PROVIDENCE - The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces that a free workshop for hunters will be offered this month in Exeter.
A trapping workshop will be offered on Sunday, February 11 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at DEM's Fish & Wildlife Education Center located at Camp E-Hun-Tee Place in Exeter. The workshop will include the history of trapping, an overview of conservation and trapping regulations, and the biology of different target species in Rhode Island. Participants will learn about best management practices in the field, types of traps, and uses for the animal; they will also take part in a hands-on demonstration of how to set traps. Space is limited and registration is required. To register, send your name, phone number and email address to Jessica Pena in the DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife at jessica.pena@dem.ri.gov.
Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate outdoor clothing and footwear, and to bring food, beverages, and paper/pen for notetaking to the workshop.
As part of a larger network of recreational opportunities in Rhode Island, hunting plays an important role in connecting people with nature, supporting quality of life and family traditions, and attracting tourism. According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, hunting contributes more than $18 million annually to Rhode Island's economy. Hunter education is offered as part of DEM Division of Fish & Wildlife's Hunter Education Program. Safety training is required by law in Rhode Island for beginning hunters. To date, more than 40,000 people have completed a hunter safety course in Rhode Island, helping to dramatically reduce related accidents in the state and elsewhere. A complete schedule of hunter educational offerings is available at www.dem.ri.gov.
For more information about hunting and trapping in Rhode Island, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.