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The Fight Goes On, and the News is Good!

By on September 26, 2013 in Campaign Updates, Featured on Homepage, Nature & Wildlife, Oakland Politics
Delivering the petition to the Director of the Department of Fish and Game

Delivering the petition to the Director of the Department of Fish and Game

Petition Delivered: Thanks to all of you who helped us get more than 2100 signatures on our petition urging the US Fish & Wildlife Service to deny regulatory permits for the expansion project. The petitions were delivered to their offices in Sacramento (with copies to the state Fish and Wildlife agency as well) last week (photos of our dedicated volunteers delivering them are on our website HERE). Now we have to wait and see. But the best thing was hearing so many messages of support. The petition is still open for additional signatures, so if you missed signing it, please do so at https://www.change.org/petitions/save-knowland-park-protect-oakland-s-largest-wildland-park-from-a-destructive-development

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Alert – Sign the Online Petition on Change.org!

By on June 13, 2013 in Campaign Updates, Featured on Homepage, Nature & Wildlife, Oakland Politics
Knowland Park from above, © 2013 Steve Whittaker

Knowland Park from above
© 2013 Steve Whittaker

ACTION ALERT!

As you know, the zoo can’t start the bulldozers until they obtain special “incidental take” permits from state and federal wildlife regulatory agencies to allow them to “accidentally” kill threatened Alameda Whipsnakes during construction.

Through our public records act requests, we have learned that the zoo continues to deny the existence of the special maritime chaparral community that provides habitat for the whipsnake – and that they are claiming the removal of parts of the chaparral will actually BENEFIT the snake. But a new report by Dr Shawn Smallwood, a wildlife biologist with a PhD in ecology who is a researcher at UC Davis, suggests this claim is based on no scientific evidence whatsoever – and concludes that: “given the extremely limited distribution of Alameda whipsnake and the permanent constraints imposed on the whipsnake’s capacity to expand (i.e., recover) via habitat restoration or habitat enhancement due to human encroachment, the loss of any additional habitat could appreciably diminish the whipsnake’s chance of survival and recovery.” The clock is running – a decision must be made by early September. Continue Reading →

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A Taste of the Wild

By on December 10, 2012 in Nature & Wildlife, Personal Journals

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) in Knowland Park. Photo by Christian Naventi.

Photographer and teacher, Christian Naventi, has a special talent for bringing animals in the wild closer to the children he teaches through his use of critter cameras.  With photos and videos, he’s able to capture brief moments of animals in their natural state as they pass his cameras.  Christian has developed a deep love for Knowland Park and has shared his talents with us to help us reveal the sometimes hidden beauty of Knowland Park.  Unlike animals in captivity, wild animals are shy and reluctant to expose themselves to the danger we humans pose.   Knowland Park is habitat for many species of wild animals that must share the park with us but often remain carefully hidden out of sight.

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Wild Animals of the Maritime Chaparral in Knowland Park

By on November 6, 2012 in Nature & Wildlife, Photos

DSC01780Over a period of several weeks, teacher and photographer Christian Naventi took a series of photos of a few of the species of wildlife from within the rare maritime chaparral.  This area would be fenced off if the Oakland Zoo succeeds in building its proposed expansion.  Setting up a camera along a trail, he was able to capture species that use the area to forage, hunt, and mark their territories.

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Event: SUDDEN OAK DEATH (SOD) BLITZ 2012 Training Meeting at Knowland Park — October 6

By on September 19, 2012 in Nature & Wildlife

Sudden Oak Death Infected Leaf source: Wikipedia Commons

SUDDEN OAK DEATH FIELD TREATMENT WORKSHOPS

Attend a 2-hour field treatment session offered by Dr. Matteo Garbelotto, UCCE Specialist in Forest Pathology and Mycology, UC Berkelely,  and learn about methods aimed at the prevention and spread of Sudden Oak Death.  Dr. Garbelotto will cover the latest information on SOD, integrated pest management approaches to help manage SOD, selection of ideal candidate trees for treatment, when and how to treat trees, as well as fire issues, including how and when to protect your home from SOD-related risk, when to perform yard work such as pruning so as not to increase the risk of infection, and how to safely dispose of infected plant material.

In order for treatments to be effective, a number of factors need to be considered.  Dr. Garbelotto will address these factors and demonstrate application techniques in an outdoor setting.

See below for info regarding an upcoming treatment workshop at Knowland Park

 

FIELD TREATMENT WORKSHOP AT KNOWLAND PARK

Saturday, October 6, 2 pm.  Knowland Park:  Oakland.  Contact Laura Baker – lbake66@aol.com   Map Link.

Registration: This workshop is FREE, but registration is required. To register, email your name, and affiliation (if applicable) Register by Email or call 510-847-5482.

Further details and information can be found at www.matteolab.com

Dr. Garbelotto recommends that you attend the results meeting (below) prior to the field meeting.

 

EAST BAY (BERKELEY/OAKLAND/ORINDA)SOD BLITZ RESULTS MEETING

Date:  Thursday, October 4, 2012           Time:  6-7pm

Where:  159 Mulford Hall, UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA.

Come hear the results from the SOD Blitz from April, 2012.  The meeting will last about one hour and will include:  1) the results of SOD Blitz testing in our local communities 2) The latest information and recommendations for SOD management.  3) Treatment options and strategies for your area.   You will also learn about the SODMAP, the most comprehensive map of SOD in North America showing the spread of the Sudden Oak Death pathogen.

Details and further information can be be found at www.matteolab.com, or contact Shelagh Brodersen garberparkstewards@gmail.com.

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