The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) it is hosting a children's program on New England cottontail rabbits, a presentation on the history of bears in RI, and two family-friendly birding workshops this winter as part of its Wildlife Outreach Program.

Saving the New England Cottontail will be featured Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 4 p.m. at the Cranston Public Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston.

Two kinds of cottontail rabbits live in Rhode Island. The New England cottontail is our native species and the whole region is working to protect these animals from disappearing. Learn all about these cute little critters and play a game to discover the threat of invasive species. Appropriate for grades 3 to 5. No registration necessary.

On Saturday, Jan. 25 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. DEM will host “Come Birding with Me”

At Beavertail State Park, Jamestown.

Join the RI Division of Fish and Wildlife for its 4th annual, family-friendly, winter birding adventure at Beavertail State Park. Novice and experienced birdwatchers will learn all about Rhode Island's migratory sea ducks and how to identify these super cool birds. Participants should wear sturdy shoes and warm clothes with lots of layers including mittens, hats and scarves, and bring binoculars if they have them. Registration is required. To sign up, visit forms.gle/bnvk1bKCPMnEQpNTA.

Then on Sunday, Feb. 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Maury Loontjens Memorial Library, 35 Kingstown Road, Narragansett DEM Fish & Wildlife Outreach Coordinator Mary Gannon will detail the history of bears in the state, from colonial persecution to their current status as backyard pests. Registration is not required. This program is part of the annual winter speaker series, On Pettaquamscutt: Presentations on the Environment and the History of the Narrow River Watershed, sponsored by Friends of Canonchet Farm, Narrow River Preservation Association, and the South County Museum, with generous support from Trio Restaurant.

For more information on DEM's Wildlife Outreach Program, visit www.dem.ri.gov/programs/fish-wildlife/wildlifehuntered/outreach.