Environmental Center Seeks Volunteers for "Bioblitz"

The Allegheny County Parks Department is teaming up with the Environmental Education Center for a "bioblitz" this Saturday at North Park's North Dakota shelter, located along Pearce Mill Road in McCandless.
Latodami Environmental Education Center Naturalist Meg Scanlon says a bioblitz is where researchers and volunteers document all the species in a given area within a certain time period. She says they will focus on a new wetland that was developed through a special project by the Turnpike Commission and the parks department. Volunteers will have the opportunity to work with experienced biologists and the staff will assist small groups of people catch and release animals, and identify plants and insects. They’re asking people to volunteer anytime between 10 am and 4 pm. Scanlon says this is a great opportunity to learn more about the environment while having fun. The data will be posted on their website,  latodami.org to show what's living in the wetlands and how species change or are impacted over time.