The two women are leading a new group, Women’s Multisports of Richmond, which proposes an entirely different approach to team competition. Team members are expert competitors in a range of offbeat and interesting sports – one woman cruises the river in a standup paddle board, another is fond of tower racing, while several other members are regional standouts in mountain bike racing. Tagliaferro spends her weekends wave surfing on Lake Anna. The women enter team adventure or obstacle races that mesh their niche athletic skills and satisfy their competitive passions by working together. Despite how fun this sounds, the team’s mission is not all about sport.

“Our mission is really equally divided to create a team for women to be supportive of each other, to encourage others to try our sports, and also to help the community,” says Davidson, team president.

'Team Keith' after the Monument Avenue 10K

The team has partnered with other local and national athletically-minded service groups, such as the Richmond Cycling Corps and The Athena Project, to raise funding for people in need. While the team considers contributing to many worthy causes, the group’s current focus is to boost support to the Virginia Cancer Patient Fund.

 “The neat thing about our team is that we value time and money equally – we are not just looking for financial contributions. We are all out there competing in these awesome sports, and then we come together to give our time to events that benefit underprivileged kids or cancer patients,” says Tagliaferro. “We just took turns pushing a man in a wheelchair as part of ‘Team Keith’ for the Monument Avenue 10k. I have never enjoyed that race so much before this year.”

 Team members exercise the mental and physical fortitude required of the individuals they help each time they compete in a team adventure event. These women are competing with other skilled, often all-male teams, enduring Spartan-like conditions for hours or days on end. 

 Says Tagliaferro, “We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and use it to our advantage to try to win.” 

 Adds Davidson, “We don’t wallow in our weak points and we don’t have as much muscle (as all-male teams), so we win because we problem-solve. We are each very competitive, but each woman has a breaking point.  It happens and we get over it and move on.”

 The team continues to grow in size, range of sports, and philanthropic scope. Several local businesses currently provide funding to help the members compete in races and conduct mountain bike clinics for beginners. The group’s main playground are the trails of downtown Richmond –  places like the Buttermilk Trail in the James River Park System or Forest Hill Park.

 “Our members live all over the place, so we can be spotted at Pocahontas, at Seal Team (Physical Training), in the river, or on the road,” says Davidson.

 There is no doubt the members of Women’s Multisports of Richmond will continue to be a force to be reckoned with, whether the goal is to win the race or help those in need. 

 Just look for them with their snazzy rub-on tattoos or check out their website for more information: www.womensmultisportsofrichmond.com/index.html

Five-day-old red-cockaded woodpecker

Just over an hour south of Richmond, off Route 460 in Sussex county, The Nature Conservancy owns a 3,200-acre tract called Piney Grove. The pine-savanna habitat is home to the the northernmost breeding population of red-cockaded woodpeckers in the U.S. The 44 or so birds at Piney Grove are also the only RCWs (a federally endangered species since 1970) in Virginia. I had the chance to go down there Monday morning to join some scientists with TNC and the Center for Conservation Biology as they attempted to band the recently-hatched chicks for further study. Piney Grove and the RCWs will be the subject of my Friday column, but I thought I’d pass this pic along now. It’s just too cool not to share.

One neat feature of Piney Grove, unlike some TNC properties, is that public has access. There’s an interpretive trail, the Constance Darden Nature Trail (open from from February through October) that anyone can use to get an overview of TNC’s work at the preserve “to restore pine-savanna habitat for the benefit of endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers and myriad other plants and animals.”

It’s an easy trip down Route 460 from Richmond and absolutely worth the drive.

 A new action sport documentary, Strength in Numbers is a rally call to connect all mountain bikers, regardless of location or language or discipline. The film captures a true way of life, from the world’s best pros to those who are just learning to love the sport. Shot over two years in some of mountain biking’s most iconic locations, Anthill’s signature style combines compelling stories with core action to create a shared experience that unites all riders.

 “After almost two straight years of work, all the positive comments we have gotten here have made it all worthwhile”, said the Anthill Crew.

It’s that time of year again when white-tailed deer fawns are showing up in yards and hayfields and concerned citizens want to know how to help. In almost all cases, the best way to help is to simply give the fawn space and leave it alone. Concerned people sometimes pick up animals that they think are orphaned. Most such “orphans” that good-intentioned citizens “rescue” every spring should have been left alone. Most wild animals will not abandon their young, but they do leave them alone for long periods of time while looking for food.

