Pittsburgh Wildlife Strategy & Urban Residents: Q&A with Scrap the Trap

In the past week, we’ve seen a groundhog in our yard, a raccoon on our back porch, and our regular opossum visitor. None of this is new. But it is early and as we are in the process of trapping, neutering/spaying & releasing feral cats, so this creates some challenges. Some of our neighbors have […]

Scrap the Trap Rescued an Orphaned Racoon in Our Pgh Neighborhood

I stepped outside on the stoop and a woman sitting in her car told me a raccoon was ‘on the loose’ and might bite me. So I stepped back into the house and decided to call my neighbor with ‘Scrap the Trap – Pittsburgh.’ A few minutes later, I was tracking an obviously terrified young […]

Riding Out Hurricane Andrew: 25 Years Later

As I’m watching the media coverage of the impact of Hurricane Harvey, I keep flashing back to my experiences with Hurricane Andrew. In August 1992, I had just relocated to Baton Rouge, Louisiana for graduate school. I knew exactly one person, a classmate from undergrad. I wasn’t especially enamored of post-graduate work and not especially […]

7 Ways the City of Pittsburgh ‘Can’ Promote Use of Recycling Bins

The City of Pittsburgh is asking residents to stop using blue plastic bags for recycling and instead use blue bins or cans. It’s time to stop using blue Giant Eagle grocery bags to hold recyclables. Despite the longtime curbside tradition, using blue bags actually harms Pittsburgh’s recycling program. According to Pennsylvania Resources Council western regional […]

Another Highland Park Reservoir Duck Update

You remember there is a situation at the Reservoir with ducklings dying? After a lot of back and forth, I have a formal response from PWSA. Two key facts They have established a ‘hotline’ of sorts for people to report wildlife (and other) emergencies to a 24/7 dispatch team at 412-255-2423 (note, I have no idea if […]

Update on Highland Park Reservoir Ducklings – Why Is The Water Level So Low?

Last week, I blogged about a situation in the Highland Park Reservoir – ducklings were dying and their bodies left floating in the water. We have a positive update, but lots of questions. First, the good news. Another set of hatchlings (5 in total) seem to be doing well so far. Mama duck is scooting […]

Response From PWSA: Highland Park Ducklings

Ducklings Highland Park

The Highland Park Reservoir is a regulated drinking water source managed by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. PWSA shares your concern about the ducklings and their inability to exit the reservoir. We’re exploring solutions that would help them get out of the water and over the wall of the reservoir to exit safely. Please […]

#AMPLIFY Teams Up With Goodwill For Reuse Fundraiser, Highlights Green in Pride Rainbow

Donate Your Gently Used Items To Support The #AMPLIFY LGBTQ Project! DATE: Saturday, July 8, 2017 TIME: 10 AM – 12 PM LOCATION: Persad Center Rear Parking Lot – 5301 Butler Street, Suite 100 Lawrenceville 15201 A percentage of the proceeds from this collection will support the storytelling efforts of #AMPLIFY. How to Help Organize […]

Cherry Blossoms in Pittsburgh

Learning about Pittsburgh’s very own Cherry Blossom groves in North Park has been one of my favorite experiences in my adult Pittsburgh years. I went to college in D.C. so I saw a lot of blossoms. Oh, so many blossoms. Then I moved to Louisiana and saw so many magnolias. I took it all for […]

Here’s a Video of Our Door

Most Wanted Fine Art Contracting

I can’t think of anything to blog about today. My mind is reeling between topics including the #BlackLivesMatter protests and the disclosure about Rolling Stone’s botched story on sexual assault. I’m also coping with some minor home renovations and – toughest of all – the looming surgery my 13 year old dog will have on […]