“Deer in my Yard – A Love/Hate Relationship” by Shelly Ament and Matt Blankenship Thursday, Nov. 11
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife experts, Matt Blankenship, Wildlife Conflict Specialist, and Shelly Ament, Wildlife Biologist, offer an educational presentation on deer and conflicts associated with deer during their Zoom lecture, Thursday, Nov. 11, from noon to 1 p.m.
Blankenship will provide information on mitigating damage caused by deer to gardens, landscaping, and ornamental plants in urban and rural areas. He will discuss options from fencing, repellents, and scare devices Clallam County residents can use to efficiently and cost-effectively manage deer damage to their gardens and the landscaping around their homes.
Ament plans to cover general biology for deer and will mention some deer diseases that the public can watch for. She will inform attendees about a deer study that is ongoing in a community in Sequim.
Join by computer by going to https://extension.wsu.edu/clallam/ and selecting the Master Gardener Zoom Presentation Link. Or, by calling 253-215-8782, Meeting ID: 916 2688 9983, Passcode: 101869.
Matt Blankenship has several years of experience with WDFW working with agriculture producers and homeowners throughout the Olympic Peninsula and South Sound on mitigating conflicts associated with wildlife. He is one of two conflict specialists working in WDFW’s South Sound/Olympic Peninsula (Region 6). Blankenship covers seven counties — Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Thurston, and part of Lewis County. About 1.7 million people live in region six, and Matt’s job is to give them tools and information to help minimize conflicts with wildlife.
Shelly Ament is District 16’s Assistant Wildlife Biologist which covers Clallam and western Jefferson counties. She graduated from Colorado State University with a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Biology and worked 12 years as a seasonal ranger for the National Park Service. Ament ventured to Washington in 1991 to serve as an Olympic National Park Coastal Wilderness Ranger. She moved to her current position in 1993. Ament has been responsible for the protection and management of bald eagles, the monitoring and management of diversity (non-game) and game wildlife species, monitoring threatened and endangered species, wildlife diversity, biodiversity conservation, habitat improvement projects, outreach/education, and assisting injured /sick wildlife.
Presently, she works with elk, deer, waterfowl, sea otters, butterflies, bats, bumblebees, and other wildlife species. Shelly received notoriety for developing the elk crossing project in Sequim that has significantly decreased the number of elk/vehicle collisions along Highway 101 and recently was instrumental in working with the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society and Clallam County PUD on the Swan Safe Project to bury power lines at Kirner Pond to protect wintering trumpeter swans.
The “Green Thumbs Garden Tips” education series, sponsored by the WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners, is held on the second and fourth Thursday each month through October. In November, December, and January, one lecture is offered. Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar for the latest information on upcoming presentations. For questions, call 360-565-2679.
TIDEPOOLS MAGAZINE 2022
IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS
Tidepools Magazine has celebrated creators coming together on the North Olympic Peninsula for almost sixty years, and it’s that time once again! We’re seeking submissions to the annual art, writing, and music contest for our 58th issue. We invite residents of all ages and skills living in Clallam and Jefferson counties to enter their original works for a chance to win cash, publication, and recognition. We welcome all genres of art, photography, poetry, prose, and music. Help promote the arts in our vibrant community by entering your recent work!
Peninsula College students can enter the contest for free this year, local youth pay $5 for each entry, and adults pay $7.50. Entry fees make it possible to award winners cash prizes, but for those interested in having their work considered for publication but prefer not to enter the contest, we accept non-contest entries at no cost.
The submission deadline is Sunday, Jan. 16, 2022. Contest winners will be announced Friday, March 11, 2022. All contributors in this year’s issue are invited to share their work at the release party and awards ceremony set to take place in early June 2022 when the magazine is slated for publication.
Submit your creations today—we’re eager to see what you’ve been working on since last year.
Email questions about the contest or publication to Deirdre Frank at dfrank@pencol.edu.
To find more information, including contest guidelines, entry forms, and previous issues, please visit our website at www.tidepoolsmagazine.com.
