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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260411T093000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260411T120000
DTSTAMP:20260605T062307
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SUMMARY:Making Way for Wildlife: Reconnecting Nature Across Our Landscapes
DESCRIPTION:La traducción simultánea estará disponible en el evento. \nSome 40 million miles of roadways encircle the earth\, yet we tend to regard them only as infrastructure for human convenience. From frogs and turtles to bears and bobcats\, more than a million animals are killed on roads every day in the U.S. alone. Creatures from antelope to salmon are losing their ability to migrate in search of food and mates\, and the very noise of traffic chases songbirds from vast swaths of habitat. \nToday\, road ecologists are seeking to blunt that destruction through innovative solutions. Conservationists are building bridges for mountain lions and tunnels for toads\, engineers are deconstructing the labyrinth of logging roads that web national forests\, and community organizers are working to undo the havoc highways have wreaked upon American cities. \nJoin Berkshire Environmental Action Team (BEAT) for an engaging and enlightening event exploring road ecology and wildlife connectivity\, featuring two nationally recognized leaders in the field. \nDr. Patricia Cramer will share an overview of how communities across the U.S. are working to reconnect wildlife habitats across roads\, from science to emerging transportation policy. She’ll discuss what’s coming in the 2026 Transportation Act\, the potential for a new Wildlife Road Crossing Program\, and offer a closer look at the Massachusetts State Wildlife and Transportation Plan (SWTAP)\, which she helped develop. Dr. Cramer will also explore how this plan can be put into action here in Western Massachusetts. \nBen Goldfarb\, award-winning environmental journalist and author\, will join us virtually to take us on a journey into the hidden world of road ecology. While roads often fade into the background of our daily lives\, wildlife experiences them as forces of disruption and danger. Ben will explore how transportation infrastructure impacts animals and ecosystems\, and highlight how we can create a better\, safer world for all living beings. \nIn addition to the talks\, this event will feature: \n\nA hands-on stream table demonstration showing how water\, land\, and infrastructure interact\nPartner organizations tabling—offering opportunities to learn more\, ask questions\, and get involved locally\n\nWhether you’re a wildlife lover\, transportation enthusiast\, or someone who’s just started noticing animals along the roadside\, this event offers a look at how smarter road design can create safer\, healthier landscapes for both wildlife and people. \nDATE: Saturday\, April 11 \nTIME: 9:30 AM to Noon \nLOCATION: Berkshire Community College (BCC)\, 1350 West St\, Pittsfield\, MA \nREGISTER HERE \n\nABOUT THE SPEAKERS \nDr. Patricia Cramer is the nation’s leader in wildlife connectivity across transportation. She is the founder and director of The Wildlife Connectivity Institute. This non-profit focuses on restoring and protecting wildlife connectivity across landscapes and roads. Through science and education\, her work helps states identify where to mitigate roads for all kinds of wildlife\, and to build the most effective wildlife crossing structures. She has conducted studies for 15 departments of transportation\, including MassDOT\, and monitored over 100 wildlife crossing structures. She has received awards from the Federal Highway Administration\, the Utah Department of Transportation\, the Utah Wildlife Society\, the Denver Zoo\, and others. \nBen Goldfarb is an environmental journalist whose work has appeared in National Geographic\, The Atlantic\, Smithsonian Magazine\, The New Yorker\, and many other publications\, and has several times been anthologized in the Best American Science & Nature Writing. His most recent book\, Crossings: How Road Ecology Is Shaping the Future of Our Planet\, was named one of the best books of 2023 by The New York Times and received the Rachel Carson Award for Excellence in Environmental Writing and the Banff Book Competition’s Grand Prize. His previous book\, Eager: The Surprising\, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter\, won the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award. He lives in Colorado with his wife\, his daughter\, and his dog\, Kit — which is\, of course\, what you call a baby beaver. \nThis event is presented in partnership with Berkshire Community College (BCC)\, with support from The Nature Conservancy\, Housatonic Heritage\, Housatonic Valley Association (HVA)\, Greenagers\, The Conway School\, Wild & Scenic Westfield River\, and Berkshire Regional Planning Commission (BRPC).
