Today on “The Morning Show” Ethical Wildlife Watching with Refuge Manager Matt Hillman
December 19, 2024This Week on “The Morning Show”
Ethical Wildlife Watching with
Refuge Manager Matt Hillman
One of the great benefits and pleasures of living in Greater Newburyport is our proximity to the wonders and glories of the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge — a place where we can enjoy watching animals in their natural habitats — habitats which are preserved on the Refuge for the animals’ safety and survival. Our challenge and mission is to ensure that while we enjoy viewing these amazing animals, we do our part to ensure their safety. To that end, this week I welcome Matt Hillman, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge Manager, to talk about ethical wildlife watching, an issue that raises heightened concern with the annual return of snowy owls to the Refuge.
Matt will explain what draws snowy owls to the Refuge in the winter, what makes them charismatic to people, and what safe and ethical guidelines are for observing them, including keeping at least 100 yards away at all times. He will explain the invisible but significant harm the animals experience from too close or prolonged encounters with humans.
Some human interactions with wildlife are also illegal, and Matt will spell out why such behaviors as feeding wildlife and flushing, harassing, or playing recorded calls are against the law.
For information on how to support the safety of snowy owls or to report wildlife crime, visit https://www.fws.gov/story/2024-11/support-snowy-owls-respecting-their-space
How to Find “The Morning Show”
Broadcast at 9 AM on Thursday on WJOP (FM 96.3), and on Channel 9
After Broadcast:
Visit http://www.NCMHub.org, click YouTube, then Playlist & scroll down to the “Morning Show”; or
Listen on WJOP (FM 96.3) on Friday at 8 AM, or the following Tues. 4 p.m. or Wed, at 3 p.m.
Listen on the Sound Cloud; Go to NCMHub.org and click on the Cloud, then scroll down.
Thanks for watching!
