development. SB 1274 seeks to combat the decline of Virginia’s natural ecosystems by helping wildlife  move safely from one place to another. This bill will both protect wildlife and the public of Virginia.
  
To do this, SB 1274 builds on the Virginia Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP), which will compile and condense the  best available science on the status of habitat connectivity in Virginia. The WCAP will assess the connections  between core habitat areas, list potential projects to improve such connections, and provide an action plan for the  completion of those projects.  

SB 1274 directs DCR, VDOT, and the State Forester to integrate wildlife corridors identified in the WCAP into their  own strategic planning guidance documents. This will help ensure that wildlife corridors are considered and protected  across Virginia and across agency jurisdictions. This will allow agencies to best integrate wildlife connectivity, and  the corresponding public safety considerations, into their existing operations. 

SB 1274 has been assigned to the House Natural Resources Subcommittee. It could be heard as soon as Wednesday morning (2/17). If you have a moment, please help this bill make its final steps through the House. Make your comments here: https://hodspeak.house.virginia.gov/committees/H01/bill_feedback 

Thank you! 

Dear Virginia wildlife enthusiast, 
 Over the past 3.5 years, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) has been working collaboratively with researchers in Virginia Tech's Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation to develop a state-wide Wildlife Viewing Plan. This Wildlife Viewing Plan is the first comprehensive plan for engaging with and supporting wildlife viewers (people who intentionally observe, photograph, feed, or collect data about wildlife or visit parks and natural areas because of wildlife) developed for the DWR. It was co-produced by an 18-member Technical Advisory Committee, composed of DWR staff, and a 20-member Stakeholder Advisory Committee, composed of individuals and organizational representatives with experience and interest in wildlife viewing in Virginia. 
 The resulting Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan provides direction and priorities to orient the DWR's efforts related to wildlife viewing through 2031. Plan goals emphasize connecting diverse segments of the public to wildlife and wildlife viewing in Virginia; providing a variety of wildlife viewing opportunities accessible to all in the Commonwealth; promoting wildlife and habitat conservation through wildlife viewing; and connecting broader constituencies to the Virginia DWR through wildlife viewing. 
 Researchers at Virginia Tech are now working with DWR staff to collect broad public input on the draft Wildlife Viewing Plan to ensure that the plan reflects the values and interests of people throughout the Commonwealth. We invite you to visit https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife-watching/wildlife-viewing-plan/ to view the draft plan and to share your comments through a research survey, which will take approximately five minutes to complete. The draft plan will be available for public input through March 3rd. This input process has been approved by Virginia Tech?s Institutional Review Board (IRB) (Protocol #17-754). If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please contact Dr. Jessica Barnes by email at WildlifeRecreation@vt.edu. 


We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the Virginia Wildlife Viewing Plan!


Sincerely, 


Brian Moyer
Deputy Director, Outreach Division, DWR
Dr. Ashley Dayer
Assistant Professor, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech


Dr. Jessica Barnes
Research Scientist, Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Tech 

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​​Eric fell in love with nature growing up in the farmlands, woods, and waters of Iowa. Following his love of nature, he became interested in conservation and pursued a degree in Animal Ecology at Iowa State University. After graduating in 2006, Eric worked for the Illinois Natural History Survey in a fisheries management lab. Longing for topography, biodiversity, and adventure, he moved to Southern Appalachia in 2013 and began working for Southern Appalachian Wilderness Stewards (SAWS). There, he fell in love with the idea of protected public lands and federally designated Wilderness and found a passion for public lands stewardship. He spent several seasons as a wilderness ranger and trail crew leader, before moving permanently to Roanoke, Virginia in 2017 in a program management role for SAWS.
 
In Roanoke, as a Regional Director for SAWS, Eric leads a team of field crews, wilderness rangers and specialists, and volunteers, and partners with the George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, the Monongahela National Forest, the Daniel Boone National Forest and the Ozark National Forest to help improve capacity for wilderness stewardship, increase relevancy of wilderness through education, and help the US Forest Service measure and preserve wilderness character.
 
Eric brings an extensive knowledge of wilderness history, wilderness law and policy, and public lands stewardship to the Virginia Wilderness Committee. He hopes to engage in land protection efforts, education and stewardship at VWC.
 
In his free time, Eric enjoys running, hiking, biking, canoeing and exploring new, wild places. He also loves cooking, homebrewing, and reading. 

​Welcome to VWC, Eric!

Learn more about Wilderness in this Virtual Training Course offered by the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center, September 14-17. Register today.

https://wilderness.net/practitioners/training/virtual-events/wilderness-information-series.php

Join us SAFELY ONLINE for the 
2020 VWC VIRTUAL Annual Meeting
Saturday, September 19 at 11am
​
While we wish we could all be together in person, this year, we are excited to see
our members' faces on our computers at home to talk about all things Wilderness.

Meeting will include the election of officers, by-law amendment vote (see below), annual report, and updates on our Wilderness efforts.

RSVP to ldean@vawilderness.org to receive your Zoom invitation

Proposed By-law Amendment
The Board proposes to amend VWC's by-laws by increasing the upper limit for Board members from 15 to 16.

VWC By-Law 
ARTICLE V: Board of Directors
Section 1: COMPOSITION:
The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the VWC, past Presidents, and other members who may be elected from time to time. The Board may number from five (5) to fifteen (15) members.
[change to sixteen (16) members].

2018 Annual Meeting at the Dickerman Farm

​The map of the Saint Marys Wilderness has a list of numbered trails.  They are as follows:

1)    Saint Marys Trail, 7.0 miles (one way)
2)    Saint Marys Falls Trail, 0.5 miles (one way)
3)    Cellar Mountain Trail, 2.9 miles (one way)
4)    Cold Springs Trail, 1.3 miles (one way
5)    Mine Bank Trail, 2.0 miles (one way)
6)    Bald Mountain Overlook Trail, 2.5 miles (one way)
7)    Mine Bank Mountain Trail, 0.5 miles (one way)

Many of these trails, although one way, can be combined with FDR 162 and 162-A to create loop opportunities.

Contact the Glenwood-Pedlar Ranger District Office for more information:
​540-291-2188