ADDISON, Vt. – If you enjoy wildlife be sure to make plans to attend the 25th annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day in Addison, Vermont on Saturday, October 3.
The free activities at Dead Creek Wildlife Day are especially for people who enjoy hunting, fishing, birdwatching, or learning about Vermont's diverse wildlife and ecosystems. The event will be held at the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) on Route 17, west of Route 22A.
Early risers can begin the day with a bird banding demonstration at 7:00 a.m. Two large tents at Dead Creek WMA headquarters will open at 9:30 a.m. featuring wildlife-related exhibits and activities such as soap carving, building bluebird boxes, and nature crafts.
The Dead Creek Visitor Center will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. featuring displays about conservation and wildlife management in Vermont. Enjoy a walk along the interpretive trail to observe pollinators feeding on native wildflowers. Complete the NatureQuest featuring Steward the Otter.
See live animals and learn about their ecology. Learn about Vermont's bees, then try your hand at waterfowl calling at the youth contest. Walk around a rare clayplain forest with an expert. Enjoy local foods and game samples from Vermont Wild Kitchen. Learn about mountain lions in Vermont. And watch working dogs including pointing dogs, retrievers, tracking dogs, and conservation detection dogs.
Waterfowl will be moving through the area, and there will be plenty of opportunities for viewing around the WMA. Or join the Big Sit and tally birds. Let's Go Fishing activities and a story walk by Angela Kunkel will be available for exploration.
This year will be the first annual apple dish contest with a cash prize. Bring your apple dish to the event and register for $15 at the information booth. A food booth will be serving homemade dishes for lunch by donation or roast a hotdog over an open fire. All proceeds will go back into the event.
"We want to welcome visitors to the 25th year of the popular Dead Creek Wildlife Day," said Amy Alfieri, manager of the Dead Creek WMA. "We try to bring in new activities and presentations, and I am excited with this year's schedule. I only ever see smiles on people's faces as they learn about fish and wildlife in a beautiful setting. Visitors love to see the live animals and working dogs, and the kids love to build their own bluebird box to take home. It's a great event for everyone."
The festival is hosted by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, and Otter Creek Audubon Society. This year's event is supported by a grant from the Kelsey Trust.
For more information and a schedule of events visit Vermont Fish and Wildlife's website and check under Watch Wildlife.