Site Will Open as Limited-Use Wildlife Management Area; House Region’s First Dedicated Wildlife Center
(Bel Air, MD) – – Susquehannock Wildlife Society has partnered with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for management of a newly acquired Harford County property, to protect and enhance the sensitive habitat and begin work on what will become the region’s first dedicated wildlife center.
The property – now officially known as the Hopkins Branch Wildlife Management Area (WMA) – was purchased by the state of Maryland this spring through Program Open Space funding. In an effort to alleviate manpower and maintenance costs for the state, DNR entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with Susquehannock Wildlife Society to oversee year-round maintenance of the property and structures.
The site is bisected by an important tributary of Deer Creek, contains vernal pool, open meadow, woodland, and wetland ecosystems, and provides habitat to numerous species of wildlife, including the rare and declining state insect, the Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly.
At Hopkins Branch WMA, Susquehannock Wildlife Society will protect threatened habitat, monitor and enhance existing natural attributes, use the property to provide wildlife interpretation and education to the public, and conduct native wildlife rescue and rehabilitation operations.
An existing house and barn on the site will be renovated and converted by Susquehannock Wildlife Society into a first-of-its-kind local wildlife center and rescue and rehabilitation facility. Within the wildlife center, visitors will be educated and entertained by museum-quality displays, hands-on activities, and live-animal education ambassadors. Having a permanent facility will also allow Susquehannock Wildlife Society to expand its already active and successful wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts – offering space for licensed wildlife rehabbers to care for and house local injured and orphaned animals until they can be released back into the wild.
Once open to the public, visitors will be able to hike more than a mile of trails along a creek, past a pond, and through meadow and woodland; offering excellent bird- and wildlife-watching opportunities and scenic views of the countryside.
With this announcement comes a direct appeal from Susquehannock Wildlife Society to the public in search of funding and donations to support the maintenance and operation of the wildlife center as well our existing education and conservation endeavors. Susquehannock Wildlife Society is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and your contribution is a fully tax deductible donation. You may send a check or donate securely online through our website.
For more information about this or other local wildlife issues, contact the Susquehannock Wildlife Society at 443-333-WILD (-9453) or visit our web site at http://www.suskywildlife.org
