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Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy: Protects, Preserves, Restores
Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy: Protects, Preserves, Restores
By Linda Roberts
Thirty years ago, four Loudoun residents sat around a kitchen table expressing their concerns and sharing ideas about protecting wildlife in a county poised for explosive growth. Their discussion gave birth to the then fledging Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy.
Loudoun’s population in 1995 was estimated at 112,000. The concern of those individuals was accurate; Loudoun has now swelled to an estimated 436,000 residents. Thanks to the insight and leadership of this small group, the Conservancy is now thriving with more than 650 passionate volunteers who donated 15,000 hours of their time last year. A small, part-time staff keeps the Conservancy’s many activities running smoothly, both in the field and from its Leesburg office.
“Our mission is to protect, preserve, and restore wildlife habitats,” said Executive Director Tom Kercheval, who added that the organization’s ultimate goal is to shape a Loudoun County where residents and wildlife thrive together.
Moving toward this goal, much was accomplished last year with 182 free educational programs reaching 4,382 people. A Young Naturalist Program trained 2,000 teachers and reached 15,000 students to observe and record the habits of wildlife in their neighborhoods. A stream monitoring program
conducted 47 surveys tracking the health of local waterways and a butterfly count covered 174 miles, recording 44 different species. This data was welcomed by the North American Butterfly Association.
These activities, and many more organized by volunteers, not only identify fascinating information, but also importantly can use data from years past to capture trends in wildlife habitats. The Conservancy uses this to share with other organizations working toward conservation efforts.
Kercheval and volunteer Peter Lyttle both pointed out the talent and devotion to wildlife that individuals, such as Joe Coleman, one of the non-profit’s founding members, bring to the organization. Coleman is deeply involved in the bluebird-monitoring program, started 25 years ago and now a group effort with some 700 nesting boxes monitored by volunteers.
Yet, due to rapid growth, especially in the eastern part of the county, a negative impact continues to affect bird patterns and wildlife habitat. Development happens quickly and wildlife habitats are frequently unable to adjust. In Loudoun, 13 acres of wetland and 20,000 feet of streams are estimated to face destruction each year. The recent drought has also created problems, drying up streams and affecting amphibians and plant growth.
There’s another grim statistic. Due to the ongoing displacement of wildlife, the county’s highways are responsible for the highest rate of wildlife/vehicle crashes in Virginia. Details: loudounwildlife.org
Undaunted, Kercheval, Lyttle, and many Conservancy supporters continue their efforts to protect, preserve and restore wildlife habitats in a county that has a projected growth rate of over 20 percent for the next 25 years.
Last year the Conservancy hosted 182 public education events focused on wildlife preservation. It partnered with JK Moving Services to purchase the 87-acre JK Black Oak wetland tract north of Leesburg and also partnered with Sheetz to control the winter salt run-off from its property. Nine bills the Conservancy supported were signed into law during last year’s General Assembly.
As the largest, most comprehensive environmental organization in Loudoun the Conservancy leaves a large footprint.
“Our volunteers come from many walks of life, bringing with them a single purpose,” Kercheval said. “They’re all passionate about nature."
