Dr. Patricia Block first purchased eight acres of undeveloped woodland with a pond as a site for her home. She soon decided to purchase another 12 acres to establish a wildlife sanctuary and to help prevent further development in close proximity to her home. Dr. Block deeply appreciates “the quiet sounds of the forest,” and she wanted to ensure that it would always be filled with those wonderful sounds. In 2002 Dr. Block donated conservation easements on the property to the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust to create the Block Wildlife Sanctuary, nearly 20 acres in Troy Alabama. These easements, like all conservation easements with the Wildlife Land Trust, permanently prohibit commercial and recreational hunting and trapping as well destructive logging practices and further development. A three-quarter acre pond that is fed by multiple natural springs and drains into a wetland make this land an ideal wildlife sanctuary. A rich variety of trees – oak, hickory, maple, birch, pine and cedar – grace the land, providing abundant nesting sites. Among the creatures one might encounter or find evidence of on her land are black bears, bobcats, foxes, coyotes, gray and flying squirrels, white-tailed deer, raccoons, moles, armadillos, opossums, turtles (sliders and snappers), frogs (peepers, bullfrogs and tree frogs), toads and snakes. Many birds make year-round homes here, and even more find respite during migration, including great blue herons, green herons, Canada geese mallards, barred owls, snowy egrets, red-shouldered hawks, double-crested cormorants, pileated woodpeckers, and countless songbirds. Although this sanctuary remains privately owned, the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust has an obligation to perform periodic inspections to ensure that the wildlife habitat remains in good condition and that the terms of the conservation easement are being met. These inspections, and the handling of any destruction or violations, cost heavily in professional staff time, consultants, and travel expenses. In addition the Wildlife Land Trust needs a reserve of funds for the substantial legal fees needed if enforcement of violations involves court action. WLT has promised to protect this property as sanctuary forever -- and that promise will be kept. If you can help with the cost of stewardship for this and the other properties WLT protects, please donate here. |
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