A Day in the Life: Roz Spitzer, Volunteer Land Steward
Roz Spitzer has been a Volunteer Land Steward (VLS) at Whatcom Land Trust’s Fenton Nature Reserve for the last four years. Volunteers like Roz are the reason Whatcom Land Trust is able to protect and care for more than 6,000 acres of land we own and manage.
Volunteer Land Stewards “adopt” properties and commit to monitoring them on a regular basis, acting as the eyes and the ears of the Land Trust. They submit reports once every three months which include notable plants and animals seen, amount and type of human traffic, and any potential issues that need staff intervention.
Roz shared with us what it means to her to be a VLS:
“In the fall of 2017, because of my longtime love of plants, I enrolled in the free Native Plant Stewardship class cosponsored by the Washington Native Plant Society and the Whatcom Land Trust and signed up for the required volunteer work. Since Fenton Reserve is only three miles from my home, it was a no-brainer to volunteer there, and it wasn’t long before I was hooked on the incredible native forest understory, the salmon in Haynie Creek, the birds, and the creatures who visit the pond. My weekly walks at Fenton observing the change of seasons, servicing the northern giant hornet traps, and managing the wildlife cams have brought me a deeper relationship with nature and new friends who share my love of our little bit of paradise.”
Last week, Roz visited our Fenton Nature Reserve and took these amazing videos of chum salmon making their annual trip to spawn up Haynie Creek. She has also set up a wildlife camera and catches glimpses of all of the critters who live on and use this protected habitat, including salmon, river otters, opossums and coyotes!
We are so appreciative of Roz and all of our VLS’ dedication and hard work in helping to protect and care for the land we love throughout Whatcom County! If you are interested in becoming a VLS, email Madeline Mahler at madeline@whatcomlandtrust.org for information on our next training session.