The Virginia Trout Slam launched early this spring (February). The program is a celebration of trout fishing in Virginia and challenges anglers to catch all three species of trout in one day: brown, brook, and rainbow. The program has been a success in its first year. So far, around 250 anglers have successfully completed the trout slam. Oftentimes, anglers have to fish 2 or even 3 streams in one day to complete the slam. From young children to grandparents, the trout slam brings friends and family together on the water for a shared journey toward fishing success!
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We can’t forget the efforts of the “Still Working for Wildlife” team (Tim Tassitano, Molly Kirk, Doreen Richmond, and Meghan Marchetti) as well as all staff that helped participate in this project to help celebrate Earth Day while also sharing an important message to the public that DGIF’s work continues on! See the video at the top of the newsletter.
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Falcon Cam has seen some incredible drama this year and has also enjoyed a significant increase in viewership and traffic.
Pageviews are over 300K since March (which is up 312% compared to this time last year) and email subscribers to the Falcon Cam blog are up to 2,778 (compared to 929 when the cam season ended in 2019).
If you want to show your enthusiasm for peregrine falcons, make sure to purchase our new Falcon Fierce Bandana or enter our Falcon Cam Instagram Photo Contest going on now through June 15.
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Numerous representatives from DGIF assisted with staffing the 33rd Annual Western Virginia Sport Show on February 21- 23, 2020, at Augusta Expo in Fishersville, Virginia. Known as “The Show Where the Pro’s Go,” this annual time-tested event attracted thousands of outdoor enthusiasts. The show consistently features more big names and attractions than just about any other show in the region and this year event was no exception! Conservation Police Officers including the K9 Unit, Outreach, and Complementary Work Force Volunteers were on hand to answer questions about hunting and fishing opportunities and agency programs. In addition, DGIF used the opportunity to sell items from the ShopDGIF retail store to help raise money for the Virginia Wildlife Grant Program that helps to connect kids to the outdoors.
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The Salamander Guide is finally out! This guide helps you identify Virginia’s salamanders, provides insights into their ecology, distribution, and behavior, provides answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs), and suggests what you can do to assist with the conservation of these fascinating animals. It’s the 4th guide in our Virginia Animals series.