Outdoors Maryland; 810

Funding for this edition of outdoors in Maryland is provided in part by the Chesapeake Bay Trust which invites grant proposals from schools and community groups for planting projects that benefit the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries coming up stalking the elusive Wildcats of Maryland's Western Not you from TV. Why are best not to clean up the Chesapeake Bay isn't high tech science but some simple stream really. And a visit to some of Maryland's most mutable spots. To commune with nature. Next. Outdoors Maryland is produced in cooperation with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources DNR inspired by nature. With.

The mountains and valleys of Western Maryland are home to one of the most mysterious shadows of the back. There's a lot of connotations and images that are brought forth when you think about the kingly cat or the regal cat in typically thought of as a backwoods wilderness. So there are a lot of positive feelings that go along with knowing that you have cats in your area. Bobcat populations are doing surprisingly well in Maryland we have viable populations and Garrett and Allegany in parts of Washington County and we have scattered pockets of bobcats and civil habitat. As far east word of Washington Beltway and north of Baltimore. For Robert Carlin a project biologist with the Department of Natural Resources tracking the notoriously elusive bobcat is simply a matter of knowing what to look for

and where. Bobcat for nocturnal there normally are only active at 9 or after dark. They're very secretive. They move very slowly. They are solitary animals and all these things combined to make them very hard visually to see people that spend a lifetime in the woods and they only see one or two bobcats. Although Bobcats are seldom seen even in cat territory it's relatively easy to identify whether they're present or absent through looking at the sign and being able to interpret signs and the best places to look for signs are along travel routes where there are edges you know maybe work to Habitat types me or it may be as abrupt as a forcefield border. But all these edges provide travel routes. Animals in the wild don't have energy to waste. So as they're hunting or traveling from hunting areas they will take direct lines as long as appropriate cover is close.

In Deer County where you have extreme temperatures in the winter. Typically have animals. Free habitat types. And one of them is these rhododendrons. When the rhododendrons provide good thermal cover. And when do you listen. For pro species and that's why cats tend to use them in the wintertime. Yellow have had played for the. Coniferous stance. If you look here. Along this fall and Tambor. You can see it provides good habitat for a lot of small mammals different rodents and you see some tracks in the snow. These mice and small rodents in term provide a good ready food source for a lot of predators. Cat fish are. These look like they may be cat tracks tracks. Another predator that uses the same habitat types whose.

Bobcats do in Western Maryland that's a grey fox. Look here there's a double double strike. That was the one that looked from a distance like a cat track because it's so big. And it was around it. It's where. The gray fox step with its front foot first and its hind foot came and hit the back of. Trucks up here. Where the raccoon foots a little bit warmer than the snow had melted it and the tracks are still wet. Here's another set of tracks. They appear to be a bobcat. There are a little bit larger and rounder than the gray fox tracks we saw before. And the toes appear to be larger. Which is also indicative of bobcats. You know I can't tell

for certain in this substrate but that's what they appear to be I have to look out farther and see if we find another example. There's a set of tracks down on this outcry and by the size of the track and the spacing between tracks it's a big animal. And will tell for sure until I get down closer. And see these tracks are much larger. Than the Grey Fox trucks we looked at a little earlier today. And the tracks themselves were made in the old snow hits. We've got a skiffle snow today and it's partially filled in the old tracks but by the size of them what they're sure how they're shaped around in the spacing the distance between them as well as what the animal had to climb up to what was going

down into. There's only one animal that would do that here and that would be a bobcat. The only other animal. In this part of your county that. Would leave that large of a track. Would be a coyote. But it would be oblong. And coyotes aren't found climbing up and down through holes in these cliffs. There you go. There's a piece of cat that. Defended him and that is a cat track because here is a key piece of cat fur. If you notice it's a Tony Brown with a couple black bands and if you look at a bobcat overall that's a coloration no have a tawny base for with some black mans and. Bobcats have typical feline features.

With the exception of a long tail they have a bob tail that has bands along the bottom over hence the name bobcat. They have little and they have a white spot on the back of their ears and we've found through a lot of species those spots are supposed to be on the back of their ears and that wards off predators that may come in from the back. There are fairly blocky cat stocking blocking cat Bobcats range in size from 15 pounds to some super large males may exceed 30 pounds. They're primarily a predator a true carnivore they feed almost exclusively on animal matter and utilize throughout their range. A lot of different habitat in the heavily wooded areas in Garrett County transmission lines and gas lines are a real good travel route if you have long contiguous areas that provide easy travel to the bobcat.

