Wildlife

The Maryland Federal Junior Duck Stamp traveling exhibit will be on display at the Visitor Welcome Center in downtown Hagerstown until Aug. 25. The best of show, first, second, and third place winning artwork will be on tour throughout the state of Maryland until November. Hundreds of Maryland students each year participate in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program. The four grade categories are K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Artwork is judged in its category by a panel of local wildlife and art experts.

Every year, the state agencies send out press releases asking outdoors writers to remind folks to leave young wildlife alone. With more and more people out enjoying the nice weather, encounters between wildlife and humans are more common. The typical reaction when finding a baby animal is to assume that it has been abandoned its mother. In most cases, it is an example of the way that nature protects the baby. Many people do not know that a baby fawn spends most of its time alone the first few days of its life.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - An injured deer was chased through downtown Chambersburg Thursday morning, but efforts to save the animal were unsuccessful. The first call to the 911 center was at 8:13 a.m. from a person who reported a deer in their backyard in the 300 block of South Second Street, a 911 dispatcher said. Several other calls came in as people reported seeing the doe at Southgate Mall and in the F&M Trust parking lot across the street from the Franklin County Courthouse, where several Franklin County Sheriff's deputies tried to corral the deer.

The 2008 Washington County Envirothon was held March 26 at the Fairview Outdoor Education Center. Nine teams from Boonsboro, Clear Spring and North Hagerstown as well as representatives from the Log Cabin Learning Program for home-schooled students were on hand for the competition. Students were tested with hands-on activities in soil science, aquatics, forestry, wildlife and preserving cultural resources. Banners for the top score in each area of study were presented along with a framed wildlife print for school display for the top three scores overall.

A team from Clear Spring High School won the 2006 Washington County Envirothon held recently. The Clear Spring Trail Blazers not only took top prize, but also earned top honors in Aquatics, Soils, Wildlife and Water Stewardship. The team will travel to the Maryland State Envirothon competition at the Schmidt center in Prince George's County June 20 through 22. Team members Rebecca Funk, Sondra Lavigne, Derek Hanes, Hannah Smith and Katrina Hendershot spent many hours preparing for the event.

Three $1,000 scholarships were awarded at the Washington County Teachers Association's annual business meeting May 21 in the North Hagerstown High School media center. They are: · Katherine Farr, Boonsboro High School, daughter of WCTA member Jeff Farr. Katherine has been accepted at Brigham Young University, where she will major in plant and wildlife studies, and journalism/English. · Ian Whibley, Berkeley Springs (W.Va.) High School, the son of WCTA member Debbie Blackwell.

HAGERSTOWN -- Nearly 20 residents living in the Mills Park area attended a Hagerstown City Council meeting Tuesday to oppose a proposal that would allow hiking trails to be built in their neighborhood. Belview Avenue resident Webster Harbaugh said his street is fairly quiet, with the exception of events at Mike Callas Stadium. He said he was concerned that bringing more foot traffic to the area would decrease his property value. "Nobody wants it," Harbaugh said. Other residents said the trails would drive away wildlife and cause basements to flood by removing existing trees that absorb water.

Teach conservation To the editor: Every summer near the Grand Tetons outside of Jackson, Wyo., and also near Bryant Pond, Maine, hundreds of teachers and high school students enjoy an outstanding educational program. The fun and unique experience creates memories to last a lifetime, while instilling a profound appreciation of wildlife and the great outdoors. I am referring to the SCI Foundation's American Wilderness Leadership School that for many is the ultimate summer vacation.

The Antietam Creek Watershed Alliance will host the following speakers at Funkstown Town Hall, 30 E. Baltimore St. The events are free and open to the public: • Thursday, May 16  - “Recreational Fishing Opportunities on the Antietam;” learn about fishing by wading or by boat on Antietam Creek; presented by Mike Dudash, environmental educator from River and Trail Outfitters; 7 p.m. • Thursday, June 13 - “Becoming Bay-Wise: Creating Healthy,...