The Value of Nature & Climate Change

Nature is good for the soul. It calms us and relieves some of our everyday stress. Nature provides for the well-being of humans in a larger, more global way. Our natural world filters our air and water, absorbing carbon emissions that would otherwise contribute to climate change. It also will play an important role as we prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

MassAudubon published its Climate Action Plan, which includes a focus on the ecosystem services provided by five different ecosystems. The Value of Nature will will come into sharper focus as we prepare for and adapt to the impacts of climate change through nature-based solutions.

Announcing: Weston Ahead

The Town of Weston is taking bold action in the face of the climate crisis by creating a Climate Action and Resilience Plan. Stay tuned for the very soon-to-come release of the Weston Ahead campaign and ways you can get involved!

One way you can be involved now, is by participating in our online survey. As a resident of Weston, your input is needed on what this plan should focus on from alternative transportation to smart buildings to land use management.

Please take a few moments to contribute your feedback on this online survey. Responses will be collected through Friday, August 21st.

WestonAhead.metroquest.com

Trail Walking

A silver lining to the COVID pandemic is that many of us are spending more time outdoors and walking the 100 miles of Weston’s beautiful trails through the 1,800 acres of Conservation Land.

Walking in nature is a stress-reducing activity; however, being unsure of where you are or how far you have walked and how to get back to your car or home can cause some anxiety. But not so much anymore! By using free trail apps such as AllTrails, you can track your path in the woods and take the stress out of getting lost. You can make your time in the woods even more special by recording your hike, documenting special sightings with photos, and sharing with friends.

If you are "old skool," a large paper trail map documenting all of Weston's trails is available for $10 at Town Hall courtesy of Weston Forest & Trail Association. Once Town Hall opens back up to the public, come visit the Conservation Department to pick up your copy.

It's a bummer to have to say it, but please do remember that COVID guidelines remain in place for outdoor activities. This means:

that dogs MUST be leashed at ALL times
physical distancing must be observed
bring a mask and be prepared to don it if a 6-foot distance can't be done

Wanted: Bark Rangers

Do you love walking trails? Engaging with others? Or have a passion for the environment? Help us keep Weston’s trails and open spaces enjoyable for everyone.

The Town of Weston is actively seeking volunteers to assist the Conservation and Animal Control departments in spreading awareness of the Town's rules and regulations for dogs and dog owners.

Volunteer responsibilities will include hiking our trails, greeting visitors at a trail-head, engaging and educating visitors about their dog walking habits, and collecting data, all while modeling good dog walking behavior. COVID physical distancing precautions must be followed and masks are required. Note that during COVID, some of the Bark Ranger activities will be modified.

Learn more about the program at Weston.org/BarkRangers and fill out an online volunteer application today.

#JustScoopItAlready

The Leave No Trace for Outdoor Ethics organization conducted a study on “canine defecation events” on 45,000 acres of conservation land in Boulder, Colorado. The findings in summary, dog waste left to decompose is really, really harmful to the environment.

All wildlife in our conservation lands forage for food in their home environment, which means they’re consuming resources and nutrients from the same ecosystem in which they live. After they’ve digested and absorbed that food, the same resources and nutrients are returned to the ecosystem via their scat. The system is basically a closed loop, with no net gain or loss in nutrients or resources. However, dogs eat pet food rich in nutrients designed to provide them with a complete diet. The dog expels the excess nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, through its waste. When that is left to decompose in our woods, the excess nutrients are released into the ecosystem. It was found that those foreign or excessive nutrients can create unstable conditions for native plants and an inviting habitat for invasive plants. Invasives can choke out the native species. Dog waste does not present a closed loop but rather a cycle of damage. If those native plants disappear, then the potential for fewer food sources for the wildlife is presented in our woods.

Additional damage caused by dog waste that is not picked up is to our natural waterways. The decomposing dog waste also contains harmful pathogens. When it rains, these excess nutrients and pathogens runoff into nearby water sources, which then can cause harmful algae blooms in our water ways. Algae blooms make the water murky, green, smelly, and unusable for swimming, boating, or fishing. The algae blooms, as well as the pathogens, can make humans and animals sick.

