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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><img width="83" height="119" style="width:.8645in;height:1.2395in" id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.png@01D6A20E.73B964E0" alt="DEM-logo-small"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Impact",sans-serif;color:#00457A">Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">235 Promenade Street | Providence, RI 02908 | 401.222.4700 |</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#0070C0">
</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#00457A">| @RhodeIslandDEM</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif;color:#1F497D"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
</span></b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Gail Mastrati, 401-255-6144<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Wednesday, October 14, 2020
</span><a href="mailto:gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">gail.mastrati@dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-size:18.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">NO, NOT LIONS AND TIGERS AND BEARS. DEM OFFERS VIRTUAL OUTREACH PROGRAMS ON BOBCATS AND BATS AND TURKEYS!<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" o:spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="Collared bobcat in South Kingstown. Photo credit: R. Saxon " style='position:absolute;margin-left:0;margin-top:222.05pt;width:327.75pt;height:218.7pt;z-index:251660288;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-wrap-distance-left:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-top:0;mso-wrap-distance-right:9pt;mso-wrap-distance-bottom:0;mso-position-horizontal:left;mso-position-horizontal-relative:margin;mso-position-vertical:absolute;mso-position-vertical-relative:text;mso-width-percent:0;mso-height-percent:0;mso-width-relative:page;mso-height-relative:page'>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) Division of Fish and Wildlife is partnering with local public libraries to host a series of virtual outreach programs this
fall. The programs are designed to spread awareness of wildlife management and conservation efforts across the state in a fun, interactive setting.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">“This is a wonderful opportunity for Rhode Islanders to learn about bobcats, bats and turkeys and the interesting research that is happening right in our own backyards,” said DEM Wildlife
Outreach Coordinator Mary Gannon. “Although it’s been very different this year because we are not able to run programs in person due to COVID-19 restrictions, we’re reaching a lot of Rhode Islanders by offering virtual programs and information about local
wildlife conservation in a fun way!”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoCaption"><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Collared bobcat in South Kingstown. Photo credit: R. Saxon</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">"All About Bobcats" will be presented on Thursday, October 22 at 6:30 p.m. in partnership with the Langworthy Public Library in Hope Valley. Attendees will learn about bobcat natural
history and current research efforts in the state. DEM Wildlife Outreach staff will be joined by Amy Gottfried Mayer of the University of Rhode Island's Wildlife Genetics and Ecology Lab (WGEL), who will share tracking and home range data from a recent collaborative
bobcat project. DEM has partnered with the WGEL to study genomics and distribution of Rhode Island's bobcat, black bear, New England cottontail, and brook trout populations, through funding provided by the Federal Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">On Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 p.m.– just in time for Halloween – Wildlife Outreach staff will present “Bat Chat,” in partnership with the East Smithfield Public Library. Attendees will
participate in bat ‘myth-busting,’ learn about bat research efforts in Rhode Island, and how everyone can get involved to helping these important flying mammals.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Lastly, on Tuesday, November 10<sup>
</sup>at 6:30 p.m., Wildlife Outreach staff will present “Turkey Talk,” in partnership with the Davisville Free Library in North Kingstown. This program will cover the basics of wild turkey natural history and current population data collection efforts.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">All programs are free and family friendly. Registration is required to receive a link to access the program via Zoom. Each program will run for about an hour. Links to the registration
forms are listed below.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Bobcat registration link:
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.gle/g8dUvQCoMCS5Kdmy8__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!a_KmQG4emEuyC8ApBiP9tJRJ-ci48uHbobaF9v-ldEMDq572aIv6smyQmhf9xkEooUCb95k5$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">https://forms.gle/g8dUvQCoMCS5Kdmy8</span> [forms.gle]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Bat registration link:
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.gle/rL6tEgBmkxNRBoCQ7__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!a_KmQG4emEuyC8ApBiP9tJRJ-ci48uHbobaF9v-ldEMDq572aIv6smyQmhf9xkEooUv0cxk7$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">https://forms.gle/rL6tEgBmkxNRBoCQ7</span> [forms.gle]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">Turkey registration link:
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://forms.gle/YdFzttWkyPtKhe9w9__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!a_KmQG4emEuyC8ApBiP9tJRJ-ci48uHbobaF9v-ldEMDq572aIv6smyQmhf9xkEooZ70qvXR$"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">https://forms.gle/YdFzttWkyPtKhe9w9</span> [forms.gle]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a name="_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on Rhode Island’s wildlife, visit
</span></span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"></span></a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">/wildlifeoutreach</span></span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">.
Follow us on Facebook at </span></span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!a_KmQG4emEuyC8ApBiP9tJRJ-ci48uHbobaF9v-ldEMDq572aIv6smyQmhf9xkEoofq8-9Mv$"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"></span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">
and </span></span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RIfishandwildlife__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!a_KmQG4emEuyC8ApBiP9tJRJ-ci48uHbobaF9v-ldEMDq572aIv6smyQmhf9xkEoobaH--Yu$"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RIfishandwildlife</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"></span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">,
on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), and Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem and @RI.FishandWildlife) for timely updates.</span></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p>
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk53496271"></span>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit
</span><a href="http://www.dem.ri.gov/"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.dem.ri.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">. Follow us on Facebook at
</span><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM__;!!KKphUJtCzQ!a_KmQG4emEuyC8ApBiP9tJRJ-ci48uHbobaF9v-ldEMDq572aIv6smyQmhf9xkEoofq8-9Mv$" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM</span> [facebook.com]</a><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"> or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for
timely updates.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><b><span style="font-family:"Calibri Light",sans-serif">-30-<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
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