MARJIE DUCEY
WorldHerald Staff Writer
It’s September and that means lots of calls about woodchucks at the Nebraska Wildlife Rehab.
As juveniles are preparing for their first hibernation, they explore new areas in search of secure burrows, which sometimes brings them close to homes, sheds and decks.
“It’s the most common nuisance call in September,” NWR Executive Director Laura Stastny said. “They stick close to mom until the end of summer.”
Stastny said they also try to start a new hole near their mother. That’s what homeowners typically notice: when one hole suddenly becomes four.
Now is the time to check your property for open spaces that might attract a curious woodchuck.
Don’t trap the animals inside, Stastny said. Woodchucks come out during the day, so you do have a chance to get them away from home.
Once you are sure the space is clear, block it off by installing wire mesh or hardware cloth, buried at least 1-2 feet underground and angled outward to discourage digging.
Keeping brush trimmed and securing garden produce will also make your yard less appealing to the young explorers.
That can be difficult. The St. Vincent de Paul pantry garden had multiple woodchucks this summer.
If you have an established burrow, you do have some options. Sometimes the sound of talk radio will drive them away.
You can also put dirty kitty litter or rags soaked in ammonia around the holes.
“That usually works,” Stastny said. “Don’t pour ammonia down the hole.”
There is one option you should never take.
“Trapping and relocating wildlife is not a humane option to resolve conflict. It’s much better to encourage them to move on their own,” Stastny said. “The majority of animals trapped and relocated die from relocation.”
Join Thriving Children conference in Kearney
Join 500 community leaders from across Nebraska for the eighth annual Thriving Children, Families and Communities Conference that will take place on Tuesday at the Younes Conference Center in Kearney, Nebraska.
Keynote speaker Rob Grunewald, an independent economic and public policy consultant, will address “The Economic Case for Investing in Early Care and Education” to share how smart economic policies can strengthen child care — and why it’s a smart investment for everyone.
One of the highlights of this year’s conference will be an Early Childhood Panel Conversation featuring state legislators. Panelists will include Senators Stan Clouse, Wendy DeBoer, Teresa Ibach and Victor Rountree, with moderator Jason Prokop. This discussion will focus on the role of early care and education, the power of community in prioritizing young children and what’s ahead for early childhood in Nebraska.
Join hundreds of Nebraska leaders from business, government, healthcare, education, and more at this statewide conference focused on solving the state’s child care crisis.
View the full agenda/speakers at thrivingchildrenconference.org.
Buffett Institute reveals childcare gap data
The Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska, in collaboration with Child Care Aware of America and the Bipartisan Policy Center, unveiled childcaregap.org in Washington, D.C., an updated resource that contains new data and analyzes the gap between the supply of legally operating child care programs and the potential need, demonstrating how child care shortages stall economic growth.
This interactive map is the most comprehensive child care supply data collected to date, and is the first to use a new, distance-based methodology to quantify the child care gap by factoring in the actual distance between existing child care spots and the homes of the children and families that need care.
It reveals that there are potentially 4.2 million children without access to child care.
Broken down, that means that across the 50 states and Washington, D.C., 14.8 million children potentially need child care, but there is only a supply of 10.8 million child care slots, leaving the families of 4.2 million children without access — a 28% gap. The gap is more pronounced in rural areas, where 32% of children may lack access to child care.
“Understanding the problem is the first step to fixing the child care crisis in this country,” said Linda Smith, director of policy at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute. “Our failure to address child care isn’t just hurting families — it’s constraining our nation’s economic potential. We need comprehensive and multifaceted solutions. I hope this map will help lawmakers in every community, from Albuquerque to Zanesville, grasp the full scope of the problem.”
Additional analysis details the economic impact of the gap.
For every child care slot parents need but cannot access, the economy loses between $52,000 and $79,000 each year. The 10-year economic impact could be as high as $329 billion, stemming from reduced workforce participation, lower productivity, decreased household earnings, impacts on business earnings and tax losses.
