Back from the Wildlife Volunteer Banquet

What do you get for a table favor at a Division of Wildlife banquet? This handy "urban primitive" turkey call, made from a cocktail straw and a 35 mm film cannister. It works too, but I will stick with slate.

New T-shirts in hand, M. and I are home from the annual Colorado Division of Wildlife volunteer-appreciation banquet for the southeast region. It was at the abbey in Cañon City this year, not too long a drive, so we went.

There were door prizes and awards, a slide show of volunteers helping on various projectd—the usual. Some volunteers help by staffing regional offices and answering information-seekers.

The best part of the show was a series of true telephone conversations.

Some samples:

Caller: We saw a coyote in a residential area. Is it legal for them to be there?

DOW: Yes.

Never miss an opportunity for education:

Caller: There is an owl stuck up in a tree.

DOW: Owls roost in trees. 

Or how would this be for a wildlife-transport request?

Caller: I found an injured deer. I can stay here until someone comes.

DOW: Where are you calling from?

Caller: Pennsylvania.