HCT Winter Talk Recordings

In case you missed or would like to revisit Harwich Conservation Trust’s (HCT) 2025 Winter Talk Series, please see talk descriptions and recording links below. 

Coyotes in Your Neighborhood

with Peter Trull

Eastern coyotes, found throughout eastern North America, have a genetic make-up that can be a combination of two species of wolves, western coyotes, and domestic dogs. These wild canids thrive alongside the growing human population on Cape Cod, with its diversity of habitats, open space, and “island ecosystem.” Their presence in our yards and neighborhoods may cause unnecessary alarm owing to misinformation that generates fear and anxiety.

In this talk, biologist, field naturalist, and HCT walk leader Peter Trull shares his knowledge and research to offer an objective view about the eastern coyotes’ place in our world as well as our place in their world.

To watch the recording of this winter talk, please click here. 

Eastern coyote photo by Peter Trull

Sea Turtles in Massachusetts Waters:
Mass Audubon’s Year-Round Rescue, Recovery, Research, and Boater Outreach

with Karen Moore Dourdeville

During this presentation by Karen Moore Dourdeville, Sea Turtle Research Coordinator for Mass Audubon Cape Cod, discover why and when sea turtles are in our local waters. Karen describes Mass Audubon’s cold-stun sea turtle rescue project, summer strandings and sightings, conservation research from necropsies and outreach to boaters to reduce fatal vessel strikes.

To watch the recording of this winter talk, please click here.

Leatherback eating lion’s mane photo by Courtney Johnson

Documenting the Wildlands of Harwich

with Connor O’Brien

Explore Harwich’s wildlands through the lens of HCT volunteer photographers during this photo stroll narrated by HCT’s Director of Land Stewardship, Connor O’Brien. Volunteer photographers capture stunning photos of wildlife, HCT conservation lands, walks and events, stewardship projects, citizen science, and more.

Then, hear from volunteer Gerry Beetham about his experiences documenting the Cold Brook Preserve Eco-Restoration Project.

To watch the recording of this winter talk, please click here.

Photos courtesy of Gerry Beetham

Hinckleys Pond – Herring River Headwaters Preserve Eco-Restoration Project

with Nick Nelson

In 2020, Fred and Barbara Jenkins wanted to sell their 31-acre retired bog property to Harwich Conservation Trust (HCT) instead of converting the upland into a subdivision. Thanks to generous HCT donors, the Jenkins’ land bordering the Cape Cod Rail Trail was preserved. Since then, HCT in partnership with the Brown family who owns a retired bog on the other side of the pond, completed the eco-restoration design and permitting process led by Inter-Fluve, which expertly led a similar process at HCT’s Robert F. Smith Cold Brook Preserve on Bank Street. Recently, the Association to Preserve Cape Cod joined the team by securing a federal grant that will fund eco-restoration construction.

Why is eco-restoration important? How many wetland acres will be rewilded? What will the trails look like? What happens during the eco-restoration construction phase? Learn the answers during this presentation by Nick Nelson, who grew up in Harwich and is a fluvial geomorphologist with Inter-Fluve.

To watch the recording of this winter talk, please click here.

Photo courtesy of Gerry Beetham