Fawns, born from April through July, are purposely left alone by their mothers. Female deer, called does, stay away from the fawns to avoid leading predators such as dogs or coyotes to their location. The white-spotted coat camouflages a fawn as it lies motionless in vegetation. By giving it a wide berth, you also reduce the risk of inadvertently leading predators to the hidden fawn. Does will return several times each day to move and/or feed their young. You probably will not see the doe at all since she only stays to feed the fawn for just a very few minutes before leaving it alone again. 

If a fawn or a rabbit has been “rescued” when it shouldn’t have been, it can often be released at the same location. Parents tend to remain in the area for at least a day, looking for the lost youngster. If a wild animal has been injured or truly orphaned, do not take matters into your own hands.  You may locate a licensed wildlife rehabilitator by calling the DGIF dispatch at 804-367-1258 (24 hours, 7 days a week).

Raising a wild animal in captivity is illegal unless you have a state permit. Each animal’s nutritional, housing, and handling requirements are very specific and must be met if they have any chance of survival. Feeding the wrong food to a fawn can make it very sick and possibly lead to its death. For example, cow’s milk will induce very severe diarrhea in fawns.

Another caution: do not chase fawns. If a fawn cannot be captured easily and quickly then it should be left alone. A prolonged chase will stress the animal and can lead to capture myopathy, a fatal condition due to severe muscle and kidney damage.

With even the best professional care possible, the survival rate of rehabilitated fawns and many other animals is very low.  More than 50% of fawns brought to rehabilitation facilities die before being released due to injuries they come in with and unavoidable physical stress during the rehabilitation process. Of those fawns that are released, a very small percentage survives the first year in the wild. Furthermore, many rehabilitation facilities have to turn fawns away due to limited housing and staff. Treating fawns takes resources away from treating animals that are rare or endangered.

Wildlife managers have additional concerns about fawn rehabilitation. The process requires deer to be moved, treated (often in contact with other deer), and then released back into the wild.  Often, rehabilitated deer must be released into areas with already high deer populations. Movement and commingling of deer increase the risks that contagious diseases, such as tuberculosis or chronic wasting disease (CWD), will be introduced into Virginia’s wild deer.

The best advice for someone who wants to help wildlife is to keep it wild. Once people interfere, we reduce the opportunity for animals to be cared for by their natural mothers and we increase the risk of harming our wildlife heritage.

A Back Bay marsh, as seen from False Cape SP

That’s the question posed in my column in today’s Times-Dipatch. I went down to Back Bay earlier this week to witness the stocking of 125,000 fingerling bass. It’s the first of three consecutive years of such stockings.

As I write in the column, Back Bay in the 1970s and early 1980s was considered one of the top bass fisheries in the entire United States. The reason was the explosion of a non-native aquatic vegetation called Eurasian watermilfoil. It provided such good habitat for the bass that they could escape predators and grow quickly. But when the grass mysteriously disappeared in the ’80s, the bass died off with it. Now, the grass is coming back, though no one is positive exactly why, and the DGIF figures they’ll see if they can jumpstart a fishery that was once the pride of Virginia bass anglers.

As an aside, the Back Bay area is one of the coolest, though least-known, places in the state. Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge is a stopover point on the Atlantic flyway for thousands of migratory birds. To its south, False Cape State Park is a spectacularly empty stretch of beach, dunes and marsh — 4,000 acres of it. If you ever get the chance to explore the area, jump on it.

False Cape State Park

Skid steer at work on the Belle Isle Bike Skills Park

“Do you feel lucky, punk?”

Although this line was immortalized in a classic Dirty Harry movie, I often wonder if Richmond’s outdoor community asks themselves this question. I think most local outdoor enthusiasts would agree they feel pretty lucky to live in a city where opportunities abound right in the heart of our urban core. In most cities mountain bikers, trail runners, and hikers have to commute to get to any suitable terrain for their activity of choice.  Fortunately, Richmond trail enthusiasts have the ability to drive into the city for arguably the best trail opportunities in central Virginia.  These opportunities wouldn’t be possible without organizations like Richmond Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (a.k.a. RaMORE).