But at the same time they're close to good hunting cover and good excuse cover. There's a volcano. If you look it's splayed out next round you have a much larger transverse Ridge or a back to the toes are much larger There is no toenail marks and they're splayed apart and over all you can see it's real round in appearance or canine traction more ovoid and their toes are held close. And this track isn't very old at all it was either late last night or early this morning. The snow started to melt and it hasn't lost its contours So it's it's real recent. We have another fairly.

Easily distinguishable type of sign here and that's in all probability the CAT scan. Cat Scan tends to be very blunt and segment with blunt ends and by the shape of the gap. In the volume of it. I can say with a fair degree of certainty that a bobcat. And. It's found in an area that is typical of really good wondering habitat for bob cat in western Maryland you have a hardwood can differ for 30 feet and therefore you have a good component for conifer. A lot of different Harwood tree and SAP and Fifi and all of these have associated prey species that feed off of. And hence you find a lot of bobcats and other predators in. A relatively short period of time. Real benefit quite a bit of a bobcat. And that's really indicative of what our population is growing on me and I feel real secure in the future about the field will be here for my children's

generation. It would be hard to imagine life without trees and forests and probably would not be possible because they give us so much. They are key to our survival they are key to the survival of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. They provide us with a new mobile benefits wildlife clean air clean water. Wood for houses for paper for recreational and aesthetic enjoyment. Our goal is to create a sustainable force that can meet all of the needs of our. As we approach the year 2000 but also have forces that are resilient enough to withstand the things that both man and nature bring on them at times. Will Williams is a forester with the Department of Natural Resources Forest Service in southern Maryland. For years he's been studying trees examining the beneficial effects on Maryland's want to ways for many many years I have old literature in my office from back

around the 1920s that talks about how great an idea it is to plant trees along streams. Back then all we knew about trees was that they kept the streams cool so species of trout and different things could live in a cooler water. Nowadays technology has shown us that the benefits of establishing right Parian forest buffers are the cheapest most cost effective. Far reaching thing we can do in terms of protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Riparian forest buffers are clusters of trees that go along streams rivers and creeks for Marylanders their greatest benefit is reducing pollution in the Chesapeake Bay want to ship. However housing development and our industrial need for wood have decreased the number of buffers along these waterways to remedy this problem the state of Maryland established in 1996 the stream Relief Program. Its goal to establish 600 miles of riparian buffers by the year 2010. This ripe area in force buffer is what the stream relief program is all about. This wonderful

mat of organic material that's growing here next to the spring and what it has in it is rotten leaves rotten logs all sorts of a broad network of roots and sticks and things like that. And what this is doing is filtering out nutrients before it reaches the water. It's softening the impact of raindrops as they fall to the fourth floor and preventing erosion and runoff and acting as nature sponge to retain the water and keep it in the ground and allowing these tree roots to do some new nutrient uptake and take all the stuff that we put on our crops in our lawns up into the trees and store it and convert it into a much more environmentally friendly substance that the trees can benefit from. While the stream relief program primarily focuses on reforestation efforts through tree planning the Department of Natural Resources also works cooperatively with farmers and landowners to harvest timber promoting new growth on the harvest site. This site illustrates a good use of a rod Parian force buffer in the distance this area was

harvested about a year ago. Looking at my feet what I can see is the new generation of forest coming up and it's very important for sites like this the forest products industry is the fifth largest industry in Maryland we all need forest products in order to carry out our daily lives. Areas like this in another 15 to 20 to 30 years will be another forest mature providing all the benefits to not only that Stream but the wildlife water and air quality that we're looking for in supporting the stream Relief Program. Reforestation efforts along streams are essential in ensuring the health of the Chesapeake Bay heeded these efforts our community involvement in rural and urban areas tremendous Maryland as one state program dedicated to the preservation and planting of trees in urban communities. He the thing that makes a tremendous Maryland program work its citizen volunteers becoming activists in their own community going out planting these trees getting their neighbors excited about planting trees and also educating people about the benefits of trees in urban areas. It's been a wonderful program we planted tens of thousands of trees across Maryland