URL:https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/event/making-way-for-wildlife-reconnecting-nature-across-our-landscapes/
LOCATION:Berkshire Community College\, 1350 West St.\, Pittsfield\, MA
CATEGORIES:BEAT Events,Biodiversity,Community Events,Fish,Land Protection,Legislation,Natural History,Networking,Talks,Wildlife,Wildlife Tracking
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Making-Way-for-Wildlife-eventbrite-2160-x-1080-px.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Berkshire Environmental Action Team":MAILTO:team@thebeatnews.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T180000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260211T190000
DTSTAMP:20260605T062307
CREATED:20260121T173340Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260211T211948Z
UID:10005184-1770832800-1770836400@www.thebeatnews.org
SUMMARY:Berkshire Green Drinks: "Rescuing Wildlife: When and How to Help Wild Animals" with Judy Pasko of Cummington Wildlife\, Inc.
DESCRIPTION:*Please note: this event is now online only\, there will be no in-person gathering* \nJoin BEAT for the February 2026 Berkshire Green Drinks featuring Judy Pasko\, a longtime wildlife rehabilitator and founder of Cummington Wildlife\, Inc. \nJudy has been rehabilitating wildlife since 2006 and holds both state and federal permits\, with a focus on rabbits\, songbirds\, and merganser ducklings. She has helped revise Massachusetts’ wildlife rehabilitation exam and study guide and mentors aspiring rehabilitators through statewide training seminars. Judy will share insights from years of hands-on wildlife care and what it takes to support this critical work across the region. \nDATE: Wednesday\, February 11 \nTIME: 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM \nLOCATION: Online via Zoom \nClick here to register (Registration is required to receive the Zoom link.) \n\nWhat is Berkshire Green Drinks? Berkshire Green Drinks is an informal gathering on the second Wednesday of the month that is free and open to everyone with any environmental interest. A guest speaker talks about an environmentally-related topic for approximately 30 minutes beginning at 6 PM; the presentation is followed by a discussion and Q&A. The drinks aren’t green but the conversations are. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to join and bring along questions! \nWhat is Green Drinks? Green Drinks is an international forum where people who work in the environmental field and environmental enthusiasts meet for a drink and snacks at informal sessions. There will be a lively mix of people from non-profit organizations\, academia\, government\, business\, and the general public. Green Drinks is a great way of catching up with people you know and for making new contacts. These networking events are very simple and unstructured. Come along\, and you’ll be made welcome.
URL:https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/event/berkshire-green-drinks-february-2026/
LOCATION:Online
CATEGORIES:Action,BEAT Events,Community Events,Green Drinks,Networking,Talks,Wildlife
ORGANIZER;CN="Berkshire Environmental Action Team":MAILTO:team@thebeatnews.org
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220423T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220423T130000
DTSTAMP:20260605T062307
CREATED:20220322T183854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220322T183854Z
UID:10001002-1650708000-1650718800@www.thebeatnews.org
SUMMARY:Vernal Pool Plunge — Training
DESCRIPTION:Saturdays\, April 16 & 23 @ 10:00 AM — 1:00 PM \nHilltown Land Trust is partnering with the Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee to offer their annual Vernal Pool Plunge! This two-day\, in-person training event is open to anyone interested in learning about the ecology of and becoming advocates for vernal pools in Western Massachusetts\, including how to certify vernal pools. \nParticipants should commit to attending both sessions (04/16 and 04/23). This training is aimed at individuals and families (appropriate for anyone 13 and older) looking to understand these small wetlands that may be on their land or in their towns. \nAfter the two in-person field days\, participants will have the opportunity to attend weekly online sessions after April 23rd that delve into the technical side of vernal pool certification. These trainings will guide participants through the process of certifying vernal pools that are not yet certified through the state of Massachusetts. We will go over online resources such as using MassMapper and uploading vernal pool data to the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) site. \nDay 1: We will be seated inside (masks required) for a 1-hour recorded presentation followed by a Q&A with local Naturalist Charley Eiseman. After a short break\, we will move outside to a guided tour by Charley of the vernal pools on the property. We will provide clipboards\, handouts\, and reference materials. Bring waterproof knee-high boots\, comfortable hiking clothing\, bug spray\, water\, snacks\, and any field notebooks you want to use. Be sure to check the weather ahead of time\, as this event will be held rain or shine! \nDay 2: Field day for participants to practice gathering the information required for vernal pool certification. Charley will be there to answer questions\, but attendees will be more independent on this day. Precise location and details will be given at the first day of the event on April 16th. We will provide clipboards\, handouts\, and reference materials. Bring waterproof knee-high boots\, comfortable hiking clothing\, bug spray\, water\, snacks\, and any field notebooks you want to use. Be sure to check the weather ahead of time\, as this event will be held rain or shine! \n  \nRegistration is required. Click here to sign up and learn more.  
