Westborough – Ever see a fox, a flying squirrel or a fisher up close? Residents are invited to meet and learn about these animals and others at “Nature of My Backyard,” a live animal program presented by Creature Teachers. The free event, sponsored by the Westborough Community Land Trust, will be held Saturday, March 29, at 10 a.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall, 17 Willow St.
Naturalist and Director of Creature Teachers Rick Roth will describe each animal's behavior, habitat, and field markings. In his programs, Roth also underscores how each animal interacts with its environment and plays a critical role in its ecosystem.
“The Nature of My Backyard is my favorite program,” Roth noted. “It highlights animals that kids see but have not had the opportunity to meet up close. We try to get across the importance of every single one of these animals to its environment. Every animal has a role – if one animal is removed, it affects the entire ecosystem.”
The public will have a rare opportunity to meet a live fisher during the program. According to Roth, he is the only person licensed in New England to do outreach programs with a fisher.
Roth launched Creature Teachers in 2005 to develop programs to help children understand and appreciate the diversity of wildlife.
Roth, with his wife Karen and daughter Sara, care for and work with 80 different animals, ranging from a Brazilian poison dart frog to an Australian wallaby. The animals are housed on the 100-acre Littleton conservation area, where the Roths act as caretakers of the property.
Creature Teachers have taken their programs to schools, libraries and camps throughout New England.
The Nature of My Backyard program is part of the annual Earth Awareness Program of the Westborough Community Land Trust. It is supported in part by a grant from the Westborough Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
