Currents for March 6, 2025 (Mar. 06, 2025)

Minutes from our March 6^th Meeting

Meeting Called to Order:

The bell was rung at 12:02 pm by Past President Dave Crandall

We performed our weekly rote recitation of the “4 Way Test of the Things We Think, Say, or Do,” led by Marion Steiner.

Music this week was performed by Phil Bush: “River” by Bill Staines (1947-2021), a New Hampshire song-writer, performer. For those guitarists among us, Bill played a normally-stringed 6-string guitar upside down, with his right hand doing the fingering and his left plucking the strings. Here’s the refrain from the song Phil performed so well for us:

River, take me along with your sunshine, sing me your song!

Ever moving and winding and free,

You rolling old River, you changing old river

Let’s you and me River run down to the sea

Birthdays/Anniversaries: March 9 – Steve Whitman’s birthday; March 2 – Jane Mason – Membership anniversary…30 years! Marion Steiner - 11 years in Rotary.

Thought of the Day – David Crandall got a new sweater loaded with static electricity. Luckily, he was able to return it, free of charge.

Our lunch buffet again was full of delicious choices.

PROGRAM – Chris Schadler, Eastern Coyote Project

Chris received her M.A. in the 1970s in wild conservation biology with a focus on grey wolves. She taught at UNH, winning numerous teaching awards. She began raising sheep in the 1980s when her interest turned to eastern coyotes, still her chief area of focus. Chris was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic speaker who did a great job condensing her normal 60-minute presentation into 20 fascinating minutes.

Chris Schadler, Eastern Coyote Project

DETAILS OF SPEAKER’S PRESENTATION:

This was Chris’s first talk to a Rotary Club (Thanks, Dave Crandall!)
She spoke about the differences and similarities between western wolves and eastern and western coyotes.
She has never lost a sheep to eastern coyotes.
Populations in NH of red fox, grey fox and fishers have been in a dramatic decline since 1990. Rodenticides are a huge problem for these animals, not just hunting. In a recent study in VT, 98% of the fishers examined had rodenticide in their bloodstream.
The Eastern Coyote is a unique animal. Chris showed photos of two coyotes from the same litter, one weighing 72 lbs. and the other 27 lbs; both are eastern coyotes having 30% eastern wolf DNA. Hybridization has been going on for 67,000 years among wolves and coyotes. Eastern and Grey wolves from Canada are migrating back into the US their native territory.
Some coyotes are documented at 75% DNA wolf but are killed as coyotes! Very hard to tell the difference when hunting. Closer examination of ears can help: wolf ears sit atop the head with an angle; coyote ears are more forward. Wolf tails are shorter; coyote tails almost to the ground. Wolf jaws are squarer; coyotes’ more pointed. Wolf legs are longer.
Eastern wolves are protected by the Protected Species Act. Coyote hunting is open season 365 d/yr.
The northeastern coyote is a hybrid of western coyote and eastern wolf and maybe some dog. 2/3 live in packs. They are solitary hunters of rodents. Each pack has one breeding pair. They self-regulate their population through brief female heat, monogamy, and their social structure. They mate only once a year. Coyote pups experience a 50-75% mortality.
Annual cycle

Jan-Mar – mate, only time sperm is viable.

Mar-Apr – Den site selection.

Apr May – Birthing - female entirely dependent on male for sustenance.

May-Aug- raising pups

Oct-Dec – dispersal

Comparing coyotes to wolves:

Pack size: coyotes avg. 3-4/wolf - 5-8 wolf
Lifespan: 3-5 yrs coyote/17 in captivity
2/3 of female coyotes never breed due to short estrus
63 day gestation/the den is in use only during whelping

From March to mid-June female coyotes are in the words protecting young. Don’t let dogs loose in the woods.
Coyotes howl to connect with each other, to locate family members. Not about hunting or celebrating a kill.

Questions: What about “coy-dogs”?

Chris said there’s no such thing. Offspring after coyote-dog matings are sterile. Mostly they just mean eastern coyotes.

Q: Could coyotes be introduced in cities to help rodent elimination?

