(Photo: Lauren Padgett, DNR) I learned that creating a pile can help wildlife thrive by giving them a safe place to hide from predators. (Photo: Lauren Padgett, DNR) The workshop included a demo on nest boxes (Photo: Lauren Padgett, DNR) This wildlife habitat workshop was held in partnership with WSU Extension Forestry and DNR. Landowner Tricia Otto hosted an open house to show off how she makes her property wildlife-friendly. Some woodpeckers even stopped by for a snack or two during the presentation. Otto also has nest boxes for birds of all sizes. She has outfitted her barn with bat-friendly roost sties and crevices. Otto says she started out as a bird-watching enthusiast, and later became fascinated with native species. It’s a place she has lovingly nurtured for decades as a place for native species to thrive. It took place at the home of Tricia Otto – a landowner in Bellingham who graciously led us on a tour of her property, along with her dog, Joya. I am new to the communications team for the Department of Natural Resources, so when I got the opportunity to join wildlife biologist Ken Bevis for a habitat workshop featuring native bird and bat species, I couldn’t resist.Īround 20 people attended the workshop hosted by Molly Darr from WSU Extension Forestry, along with forestry experts from DNR. How to Replace Garage Door Weather Strippingīy Lauren Padgett, Communications Manager, Washington State Department of Natural Resources Homeowner Tricia Otto and DNR wildlife biologist Ken Bevis host a wildlife habitat workshop in Belllingham, with WSU’s Extension Forestry program. This is often overlooked for weatherization but there are frequently air leaks around the garage door from the sides or bottom. Replacing the weather stripping is a fairly easy process and the supplies can be found at your local hardware store or online. Below, I’ve shared several links and some guidance on areas you should focus on to weatherize your home for this winter and prevent embers from entering next summer. YouTube is a great resource on getting tips and learning how to winterize your home. If you feel cold air coming into your home during the winter, in the summer that air could be carrying embers. You can reduce your heating bill and improve your ember resistance with simple weatherization practices, killing two birds with one stone! Taking steps to prevent these embers from landing on something they can ignite or getting into your structure will reduce the risk of losing your home.Įmber safety and home weatherization have significant overlap. Research has shown most homes are lost due to contact with embers, not a flame front as most would expect. Embers can travel over a mile and can easily ignite your home when they land if the proper precautions aren’t taken. Winter can be a great time to prepare for the next fire season, particularly focusing on improvements around the house. By Guy Gifford, Community Resiliency Assistant Division Manager, Department of Natural Resources season may be coming to close but, as most forest owners know, that means the work is just beginning.
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