Our September meeting featured a video conference with
Theresa Gallagher, Natural Resource Manager for the City of Shelton.

Theresa shared with us information about the 30 miles of marked
hiking trails in Shelton. Trails are created and maintained by volunteers.

These trails include:
Shelton Riverwalk, Shelton Lakes Recreation Path, Shelton Lakes Greenway Trail Network, Gristmill Trail on the Far Mill River, Boehm Pond Trails, Means Brook Greenway, Tahmore Trail & Indian Well S.P., The Bluff Walk (Riverview Trail),
and the Paugussett (“Blue Dot”) Trail.

To learn more about the Shelton Conservation Commission visit their website at:

http://sheltonconservation.org/recreation/shelton_trails.html

Alex Goetz

What’s the difference between an opossum and a possum? Are opossums really disease-driven?   The myths and misconceptions about the misunderstood opossum with wildlife filmmaker Alex Goetz.

At our September meeting we had a video presentation of  “Mythbusting Opossum Facts: Backyard Nature” from the PBS Nature series narrated by Wildlife photographer and Filmmaker Alex Goetz.

Opossums have a bad reputation

What’s the difference between an opossum and a possum? Are opossums really disease-driven? Some misconceptions:

1. It is ‘opossum’ and not ‘possum’                                                                               Possums live in Australia and are closely related to kangaroos.

2. People considered them a nuisance animal but they provide important ecological benefits to humans by eating anything from plants, fruits, nuts, small animals and road kill.  They also eat ticks, up to 5,000 a year.

3. Opossums are disease ridden or have rabies
It is rare for opossums to have rabies since they have a low body temperature and
are unsuitable for rabies.