throughout the last several years and I see no end in sight I think there's unlimited potential as long as people are excited about planting trees and helping in their neighborhoods grassroots effort. It will always be successful. We're planning on playing about a hundred people in the little bear come out here today. Amy West and her classmates are just a few of the many students from five area schools in Dundalk who contributed to a tree planning it bears three. Donald outon is with the Department of Environmental Planning and management for the state of Maryland. He's one of the organizers of the Bear Creek planting. This project today. This is made possible by the Department of Natural Resources which a state agency the county forestry board five schools

several county agencies. And we got the trees of the county paid for the trees through the tremendous Maryland program which provides trees for planning a public open spaces and in the community areas. So a lot of people contributed to this project today. How many trees were dead. Three hundred which is this is a large plant. All along Bear Creek from up at this end of the school all the way down through Bear Creek Elementary. We've generated a tremendous amount of enthusiasm both from the school area from the parks. And also from the local community Mel Nolan of the Baltimore County forestry board is the project coordinator in America planning. He believes that planting trees in urban areas is essential to the future of the bay. No matter where you live you live in a watershed. So the water that runs off your property runs into the Chesapeake Bay whether it runs off of the sidewalk or runs off your lawn and runs into the gutter into storm drain and gets into the Chesapeake Bay. So if

we can stop that water from running off to your property and be absorbed into the ground through the planting of trees then we're helping out the Chesapeake Bay. If you take the houses like we have across the street here these townhouses if each house has a tree planted in front of the house that would be doing the actual And job of cooling the neighborhood. From urban centers to rural areas more citizens are recognizing the need for trees. Lucy Wright in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is creating a ripe area and buffer around the creek on our farm. She is joined in this venture by her husband Vernon and a coalition of volunteers from her neighborhood a local corporation the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Department of Natural Resources. I really want to welcome each and every one of you to this farm of Vernon's and mine and to say to you that I hope this is not the last time you will be here I hope it's simply the first that you are very welcome to come back to see the trees that you have

planted to visit bring your children to the retreat planning team is headed by Gen. Hicks habitat restoration trainer with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. You may not see it right now but beyond this brush here is a creek and we have a name for that creek. It's Walker from Walker's run. The reason why we care about Walker's runner what clothes and walkers run because eventually the walkers run clothes into the gunpowder and the gunpowder watershed is extremely important and this is the area this is part of the gunpowder watershed when I say one kid I'm talking about areas of land that drains into a larger body of water. Justy Bay has a watershed and the gunpowder watershed isn't that just big big drainage area. What's important now is that we get. This blending of a riparian buffers part of Lucy's larger vision for

the land we're standing on right now is part of what had originally been at least a 250 acre farm. These fields will no longer be farmed. Through the years encroaching development around Lucy's farm has cost her to think differently about the land that surrounds her. Trees are extremely important and Vernon and I our selves are going to be investing a lot of money and simply planting this land with trees. When I had this idea four years ago I just literally thought I want to give the land back to itself. You know that sounds a little romantic. That's OK I don't mind romanticism. We are giving the land back to itself and the land in return will give back to us. So there's a cycle in everything. There's some biotic relationship when we really support the land the land supports us. And I'm very excited about what's going to happen here I think a lot is going to happen here and yes it has to do with trees and plants and grasses. But it has as much to do with just really and truly honoring life and revering life saying that that goes on. You know

this isn't just about burning myself this is down through the generations. The state parks and Garrett County Maryland will probably never make it onto anyone's list of the world's most exotic getaways. After all the accommodations aren't exactly the Ritz. The chefs are still trying to work the bugs out of the breakfast menu. And the beach scene bears little resemblance to Club Med. But Gary county's parks especially some of the smaller and lesser known ones have a gentle charm that's all around and they're well worth adding to anyone's list of places to discover. Garrett County is located at the far western edge of Maryland. What sets this place apart is a mix of topography and elevation. Mike Gregory manager of new Germany's state park.

When you come to western Maryland You're find yourself climbing up to 3000 feet in elevation. You're coming through a ridge and valley system and then up into what's known as the Appalachian quiet tell the climate changes fizzy graphic features change the vegetation changes and we just come into a whole new world than what you've experienced in the eastern portion of the state. Towering forests and rugged terrain are some of the hallmarks of new Germany State Park named for the area's early German emigrants. Germany state park is what I would refer to as a mountainside park it sits on the east slope of not a mountain. It's about 400 acres in size has a 12 acre lake within it. Wide variety of forest types around it from very tall statuesque hemlock and spruce stands to very colorful fall scenes that you'll find in the hardwood floors in summer campers like Russell Voight and son Matthew come to New Germany in search of a less stressful life.

