Press Release: Location: Rockingham, VT Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival Planning Committee Contact: Betsy Stacey betsystacey@gmail.com

13th Annual Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival Celebrates the Connecticut River Where can you learn about barred owls and bats, see a wolf and a wallaby, and enjoy a day outside along the beautiful Connecticut River? The Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival of course! For the past 13 years people have been celebrating spring and wildlife on the first Sunday in May. This festival includes nature presentations, activities and programs featuring live animals, guided nature walks, crafts, tasty food, workshops, a kid’s wildlife parade, birding and much more. The festival brings together more than 25 outdoor, wildlife, environmental and conservation groups from all over New England and beyond. The Granite State Zoo will be there all day with a diversity of live animals from many continents. Other presenters include Vermont Institute for Natural Science, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, The International Wolf Center, the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, Brian Ellis- storyteller and many more. New this year The Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge’s Mobile Visitors Center. The Watershed on Wheels (WoW) Express is a traveling exhibit designed to engage children of all ages in the beauty and wonder of the Connecticut River Watershed. The WoW Express features seven portable, four-sided kiosks and one interactive watershed table. Each kiosk employs interactive panels, games or computer screens to creatively engage children in the topics of biodiversity, wetlands, bald eagles, migratory birds, endangered species, migratory fish, food webs, and invasive species. Also new to this year’s festival is an opportunity for children to make masks and costumes and be part of a “wildlife parade” at the festival. The festival goes from 10:00 AM- 4:00 PM. Come for an hour or stay all day. Donations of $2 person or $5 family are requested. Rain or shine. Directions to Herricks Cove: From the north: Take Exit 6 off I-91 and bear right off the ramp onto Rt. 103 south. Follow 103 to its junction with Rt. 5 (103 ends there) and turn left on to Rt. 5 north. After descending the hill and crossing the Williams River, take the first road to the right (Herricks Cove Rd.). Watch for signs. From the South: Take Exit 6 from I- 91 and at the end of the ramp turn left on to Rt. 5 north. Follow Rt. 5 past the junction with Rt. 103 (sharp right at the junction). After descending the hill and crossing the Williams River, proceed with directions above. Please refrain from bringing pets. It interferes with the live animal programs. Co-sponsored by the Nature Museum, Ascutney Mountain Audubon Society, and VT Fish and Wildlife. Partially funded by TransCanada, HB Energy Solutions , Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Luzenac America, Vermont Country Store, and Eagle Optics. For more information please contact Alma Beals at madalma13@yahoo.com, or call 802-722-3355. Also look for our Herricks Cove Wildlife Festival page on Facebook for programming updates.