Chris said that in Chicago, Queens in New York City coyote packs are known everywhere. Coyotes could also perhaps help stabilize the deer population in NH. But, people are bating trail cams, bringing that bait closer to their homes, thus habituating the coyote to humans.

SPEAKER’S BOOK: Bill Secord presented this week’s book to be donated to the Kilton Library Children’s section in honor of Chris’s presentation today: “Rainbow Bear” – about a bear who goes around seeing different colors.

Rainbow Bear

by Bill Martin (Author), Michael Sampson (Author), Nathalie Beauvois (Illustrator)

In the latest addition to Bill Martin, Jr. and Michael Sampson's beloved children's collection, Rainbow Bear is sure to delight both old fans and new with its vivid illustrations and charming characters. Young readers can learn the names of every color of the rainbow while following Little Bear as he wakes up from his hibernation and fills his hungry belly with berries!

ANNOUNCEMENTS
- See below for the latest update from Bonnie Robinson on the Take Flight! airplane build program at Lebanon High School, a nearly $300,000, two-year venture in which Lebanon Rotary has invested $10,000.
- Also please see below photos of President Ernst’s work on display in the rotunda at the entrance to Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

RAFFLES

Angela pulled #933 was held by PP Dave who pulled the 8 of clubs.

The Enfield car wash went to Tim Guaraldi.

At 1:11 pm, the Rotary bell was rung and we closed with our motto: One Profits Most Who Serves Best.

Announcements

Styrofoam April 12 – will looking for volunteers to work 9-11 am at LHS.

From Sustainable Lebanon...FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Cindy Heath, 603-543-1307, cheath58@gmail.com

Event Details: Saturday, April 12, 2025, 9-11 am at the Hanover Street School parking lot at 193 Hanover Street in Lebanon. Rain, snow, or shine.

2025 Household Foam Collection Day in Lebanon, NH

Sustainable Lebanon is once again partnering with the Lebanon Rotary Club to offer a polystyrene (Styrofoam) collection day on Saturday, April 12, from 9 - 11 am at the Hanover Street School parking lot at 193 Hanover Street, Lebanon. The event will take place rain, snow, or shine, and is open to residents of the Upper Valley.

We will be collecting clean rigid polystyrene #6 (EPS) and #6 food service foam which will be driven to the Gilford, NH recycling facility. Examples of EPS include packaging foam used for TVs and appliances as well as styrofoam coolers. Examples of food service foam include clean food containers, trays, cups, and egg cartons. It is important that all tape and labels be removed and all collected foam is clean, dry, and free of food residue or other debris. We will NOT be collecting #4 EPE or #6 XPS foam insulation board at this event.

Please review these examples of acceptable and unacceptable types of foam

materials: www.gilfordnh.org/file/2627/Flyer_-_GSWC_Foam_101.pdf

As usual, foam peanuts should be brought directly to the UPS Store or Hanover Transfer and Storage.

An educational handout will be provided explaining the chemical content of polystyrene foam, how you can encourage companies who use foam packaging to transition to eco-friendly packaging, and suggestions on how to shift to a plastic free lifestyle.

There is no fee to participate, but donations are welcome to support the costs associated with this event. Donations can be made at the event via cash or check (payable to Sustainable Lebanon). Thanks in advance for considering a donation!

For more information and to volunteer on April 12, please contact Cindy Heath, 603-543-1307, cheath58@gmail.com.

Bill Secord – Cal Wolfe is at DHMC probably for open heart surgery. He went in Monday with chest tightness. He was scheduled for hip replacement so had an EKG which disclosed extensive arterial blockages.
Clean Up Day in May: Ernst indicated he has suggested May 17, 2025 for this event...so save the date.
Club Change Over Celebration — Wednesday, June 11, 2025 at 5:30 PM SAVE THE DATE. Location being worked on. Stay tuned for details.

Attendance:

Dave Crandall, Angela Nelson Dave Clarenbach, Ron Michaud, Christian McDonald, Tim Guaraldi, Hank Clarke, Bill Secord, Phil Rentz, Phil Bush, Jim Damren, Rich Wallace, Max Jovanovich, Marion Steiner, Bill Babineau, Bruce Pacht.

Guests: Steve Grant

FUTURE MEETING PROGRAMS/SPEAKERS

March