MORE, the parent organization to RaMORE, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Northern Virginia/District of Columbia that was formed in 1992. Together, the two organizations represent thousands of mountain bikers and maintain over 115 miles of urban trail in the Richmond and D.C. areaa.  Richmond-MORE started in 2004 and is committed to environmentally sound and socially responsible mountain biking, facilitating recreational trail cycling, educating the public about the sport of mountain biking, maintaining local trails, and advocating for increased multi-use trail access.        

I recently sat down with Greg Rollins, president of RaMORE, who shared some of his insight into the history and accomplishments of MORE over the years. 

“In 2004, JROC (James River Outdoor Coalition) spearheaded the effort to bring multi-use trails to the area,” Rollins remembers.  “This idea was fully embraced by Ralph White (JRPS Park Manager) and J.R. Pope (former Director of Parks and Recreation). These two men really helped to establish the vision of these initial trail efforts.”

Nathan Burrell (pictured) has been instrumental in the development of Richmond's trail system.

In recent years, city trails manager Nathan Burrell has galvanized the efforts to expand and enhance trail opportunities in our city. With the help of weekend volunteers, Burrell and MORE have made the trails in the James River Park a destination for riding. The Northbank Trail was originally put in to give the annual XTERRA off-road triathlon series a platform for a complete race loop. A fairly newer trail re-route in Forest Hill Park has created some additional fun within the park. Most recently, the Dogwood Dell section of trail (including the first hiking-specific trail) was completed, which revitalized an untapped area of green space in the city.  These additional trails have also served to expand the rider experience near the James River Park.

Most notable is the excitement around the upcoming Belle Isle Skills Park.  This project was endorsed and recommended by Mayor Dwight Jones’ Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. This amazing opportunity comes about with a collaboration of area volunteer groups, including JROC, City of Richmond Trails Division, James River Park System, IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) and RaMORE. The skills park will offer a great facility for beginning and intermediate riders to learn the skills needed to be safe and successful on a mountain bike.  It will also serve as a training ground for riders wanting to experience the almost 18 miles of technical trails in and around the James River Park. 

“The progress is beyond my expectations” noted Rollins.  “Everyone has really teamed together to make it happen and it showcases the true spirit of the area riding community”.  The skills park will hopefully be completed by Memorial Day for all to enjoy.

The positivity behind these projects is evident in the spirit of the RaMORE trail-building volunteers and organizers as well as all supporters of these trail endeavors. All of the progress has a secondary impact on our city that many might not realize. The positive nature of these projects establishes positive users of the trails and pushes out the bad users. The supporters and volunteers of RaMORE are the ones leading the charge into making Richmond a Mecca for trail riding.

“We currently have between 15-40 volunteers show up each time we have a trail work day” Rollins said, further validating the commitment to our great city and it’s trail opportunities. 

So do I feel lucky to have these trails to ride?…ABSOLUTELY! Now go out and RIDE!!!

 To become a supporter of RaMORE please go to the website and click on the ‘Membership’ link.  Also, if you would like to come out and volunteer at the skills park, this Saturday and Sunday (May 12-13) would be a great time to start.  More details are available on the RaMORE website. 

KVB provided the opportunity for government, non-profit and/or service organizations in Virginia to apply for one of (30) grants ranging from $500 to $1,000 in three different categories:  Beautification, Litter Prevention, and Recycling.  These grants are made possible by KVB partners – Capital One, Waste Management and Lowe’s.

Dam at Pocahontas State Park

Friends of Pocahontas State Park will use Keep Virginia Beautiful grant funds to plant native milkweed and butterfly weed at multiple high traffic public locations at the park including the park sign at the park entrance, the nature center and the pool area.  These areas already have established garden beds, but require cleaning and greening up with new plants.  This project will beautify public park areas, educate visitors about native plants and the importance of native pollinators, establish butterfly and pollinator habitat, and increase educational program offerings at the park.  The park interpretive staff will then have an opportunity to use signage purchased by the grant funds, and programs to teach people about using native plants in their landscape plans and yards.  Furthermore, they will be able to offer public programs on Monarch butterflies and Monarch butterfly tagging as well as other programs based on much needed pollinator species.  Milkweed is not only beautiful, but is also an important host plant for Monarch caterpillars and butterflies.  The park entrance, nature center and pool area are located in high traffic areas that saw 300,000+ visitors in 2011.