Trego Mountain Nature Center is dedicated to educating the public about the need for conserving Maryland’s natural resources. We stress the consequences of meeting human needs, and the environmental impact of people's actions and choices on the land and the creatures that inhabit the air and that land. Habitat loss can cause some native species to become endangered or in severe cases extinct. In s
ome cases, however, urbanization alters the habitat such that native and non-native species can flourish. For example, urbanization caused populations of some species of animals to be above their natural levels, causing problems associated with this abnormality. Trego Mountain Nature Center's director, Judith "Dina" Spanomanolis, is the heart of the sanctuary. She has practically wished the sanctuary into existence. Having a love for the earth and its creatures all her life, she will tell you she cant remember when she never had a bird in her hand. From early childhood days, catching barn pigeons to study and watching tadpoles hatch, she has maintained her love for the environment up through today, realizing that good thoughts have to be put into actions to accomplish an end. With wildlife habitat diminishing every second, she feels the need to relay the urgent message to protect earths creatures, their habitats, and ecosystems. Her message: You can make a difference, however small or large. Her lessons in predation and the natural food chain are lived experiences. It is hard to imagine a rehabilitator and a Master Falconer in the same breath, yet while nature can be beautiful, it is not always kind. A predator mammal or raptor that does not learn to hunt in the wild will not survive. There is a natural order of things and when mankind destroys that balance, there are dire consequences. Raptors are a beautiful part of the avian sky and their existence is part of the circle of life. She has specialized in the pre-release training of rehabilitated raptors in Maryland at Trego Mountain Sanctuary.