A matter of live TV work just get away from off the Danielle family from Pittsburgh is wowed by something as simple as a night sky undiluted by city lights. We were watching the stars and I mean there are a lot of stars but they were just seem to be sparking a lot of levees that are also a couple shooting stars and it was just. Nothing. More. In winter a new Germany gets an average of 10 feet of snow a year and the snow transforms the scene. Once the snow hits the ground in the cross country skiers are out in full force and most of our activity here at the park deals with the cross-country skiers. They make use of the cabinets. They'll come up and rent them for days at a time and we groom our trails here in Germany so they have a very enjoyable experience in terms of being able to get out. Just getting wide along the trails and enjoying the landscape when it's not green it's

virtually white because of the heavy snow falls with somebody to get. To the west of New Germany lies the 365 acre Harrington Manor State Park. It was named for a revolutionary war Sergeant who once owned the land and for his manor house which is no longer standing because it's a longer drive from the interstate. This park tends to draw fewer people and it attracts those who appreciate the quiet found in this parks like Woods and trails. Ranger Mike Cooper. They're here to enjoy the solitude of the park which is something that I love. Whether they're gliding on Harrington manors five miles of groomed trails or enjoying its pine edged like visitors are benefitting from work done more than 60 years ago by the Civilian Conservation Corps. A depression era public works program responsible for money park improvements across the country.

The CCS were responsible for the building 10 cabins. The dam of the 33 upright the small civilian that we've renovated into a concession building and all of our trails. Harrington Manor has when it arrives the original CCC cabins built some additional ones and outfitted them all with modern conveniences. Unlike new Germany's cabins they're available for rent. Phyllis and Tom Scott are cabin writers from Laurel and I think these specifically were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps and off in the late 30s and 40s. It's just neat and to go into something that was a part of history. If Harrington Manor is a place of subtle beauty nearby Swallow Falls State Park is about a spectacular as a Maryland park gets Swallow Falls as a long narrow park that borders the ark again the river as it passes through a dramatic rocky gorge.

Since the turn of the century people have come here to picnic on the rocks and marvel at the series of waterfalls in the tumble through the gorge. At 53 feet muddy creek is Maryland's tallest waterfall. Ranger Tim McMillan I think what I think is probably the most photographed spot in all of their kit. And on a hot summer day many people aren't content just to look at the falls were younger crowd loved the challenge of the river the waterfalls the story part of it. The Falls create a series of natural swimming holes that can be accessed from a mile along a hiking trail beside the river. The park also boasts another wonder one of the state's oldest hemlock forests. It's a cathedral like Stan that has managed to escape fire on the loggers axe for more than 300 years. But if you'd prefer human handiwork to Natural Wonders Garrett County can also fill the bill.

One of Maryland's smallest state parks Castleman bridge celebrates an early engineering marvel. Historian John Grant at the time it was completed in 1813. It was the largest single arch bridge in all of United States. When the 80 foot span was being built skeptics said the bridge would never stand. So the night before the dedication the bridges nervous designers secretly removed the bridges supports to test it. To his relief the bridge didn't budge and the next morning the walk off of the road knocked the scaffolding out and the bridge was still standing. The bridge was still standing in the early 1900s when cars came onto the scene traveling across the bridge on old Route 40. America's first federal highway. But it wasn't an interest in history that caused the grandchildren to pester their father to take a drive across the bridge. There's an abrupt change in the grade on the bridge when we were children. We'd always say to my father that he go faster go faster and he'd come

up over the bridge like this and here you are worried about going to pad didn't want to break this brings in the car but we always thought it was a great time for a lift off right seat right over the top of the bridge. Today the old Castleman bridge lies in the shadow of newer bridges for Alternate Route 40 and Interstate 68 which carry a steady stream of cars through Garrett County. The drivers who take time for a detour can discover a different place and a slower pace but it's a place where the bridges have no backups and are the only bumper to bumper action is caused by a gentle lake where he's from. It's a place where the trees tickle the heavens. And serenity. Us. To Odo. Drop into our website at w w w dot MP t dot o r

g to send us your comments and suggestions.