Stratham Conservation Commission

Not over 100 here in NH, but we're pretty sure if someone here took the car-cookie-baking challenge last week, they would've cooked fine. And then every time you got back in the car you would crave a chocolate chip cookie...
But the real point of this is to remind everyone not to bake your pet in a hot car!

Please read and share!! If you are following the Stratham CC page, you must enjoy and appreciate all of the natural resources that Stratham has to offer! 💚We are reaching out because the CC needs you! 🌳The Stratham CC has a vacancy on its Board and is looking for a resident who would like to help us continue our efforts to protect Stratham open spaces and preserve our natural resources.🏞 We meet on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 7 pm in the Municipal Center. Our efforts include offering guidance to other town boards, working with local land trusts to create and uphold conservation easements, educating our community about preserving land, and so much more! 🌎If you can spare a couple of hours a month to help make a difference, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact Conservation Commission Chair, Bill McCarthy, through the Town contact link. Or, if you would like to see what the Commission does firsthand, please stop by our next meeting! You don't need to have a background in conservation! 🌿 All you need is an interest in the protection of our natural resources. Join us! Embrace your inner tree-hugger.🌳

I'm a crane fly, commonly known as a giant mosquito. Due to the ignorance of many people, they took my life without me posing any danger. I don't suck blood, I'm not a vampire. Feeding on the nectar of flowers and helping with pollination, just doing my natural duty. Now that you know me, please don't kill me.

Happy 4th of July!

Are you planning on spending a lot of time in your pool this week? We need your help to look for Asian longhorned beetles (ALB). UNH Extension is asking New Hampshire residents with pools to check their filters regularly for ALB. Pool filters naturally gather an assortment of bugs making it easier to keep an eye out for ALB. If you don’t have a pool you can still help by keeping a lookout where you live. ALB hasn't been found in New Hampshire as of today. Learn more by visiting https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2024/06/survey-your-pool-filters-asian-longhorned-beetle.

Report suspicious beetles at www.nhbugs.org

Please, please do not use poison to control rodents in your yard. It can be devastating to other birds and animals in the ecosystem whfeed on rode ts.😔

When Barkers Farm conserved their land and allowed this trail to pass through their property, it was with the understanding that folks using the trail would respect their property. If trails rules are not respected, there is always the possibility that any of the trails may be closed. Stay on the trails and leash your dogs. The rules exist to keep land and people, and in this case the livelihood of the farm, safe.
Thank you.

Time to start counting!

It's that time of year! Report turkey sightings to NH Fish & Game at https://www.wildlife.nh.gov/wildlife-and-habitat/wild-turkeys-new-hampshire/turkey-surveys

Join us for Plastic Pot Take Back Day!
Saturday, June 22nd, from 10AM - 2PM visit one of our garden centers* and recycle your plastic pots!

We're partnering with Prides Corner Farms once again for our annual event!

All pots must have the designated recycling symbol ♻️containing a 2 or a 5!
Any size, any color, from any garden center.
Qualifying pots must be free from any debris or tags, and sorted into separate groups prior to drop off.

*Shelburne, VT location will not be accepting plastic pots for returns, please visit our Burlington or Williston garden center to participate.

The Stratham Conservation Commission pays tribute today to the heroes who gave the ultimate sacrifice to the United States while serving in the military.

Happy belated World Turtle Day!

More local goodness!

Look what’s back! Local goodness!

Tuesday-Saturday 9-6
Sunday 10-5
Monday closed.


🌱

We appreciate our Stratham Farms.💚They make sure we eat well and have beautiful flowers, all while battling skunks and other critters, broken wells, and long days.

All this, and buying local supports our local farms!🚜

Another reason for leaving the leaves...

Where did all the fireflies glow?

We get asked the question all the time - hey, why don't I see that many lightning bugs anymore? The simple answer is, maybe your community is no longer a good habitat for them. Before we get to the longer answer of why you're not seeing them anymore, you need to know how this beetle starts out life.

Fireflies lay their eggs in the ground where they then mature into glow worms. It's during this larval stage where they spend all their time eating other, tinier insects. Born and raised in the duff, they need the leaves that naturally litter the ground.

That’s why it's important to leave your backyards and street sides as untouched as possible every autumn to preserve the larvae and small insects living in the leaf litter. This helps to ensure a healthy, new year of fireflies.

Ok, leave the leaves, but what are some other ways to help?

💡Turn off outdoor lights in the evening. If you have inside lights on, close the blinds
💡Plant native plants
💡Mow grass less frequently and raise the length of the cut to 4 inches
💡When leaves drop in the fall, rake them if you want, but keep them in your yard
💡Use non-pesticide solutions for insect control

Check out the comments for more ways you can help re-glow and re-grow the firefly population.

Photo courtesy of Jessica Lucia (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Love 'em or hate 'em, it's rabbit counting season!
https://www.nhrabbitreports.org/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3tWxekZlZ0z3A6vvzw3TCSO5OynimVtssWqSDNz4nkhDE-PHhrcMlektI_aem_Aeh2MVRWKF8tYnsuIlFbacTn_C242DCIHHhbTeY-ptFCOFNQQK1lwUSAc5s_QHMPTDa8mYOD5hE81jkyaLUflt9s

NH Rabbit Reports | University of New Hampshire NH Rabbit Reports project, developed through a partnership between UNH Cooperative Extension and NH Fish and Game Department, uses citizens to collect data and report sightings of rabbit and hare species across New Hampshire.

These are always so cool to see. Check out the programs at the center too!

The first horseshoe crabs of the season at the Discovery Center property ❤️

Farmers' Markets are opening across the state and our annual directory is now online. Check it out to find local markets and support New Hampshire farmers:https://www.agriculture.nh.gov/publications-forms/documents/farmers-market-directory.pdf

2024 Alewife Festival | Town of Exeter New Hampshire Official Website

Share and be aware!

Keep this in mind as you are out and about… 🦃 (thanks, Granite State Dog Recovery)

Save the Dates! Conservation Commissioners and other town volunteers are invited to join Taking Action for Wildlife for a webinar series focused on wildlife and habitat conservation. This four-part series will provide participants with information and resources related to conservation actions they can take for wildlife in New Hampshire. Presenters will include wildlife professionals from UNH Extension, NH Fish & Game Department, NH Association of Conservation Commissions, and Moosewood Ecological.
Community Conservation for Wildlife
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 – 4:00-5:15pm
Land-Use Planning for Wildlife
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 – 4:00-5:15pm
Wetlands for Wildlife
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 – 4:00-5:15pm
Town Lands for Wildlife
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 – 4:00-5:15pm
Following the series, the Taking Action for Wildlife team will provide direct assistance developing and implementing a project to benefit wildlife and habitats to a handful of communities. Preference will be given to communities that participate in one or more webinars in the series and that have a defined project goal.
For more info, visit https://www.takingactionforwildlife.org/resources/community-assistance.
NH Fish and Game New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions

Every recycling effort helps! And Lego makes it easy to do!💚