More than you really want to know about Natick, Mass.
Our recent post about a South Natick resident waking to a bald eagle outside her skylight prompted another resident to share these fine photos of an eagle in the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Systems Center neighborhood.
If this keeps up, Natick Public Schools might have to start rethinking Redhawks as the team mascot…
Photo courtesy of Joanne Griffin
Photo courtesy of Joanne Griffin
Bald eagles have been making their presence increasingly felt in Natick in recent months and years, and now it could be that one has chosen the South Natick area as a good spot to raise a family. Hey, why not? The neighborhood has everything they need for a happy home—the Charles River is right there and full of fish, and there are ample massive old pine trees to choose from to build the perfect aerie.
Eagle-eyed reader Patty Campbell sent along some great shots of a bald eagle apparently picking up some building supplies from a tree in her South Natick yard. After pausing on a sturdy branch, she says the eagle then flew off with a twig toward a nearby well-wooded area. All photos by Patty Campbell.
A bald eagle surveys the South Natick scene.
Bald eagle in flight, South Natick.We love getting Natick wildlife photos, so don’t be shy about sending them: natickreport@gmail.com
Mounting complaints about a regular at Eddie’s Park, the Natick dog park, has resulted in a new rule: No toys or laser pointers.
The Natick Conservation Commission at its Feb. 4 meeting (shortly before the 2-hour an 13-minute mark of the Pegasus recording) voted in favor of adding these items to a longish list of prohibitions that also includes dogs in heat and smoking.
Marianne Iarossi, planner/conservation agent with Natick’s Community & Economic Development Department, broached the subject during a discussion about new dog rule signs headed to Eddie’s Park, Lavezzo Field at Memorial Elementary School, and Connor Heffler Park. The signs will boast consistent features, including the town seal (might wanna hold off on that actually…).
“There’s been some issues with people following the rules, so we thought it made sense to have some more legitimate town-looking signs out there,” Iarossi said.
Before going forward with the signs, Iarossi said it made sense to run the addition of “Toys or laser pointers” to the prohibited list by the ConCom, which owns the dog park property.
“There’s a lot more context behind that but I don’t know if you want to get into that right now…” she said.
Oh yeah, said Chair Matt Gardner.
So Iarossi went on to describe the presence of a Framingham man whose behavior, and that of his dog or dogs, have been reported by fellow park users numerous times. The man has allegedly used a laser pointer to instigate trouble.
Gardner says the Commission has been working with police and town counsel on how to ban the person from the park, and said this will be an agenda item at an upcoming meeting.
Meanwhile, bring your dogs to the park, but leave the laser pointers at home.
What is it like to work with animals like cobras or rattlesnakes? Find out on Wed., Jan. 20, 4pm – 5pm via Zoom during this exciting program geared towards kids and families. Find out what some scientists are learning about venomous snakes by studying them in the wild and captivity. Learn how animal keepers and scientists stay safe when working with captive alligators or wild crocodiles. Why is it important to train captive polar bears and sea lions?
Joy Marzolf, naturalist, educator and photographerNaturalist, educator, and photographer Joy Marzolf will cover all these topics and more. Learn all about working with dangerous animals from someone who has personally worked with venomous snakes, massive pythons, snapping alligators, huge polar bears, and more. Don’t miss meeting some live animals at the end.
PRESENTER: Joy Marzolf
DATE: Wed., Jan. 20, 2021
TIME: 4pm-5p,
ZOOM ACCESS: Use the form to register and get an email containing the link to join.
Listicles like Money‘s new Top 10 Best Places to Live for Dog Lovers are a dime or dozen, or maybe even a nickel or penny a dozen (I know, I’ve done my share of them). But given that Money puts Natick at #9, we’ll make an exception and mention it.
Money carved out this list based on data from its broader Best Places to Live data, and takes into account factors such as the number of pet care facilities and parks, and weather. The publication counts 31 pet care services locally, and reports that about three out of four residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park.
The blurb about Natick includes a weirdly obligatory “pahk ya cah” reference related to parking at Cochituate State Park…because it’s kind of near Boston. No mention of the new dog park (but hey, the writer looks to be based in New York.)
The highlight of the piece is that it features a photo of Natick’s own Gus the Wonder Pug (and the photo comes courtesy of Natick photographer Adam Pulzetti).