2020 National Wildlife Week - Ideas to Combat Stress

With the first week of April now in the rearview mirror, the transformation of daily life in the Lowcountry continues. Farmers are busy prepping and planting their fields pretty much on schedule. Golf fans looking to watch every minute of the annual pageantry of The Masters tournament this week are out of luck. For most folks, looking out into your backyard is becoming the new norm, and National Wildlife Week from April 6 – 10 is a great way to participate in social distancing and embrace the outdoors.

            

The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) sponsors this week long event for anyone to enjoy, especially by making photos and sharing. Upload your photos on FaceBook at #MyWildlifeChallenge to join the fun and perhaps to win a prize. If you get a particularly pretty picture, anyone can enter their annual wildlife photo contest. NWF offers an online wildlife quiz regarding migratory birds that I find to be filled with good knowledge, especially since it encompasses birds from all across North America. Other topics they cover include everything from gardening tips to creating living shorelines to protect habitat from sea level rise.

Monarch Butterfly Photo By National Wildlife Federation

New for 2020, Kershaw County democratic senator Vincent Sheheen introduced the South Carolina Thirty-By-Thirty Conservation Act. Only about 15-percent of S.C. land is currently protected by state ownership, or by land trusts and other conservation tools. The new bill sets a goal of raising that stake to 30-percent of S.C. lands by the year 2030, and is currently pending in the Senate Agricultural and Natural Resources Committee. 

Also new for 2020, Georgetown County republican senator Stephen Goldfinch introduced the S.C. Resiliency Revolving Fund Act to address the problem of repeat flooding events in low-lying areas. This bill would create funds to purchase flood-prone properties from homeowners willing to relocate, thus ending the cycle. This bill will dovetail with the concept of disaster relief assistance, hazard mitigation and infrastructure improvements that already has the support of senate Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith of Sumter County.

To read the entire feature article in the newspaper click on Colletonian.

To view past Field Notes and Photos click on March 2020 - June 2019 - July 2018 - February 2018 -  December 2017 - September 2017 - January 2017- December 2016 - June 2016 - February 2016- December 2015 - October 2015 - September 2015 - August 2015 - July 2015 - June 2015 - February 2105 - October 2014 -  September 2014 - August 2014 - June 2014 - March 2012 - February 2012 - October 2011 - September 2011