URL:https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/event/vernal-pool-plunge-training/2022-04-23/
LOCATION:Multiple Locations Outdoors
CATEGORIES:Amphibians,Community Events,Networking,Trainings,Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2019-Vernal-Pool-Plunge-volunteers-768x576-1.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Hilltown Land Trust":MAILTO:hlt@thetrustees.org
END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20220416T100000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20220416T130000
DTSTAMP:20260605T062307
CREATED:20220322T183854Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20220322T183854Z
UID:10001001-1650103200-1650114000@www.thebeatnews.org
SUMMARY:Vernal Pool Plunge — Training
DESCRIPTION:Saturdays\, April 16 & 23 @ 10:00 AM — 1:00 PM \nHilltown Land Trust is partnering with the Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee to offer their annual Vernal Pool Plunge! This two-day\, in-person training event is open to anyone interested in learning about the ecology of and becoming advocates for vernal pools in Western Massachusetts\, including how to certify vernal pools. \nParticipants should commit to attending both sessions (04/16 and 04/23). This training is aimed at individuals and families (appropriate for anyone 13 and older) looking to understand these small wetlands that may be on their land or in their towns. \nAfter the two in-person field days\, participants will have the opportunity to attend weekly online sessions after April 23rd that delve into the technical side of vernal pool certification. These trainings will guide participants through the process of certifying vernal pools that are not yet certified through the state of Massachusetts. We will go over online resources such as using MassMapper and uploading vernal pool data to the Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program (NHESP) site. \nDay 1: We will be seated inside (masks required) for a 1-hour recorded presentation followed by a Q&A with local Naturalist Charley Eiseman. After a short break\, we will move outside to a guided tour by Charley of the vernal pools on the property. We will provide clipboards\, handouts\, and reference materials. Bring waterproof knee-high boots\, comfortable hiking clothing\, bug spray\, water\, snacks\, and any field notebooks you want to use. Be sure to check the weather ahead of time\, as this event will be held rain or shine! \nDay 2: Field day for participants to practice gathering the information required for vernal pool certification. Charley will be there to answer questions\, but attendees will be more independent on this day. Precise location and details will be given at the first day of the event on April 16th. We will provide clipboards\, handouts\, and reference materials. Bring waterproof knee-high boots\, comfortable hiking clothing\, bug spray\, water\, snacks\, and any field notebooks you want to use. Be sure to check the weather ahead of time\, as this event will be held rain or shine! \n  \nRegistration is required. Click here to sign up and learn more.  
URL:https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/event/vernal-pool-plunge-training/2022-04-16/
LOCATION:Multiple Locations Outdoors
CATEGORIES:Amphibians,Community Events,Networking,Trainings,Workshops
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.thebeatnews.org/BeatTeam/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2019-Vernal-Pool-Plunge-volunteers-768x576-1.jpeg
ORGANIZER;CN="Hilltown Land Trust":MAILTO:hlt@thetrustees.org
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