Wildlife is topic of library program

WASHINGTON >> Nora Hulton, Connecticut Certified Master Wildlife Conservationist teacher at Washington Montessori School, will deliver a discussion and visual presentation, Wildlife and Connecticut’s Changing Landscape, Thursday, Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at Gunn Memorial Library.

Landscapes are dynamic ecosystems. Connecticut’s landscape has changed through the centuries, from almost all forest in the 1600s, to cleared land by the mid-1800s. Presently, Connecticut is about 60 percent forest.

As the landscape changed in Connecticut so did the wildlife populations that depend on the land for habitat. This presentation describes the history of Connecticut’s landscape and the impact of change on wildlife populations.

Hulton will include a brief natural history of Connecticut, address the current state of wildlife including a discussion of major species, factors affecting their habitats, some challenges we face in managing them, and provide suggestions for what people can do to make a difference. Several animal pelts and skulls will be on display. Questions and comments are welcome after the presentation.

Hulton has a degree in Agriculture and Natural Resources from SUNY Cobleskill and owned and operated her own garden center for over 20 years in Cornwall Bridge. She is an avid hiker and outdoorswoman, She resides in Warren, where she is a member of her town’s Inland Wetlands Commission. Her ancestry in Litchfield County goes back over 125 years, and she is passionate about learning and sharing information on the natural history of the area.

This program is free and open to the public; registration is requested. Call 860-868-7586 for further information or visit www. gunnlibrary.org. The Gunn Memorial Library is located at

5 Wykeham Road at Route 47 on the Green, in Washington.