Dead Creek Wildlife Day draws hundreds despite rain

While a state game warden demonstrated a deer processing, kids and parents whittled away at wooden ducks around a table under the next tent over.

By Alicia Wolfram

October 27, 2023

ADDISON — Over 300 Vermonters braved the rain to learn about the landscape and its inhabitants at the 21st annual Dead Creek Wildlife Day this month.

The event took place Oct. 7 at the Dead Creek Visitor Center in Addison, part of a 2,858-acre tract managed by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife, and ran from 9:30 a.m. through 4 p.m., with scheduled activities like nature walks, bird watching, decoy carving, face painting and deer processing.

Around 10 organizations — including the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, Let’s Go Fishing and state Endangered Species Committee — tabled underneath large tents just down the road from the visitor center.

Behind the white tents, muted reds and oranges along State Route 17 marked the beginnings of this year’s fall foliage.

Several partners including Otter Creek Audubon Society, Delta Waterfowl and the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation collaborated with the fish and wildlife department to make the event happen.

Though especially popular among families and children, the event offered something for everyone.

“We try to keep it very diverse as far as people’s interests,” said Amy Alfieri, a Fish and Wildlife  biologist and one of the head coordinators of the event. This was her 10th year helping organize the event.

While state game warden Abigail Serra demonstrated a deer processing, kids and parents whittled away at wooden ducks around a table under the next tent over.

“We get a lot of people come back every year,” said Alfieri, “so we’ve watched kids get older and older.”

Natalia Perchemlides said she comes every year with her two kids.

“I really love teaching my kids about nature and teaching myself about nature, especially about animals, wild animals and wild habitats,” she said.

Behind the table closest to the parking lot was Michael Clough, director of operations at the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum, along with several native birds and a large penned-in turtle named Basel.

“It’s always nice getting folks a chance to get up close with some of the local wildlife,” he said as an owl sat perched on his arm and a group of visitors huddled around the table to watch.

On the other side of the lot, four instructor’s with the Let’s Go Fishing Program stood suited up in foul-weather gear under their tent behind a display of pamphlets on licensing and upcoming clinics.

Student volunteers from the University of Vermont’s Wildlife and Fisheries Society and Birding Club helped out with different activities like the raffle and arts and crafts.

For Alfieri, the best part of the event is seeing everyone connecting with nature.

“I love seeing the smiles on kids’ faces,” she added.

Mike Winslow, another organizer of the event, talked about how, because part of his job is counting how many people come in, he sees just how many of them are in car seats.

“We’re getting the next generation,” said Winslow, who works for the Addison County planning commission.