We think nothing of the ducks swimming in the Charles River, or the swans in the Public Gardens. But what about the geese that make their home in suburban office parks and on the grassy areas next to exit ramps on Rte 128 & Rte 2? Bostonians are wary of racoons that roam their back alleys, romp on their rooftops, and dig up their gardens, but has any city dweller ever come face to face with a racoon accept through a sky light? Residents in suburbia encounter moose in their swimming pools, Black Bears and coyotes on their streets, and foxes in their backyards. Some of these encounters can be frightening while others like encountering a Sea Gull sitting comfortably in front of a brownstone in the South End, are simply curious.
On Saturday January 23, 2010 at the Harvard Museum of Natural History in Cambridge, Stephen DeStefano Wildlife Biologist and author of Coyote At The Kitchen Door told attendees of his talk that Massachusetts is one of the most populated states in the nation and as we have continued to encroach on the natural habitats of wildlife they have increasingly encroached on ours creating tensions that didn't previously exist. The focal point of his research here is Massachusetts is on moose, black bears and bobcats. He is able to track these animals using GPS assisted technology collars. During his talk, DeStefano showed a map of the movements of a particular moose living in Northhampton. She's quite active, sheltering her young and foraging for food.
Howl by Amy Stein
Dr. DeStefano's talk was paired with a talk by Amy Stein about her current exhibit at the museum - Domesticated: Modern Dioramas of Our New Natural History. In this exhibit, a photo series, Amy explores the relationship between humans and animals when brought together in unexpected places. Her images are of staged scenes based on or inspired by real events in Matamoras Pennsylvania, a town that borders a state forest.
In collaboration with David Clark a taxidermist in Matamoras, Amy was able to stage the stories she heard, bringing them to a wider audience for discussion about man's role in nature and his reaction when encountering a wild animal in what he considers to be a habitat for people. The exhibit opened January 22, 2010 and runs through April 18, 2010.
More Info
In North Attleborough, an unexpected guest
Moose on the loose near Leominster pool
Saugus residents howl about town's coyote sightings
Fox attacks have neighborhood worried
Mass Wildlife
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