The tool also models the impact of Head Start programs on child care access, revealing that without Head Start, nearly 655,000 children would lack access to child care within a reasonable distance of their homes, increasing the national child care cap by 15.6% overall and 17.9% in rural areas (for total gaps of 43.6% and 49.9% overall and for rural areas, respectively).
Give feedback on outdoor recreation plan
The public is invited to share feedback on the 2026-2030 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: Guiding Success in Nebraska Outdoor Recreation between Sept. 17 and Oct. 2.
Read the updated plan at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search for “SCORP.” You can provide a comment via the feedback form or by emailing erin.l.johnson@nebraska. gov.
SCORP is a resource for Nebraska communities, recreation professionals and government agencies planning for outdoor recreation opportunities. It provides guidance on the development, improvement, renovation or acquisition of park lands and shares information on outdoor recreation trends and Nebraska demographic information.
The plan is required in order for the state to receive federal Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars, which then are distributed to select grant applicants for recreation projects. To remain eligible for access to LWCF funds, the plan must be updated every five years.
Since 1964, the fund has contributed more than $53 million for Nebraska outdoor recreation facilities, such as playgrounds, sports fields and aquatic centers, as well as hiking, camping, fishing and wildlife viewing areas.
The plan is developed by Nebraska Game and Parks staff with public involvement. The plan has been undergoing its revision process since 2023 and will be submitted to the National Park Service by the end of this year.
Heather Smith inaugurated at CSM
Heather Smith was inaugurated as the eighth president of College of Saint Mary on Friday.
“President Heather Smith’s inauguration marks a new era for College of Saint Mary, highlighting the bold vision she has for the future while honoring the legacy of the College,” said Terri Wachtler Campbell, vice president of alumni and donor relations and a 1993 CSM alum. “Her leadership is guiding us to continue our work equipping women to lead lives with purpose, compassion and impact, while creating sustainable growth at CSM. It’s an exciting time to be part of the College’s mission to empower women through education.”
During the ceremony, dignitaries and guests, such as local and state politicians and presidents and delegates from other colleges and universities, offered messages of support.
Smith’s passion for empowering women to become bold leaders who make a positive impact in the community and in the world brought her to CSM. She began her role as president in July 2023 and brought over 25 years of administration experience with a proven record in leadership and innovation.
Since becoming president, Smith developed an ambitious strategic plan and five-year growth plan, which includes rebuilding key operations teams, reimagining academic programs and placing an intentional focus on the growth of the Flames athletic programs.
Smith has also made enrollment growth a priority. Enrollment projections for the fall 2025 academic year indicate that CSM has its highest incoming enrollment since 2020.
Smith is also dedicated to advancing the institution’s century-long legacy of academic excellence. She is committed to fostering a vibrant and inclusive campus community, enhancing student success through personalized education and expanding partnerships with industry and community organizations to provide students unparalleled opportunities.
Become a Nebraska master naturalist
People interested in becoming a Nebraska Master Naturalist may sign up for the Fall Core 24 training at the Crane Trust Nature and Visitor Center in Wood River.
The workshop on Oct. 17-18 and 24-25 allows participants to learn about Nebraska’s natural resources and achieve Master Naturalist In-Training status.
The training is 5-9 p.m. Oct. 17 and 24, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 18 and 25. The cost is $200. All sessions must be attended. Apply online at NEMasterNaturalist.org/ apply-now.
The Nebraska Master Naturalist Program is an adult conservation and environmental education program that uses indoor presentations on flora, fauna, ecology and more, in combination with hands-on field experiences to teach volunteers.
Certified Master Naturalists and Naturalists-in-training are recognized across the state as dedicated natural resource conservation volunteers who provide volunteer service through a variety of skill sets.
Graduates of Core 24 courses must complete 36 hours of continuing education opportunities by Dec. 31 of the following year to become fully certified.
For more information visit, nemasternaturalist.org.
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