Medical Matters Weekly Welcomes Psychologist Sheehan Fisher

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BENNINGTON, Vt. — Sheehan Fisher, PhD, an associate professor and clinical psychologist at Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, is the guest on Medical Matters Weekly at 4 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11.

The show is produced by Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC) with cooperation from Catamount Access Television (CAT-TV). Viewers can view on facebook.com/svmedicalcenter and facebook.com/CATTVBennington. The show is also available to view or download as a podcast on svhealthcare.org/medicalmatters.

Dr. Fisher’s research career focuses on the effects of parental mental health on infant/child health outcomes, with a specialization in the emerging field of father mental health. Dr. Fisher’s research dovetails with his perinatal clinical practice, including being an individual and couples therapist for perinatal families and the clinical director of the Fathers’ Mental Health Specialty Clinic. He aims for his research to optimize the health and effectiveness of the parental team and to positively influence the child health trajectory starting from infancy.  

Medical Matters Weekly features the innovative personalities who drive positive change within health care and related professions. The show addresses all aspects of creating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for all, including food and nutrition, housing, diversity and inclusion, groundbreaking medical care, exercise, mental health, the environment, research, and government. The show is broadcast on Facebook Live, YouTube, and all podcast platforms.

After the program, the video is available on area public access television stations CAT-TV (Comcast channel 1075) and GNAT-TV's (Comcast channel 1074), as well as on public access stations throughout the United States.
 
 


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Fish and Wildlife Department: Take Down Birdfeeders, Secure Food from Bears

MONTPELIER, Vt. — The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has begun to receive reports of bears coming out of their dens and is urging Vermonters to remove their birdfeeders and take additional steps now to prevent conflicts with bears over the spring and summer.
 
"Do not wait to take down your birdfeeders and bearproof your yard until a bear comes to visit," said Jaclyn Comeau, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department's Bear Biologist.  "You need to act now to head off bear conflicts over the spring and summer, even if you have never had a bear visit your property before."
 
Bear incidents have been on the rise over the past several years.  Officials believe this trend is a result of Vermont's healthy black bear population learning to associate people and food over multiple generations.  Even with a steady increase in the number bears harvested by hunters in recent years—including a record harvest in 2024—Vermont's bear population has been stable over the past two decades and shows signs of growth over the past five years.
 
Shorter winters also mean that bears are emerging from their dens earlier in the spring.  In recent years bear activity has begun in mid-March.  This is roughly two weeks earlier than what is traditionally considered the start of "bear-aware season" in northern New England.
 
"Preventing bears from having access to human-related foods is key to successful coexistence with these long-lived and intelligent animals," said Comeau. "Bears can be found in every corner of Vermont other than the Champlain islands.  Put bluntly, most Vermonters live in bear country."
 
The department asks Vermonters to take the following proactive steps for coexisting with bears: 
 
  • Take down birdfeeders between mid-March and December.
  • Store garbage in bear-resistant containers or structures, trash cans alone are not enough.  
  • Follow the steps on our web page for composting in bear country. 
  • Use electric fences to keep chickens and honeybees safe. 
  • Request a bear-resistant dumpster from your waste hauler. 
  • Feed your pets indoors. 
  • Never feed bears, it is illegal.
 
"Deep snow may delay some bears from emerging from winter dens until April, but mid-March is the time for Vermonters to prepare for the early risers by taking down our birdfeeders, making sure garbage is secure, and protecting backyard chickens and bees with an electric fence," said Comeau.  "This will help teach bears that our yards and neighborhoods are not good places to search for food, but it will only work if everyone does their part."  Taking these precautions will also help reduce the chance of attracting other wildlife species such as raccoons, skunks and rodents.
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