Lecture Series: Animal Lore in The Last Green Valley

UMass professor and folklorist Stephen Gencarella will present a lively talk on the legends, folk beliefs, and other traditions of the animals that populate TLGV’s natural—and supernatural—history, drawing from local and regional sources. This lecture will feature classic tales—including hunts for the so-called “last wolf”—to lesser-known lore such as the whippoorwill’s ominous songs, mesmeric snakes, and the fisher’s connection to the black cat of witchcraft. It will also emphasize how science and folklore studies assist the understanding of an ever-changing environment. Presented in partnership with The Last Green Valley, Inc.