Storm Chasers

New England summers come with those unpredictable late afternoon thunderstorms but Weston is lucky to have Weston Forest & Trail Association (WFTA), a nonprofit dedicated to fostering the preservation and enjoyment of Weston's treasured open space.

WFTA protects more than 200 acres of WFTA-owned land and easements, as well as almost 1,800 acres of Town-owned Conservation Land. Additionally, they maintain about 100-miles of trails on public lands in Weston and assist in the maintenance of fields and hilltop outlooks on Town Conservation Land.

WFTA works tirelessly to keep Weston’s trails walkable, including removing trees and brush that fall during storms. Thank you WFTA for these efforts and thanks to you for your patience as we work together to continue to clean up after each storm.

If you happen upon a downed tree and blocked path, please send an email to conservation@westonma.gov to report the location. Try to add as much information as possible about the location in the email.

Orphaned Wildlife?

When we encounter a baby wild animal, often our first instinct is to try to rescue it, especially if it is alone. Before intervening, make sure it actually needs help. It is often normal for wildlife babies to be on their own. Intervening with Mother Nature actually decreases a baby animal’s chance of survival. Though you may feel sad, it’s normal and natural that not all wild animals survive to adulthood. Letting nature take its course is usually the best thing to do.

The exception is if an animal is injured as the direct result of human activity, such as getting hit by a car, attacked by a pet, striking a window, or falling from a nest during tree work, or if you have witnessed its parent being killed and know for sure that it has been orphaned. In those instances, the ethical thing to do is try to help. Calling a local wildlife rehabilitator immediately for assistance should be your first step to provide help for the animal. Go to: Wildlife Rehabilitators' Association of Massachusetts or the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife list of rehabilitators.

Do not try to take care of a wild animal yourself. Caring for wildlife is a round-the-clock job and requires special training to do it properly. In fact, you must have a state-issued license to legally keep and care for wild animals. Visit the National Wildlife Federation's blog to find more information on baby wildlife. Or Weston's Animal Control Officer's blog post on baby wildlife.

Pollinator Power!!

Have you heard about the Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance?

The Weston Plant Pollinator Alliance (WPPA) is a new organization formed through a working group within the Sustainable Weston Action Group (SWAG). Inspired by the native pollinator conservation movement in Massachusetts and across New England, WPPA members are concerned by the troubling rates of decline in wild pollinator species and the loss of native biodiversity throughout Massachusetts, and globally. The goals are to collaborate with SWAG and town committees to restore health and resiliency to Weston's landscapes and ecosystems.

They are a broad alliance of naturalists, scientists, conservationists, gardeners, beekeepers, and business owners who believe that environmental awareness and conservation begin with simple steps at home and that it is incumbent upon all of us to work together to solve the world’s pollinator crisis. To get started on your next adventure, check out the very informative WPPA newsletter The Quarterly Buzz at westonplantpollinatoralliance@gmail.com.

Trading Lawns for Meadows

There is a growing movement of homeowners allowing their grass lawns to go au naturel by planting alternative, native ground cover in order to increase the biodiversity in their yards. If you want to do a lot for nature, reducing a part of your lawn makes an impact.

A typical lawn is made up of tough grasses, the majority of which were introduced to the U.S. from Europe long ago for grazing animals. Shorn on a regular basis, these grasses provide zero blossoms for pollinators to feed on and very little habitat. However, seeds are continually mixed into this turf by the wind, ants and birds, introducing other plant species. When allowed to grow, this diversity becomes more evident.

Native plants such as violets, pussytoes and wild strawberries often thrive in unmowed lawn spaces, mixing with common non-native species such as hawkweed and buttercups, all creating blooms that attract a variety of pollinators, from bees to butterflies, which in turn attract songbirds and a whole host of other animals.

Learn more about how to increase the biodiversity in your yard from this article from the Bangor Daily News.

Beautiful Bluebirds

Thank you to our volunteers who have been monitoring over 30 bluebird nesting boxes throughout town every week.

Weston’s bluebirds have successfully bred in at least six of our boxes!

Interested in caring for a bluebird box in your yard? MassAudubon has great tips and advice. If you're interested in volunteering to care for one of Weston's bluebird houses, contact conservation@westonma.gov