Leonard Preserve Tour
Online/Virtual
Saturday, Sept. 26 at 1pm
At the Leonard Preserve
North Union Street
Manchester
The Leonard Preserve is the largest natural area in the County's system of NAPP preserves, 259 acres that protect nearly one mile of River Raisin shoreline. Located just northwest of the Village of Manchester, this rich and diverse?landscape includes rolling hills, woodlands, wetlands, prairie and former pasture land.? The diversity of habitats makes for very good wildlife viewing.? Wood ducks, coyotes, blue racers, and Blanding?s turtles are some of the animals you may see at this preserve.?
Jacqueline Courteau will be leading our tour focusing on her research showing the impact of the local deer population on these diverse landscapes. (See the attached photo for her work using deer exclosures which is a way of measuring the impact of deer browse.) The very diversity which was the basic reason for the purchase of these lands is being eaten away year by year. Habitat for a complex network of species is being reduced. If you take a look at the browse line of the trees, you can see as well how the deer are destroying their winter food supply. Come and hear from a scientist what these impacts are.
Hope to see you there. We will be meeting in the parking lot at 1pm.