DNREC seeks volunteers for wildlife area projects in February

DOVER (Jan. 20, 2011) – The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife is looking for volunteers to help with February projects in two areas – removing invasive Oriental bittersweet vines at the Ommelanden Hunter Education and Training Center in New Castle on Saturday, Feb. 19, and restoring an ancient sand ridge forest on the Nanticoke Wildlife Area near Bethel on Saturday, Feb. 26, a project rescheduled from Jan. 8 due to inclement weather.

“The Nanticoke work is part of an ongoing project to restore and improve important wildlife habitat,” said Lynne Staub, volunteer services coordinator with the Division of Fish and Wildlife. “Removing the invasive bittersweet vines at Ommelanden will help reestablish native wildlife habitat and improve the training center grounds.”

• Ommelanden Hunter Education and Training Center – Beat the Bittersweet!
  9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 19

Oriental bittersweet is an invasive vine that is covering areas of the 3D Archery Course at the Ommelanden Hunter Education and Training Center. This climbing vine outcompetes native plants, girdles trees, and blankets native wildlife habitat.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the club house at the end of the entrance road. The Center is located at 1205 River Road, New Castle, DE 19720.

Work gloves and hand tools such as pruners, hand saws and loppers will be provided, but volunteers may also bring their own. Due to the nature of the work, this project is recommended for adults and older youth (age 13 and over).

Volunteers also are strongly encouraged to pre-register with contact information in case of inclement weather leading to postponement.

• Nanticoke Wildlife Area - Ancient Sand Ridge Forest Restoration
  9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Feb. 26

In November, Fish and Wildlife conservation staff and volunteers began work to restore an ancient sand ridge forest, a forest composed mostly of oaks and pines that develops on ridges or dunes. Degraded by time, these areas are habitats of conservation concern in Delaware, with their restoration and/or improvement important to many plant and animal species. The goal of the project is to re-establish ancient sand ridge forest in the Nanticoke Wildlife Area to provide habitat for species of concern such as the Frosted Elfin, a rare butterfly that depends on plant species found only in Delaware’s ancient sand ridge forests.

Volunteers will be cutting up and removing downed trees and limbs, and planting native plant species at the restoration sites. The work involves bending, lifting and possible use of handsaws, shovels and loppers. Work gloves, shovels, hand saws and loppers will be provided, but volunteers may also bring their own.

Volunteers are asked to meet at the entrance gate to the Nanticoke Wildlife Area on Red House Road, just off of Woodland Ferry Road south of Seaford and close to Bethel.

Due to the nature of the work, this project is recommended for adults and older youth (age 13 and over). Volunteers also are strongly encouraged to pre-register with contact information in case of inclement weather leading to postponement.

For more information or to sign up for these projects, please contact Lynne Staub at 302-735-3600 or email lynne.staub@state.de.us.

For information on other volunteer opportunities with the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife, visit www.dnrec.delaware.gov/fw/volunteers.

Vol. 41, No. 21