Great turnout at the Wild Acres youth fishing derby

 It was a cloudy but fishable day at the Wild Acres Fishing Derby which was held last Saturday.  Due to the Covid restrictions, the number of people was limited to 150.  Unfortunately, nearly 50 others arrived for the event but had to be turned away.  This was the 7^th year that the City of Pittsfield Conservation Commission and Lyon Aviation sponsored the event.  Last year’s event had to be cancelled due to Covid.

Representing the City of Pittsfield were Becky Manship, Recreation Activities Coordinator and Rob Vanderkar, Pittsfield Conservation Agent. Assisting the anglers were Onota Fishing Club President Fred Ostrander and his team of OFC volunteers. Dave’s Sporting Goods Store and Onota Boat Livery provided the worms and some equipment, Lyon Aviation donated funds for the event and The Berkshire National Fish Hatchery provided the brook trout.  The City of Pittsfield provided the chips, cookies, lollypops, etc.

Even though some 300 or so trout were stocked into the pond, they were hard to catch, in fact, only 5 of them were caught.  Not a problem, though, for the bass, sunfish and perch cooperated nicely.  Just about every kid caught fish. To make things even more pleasant for the smaller kids, the banks all around the pond had a couple of inches of gooey, muck, due to the recent rains.  Perfect condition for the tots to slosh in and get their fancy boots all muddied up.  Hey!  It doesn’t get any better than that!  And it was heart-warming to see grandparents once again being able to be out with their grandchildren.

The trophy winners were as follows:

Trout Category:  Shayne Clairmont caught the largest trout measuring 10 inches and weighing 3oz.  Other trophy winners in the trout category were Parker DeVergilio, Elise Sabolevski, Sandra Kisselbrock and Griffin Sabolevski.

Bass Category:  Mila Ostellino caught the largest bass measuring 14 inches and weighing 1 lb 3oz.  Other trophy winners in the bass category were Austin Sayers, Gabriel Christman, Alice Christman, Bellah Munson, Valente Lewis,

Chase Jones, Selena Rodriguez, Charlie Guachione, Bryce Santolin, Tyrus Ostellino, Kelsey Santolin, and Lottie Leeco.

Perch Category: Samuel Collins caught the largest yellow perch measuring 11 ¾ inches and weighing 6oz. Other trophy winners in the perch category were Nelson Pelkey and Wesley Willey.

Sunfish Category:  Maverick Pytko caught the largest sunfish measuring 7 inches and weighing 4oz. Other trophy winners in that category were Remington Pytko, Lincoln Bohem, Frankie Guachione, and Josie Guachione.

Golden Shiner Category:  Kai Scholl got a trophy for catching the only shiner which measured 9.5 inches and weighed 5oz.

A trio of young girls, (Bryer, Ryker and Sandy) collaborated and caught a bullfrog.  They kept it in a 5-gallon pail and wanted to take it home, but their parents ultimately convinced them to release it.  Another youngster caught a turtle.  Sorry, no trophies for the bullfrogs or turtles.  All of the fish and critters were released unharmed.

Our hats off to Lyon Aviation, the City of Pittsfield, the Onota Fishing Club and everyone involved for providing the kids with a such wonderful day.  I especially want to thank City of Pittsfield’s Becky Manship for her hard work in providing the names of all the winners.

Unfortunately, Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby cancelled again

A message from Steve Bateman, Chairman of the Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby: “Sadly this year’s 28^th, like in last year’s 27th Annual Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby had to be canceled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The event is always held on the first Saturday in June which falls on the Massachusetts Free Fishing Weekend (June 5, 2021). Last year’s event got canceled due to the City of Pittsfield and State COVID-19 shutdown. We then scheduled a date for September 2020 and that event also got canceled. We were hoping that this year’s event would happen but after a conversation with the City Health Dept. unfortunately under the COVID laws it will be impossible to put on a quality event that everyone is use to and what makes this derby such a success. They said the fishing derby can happen because it is considered a low- risk sport, but in Massachusetts attendance for such an outdoor event is set at 150 people. One problem is supplying food which has always been part of the fishing derby. It would have to be served by a licensed caterer and they would have to abide by the restaurant rules. These issues would decrease the derby attendance number and make it impossible to run a quality fundraising event that everyone on the Harry Bateman Committee worked so hard to create. There are just too many negatives, such as making sure all of the attendants are safe by sanitizing, not being sure how many people will actually show up all due to COVID-19, the possibility of turning people away and enforcing the mask and 6-foot separation rule. If someone tested positive, we would have to contact everyone that attended. Then there is the extra cost of hiring a Catering Service, sanitizers and extra signage.   All of these things caused us to cancel this year.”

“Our goal is to raise funds for the Jimmy Fund while having a great time at a fishing event. If you ask anyone who has ever attended the Harry Bateman Fishing Derby, they will tell you that they have never seen anything like it or, It’s the best fishing derby that they have ever gone to.”  (This scribe will attest to that).

“We will be back and bigger than ever for the 30th Annual Derby next year”.  They already have support from many friends, too numerous to list in this column.  The derby folks thank everyone for your continued support.

Since Steve’s message, the State did ease up on some of the COVID restrictions, but it was still decided to postpone the event.

If you would like to financially support them, make checks payable to:  The Jimmy Fund-In Memory of Harry Bateman, and mail to: The Jimmy Fund Of Berkshire County, PO  Box 1139, Pittsfield, MA. 01202.

You can also find them on Facebook   https://www.facebook.com/HarryBatemanFishingDerby

Trout stocking

Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked by Massachusetts DFW:  Hoosic River (South Branch) in Cheshire and Adams, Dry Brook and South Brook in Cheshire, Hoosic River (North Branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams, Clesson Brook in Ashfield and Buckland, Chickley River in Charlemont and Hawley, Westfield River (East Branch) in Savoy, Windsor, Cummington, Chesterfield and Huntington;  Westfield River (Mainstem) in Huntington, Montgomery and Russell; Wahconah Falls Brook in Dalton, Windsor Brook in Windsor and Hinsdale, Hubbard River in Granville and Tolland, West Brook in Great Barrington and Lee, Goose Pond Brook and Greenwater Brook in Lee, Hop Brook in Lee and Tyringham, Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee, Housatonic River (SW) in Pittsfield, Clam and Buck Rivers in Sandisfield, Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, North Pond in Florida, Norwich Pond in Huntington and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

Lots of bears out there

At the last meeting of the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen, DCR’s Mountain District Manager ‎Mark Jester commented that DCR parks are being inundated by black bears.  No surprise there, ey?  Bear boxes were brought in at each site in their campgrounds. Incidentally, he reported that camping season has started with campgrounds opening up with 75% capacity under COVID-19.  People looking to camp in state parks need to reserve their dates online via Reserve America

It’s true! It’s true!

Readers may recall that last week I featured a picture of 5-year old Gabriel Christman holding a large fish that he caught. The carp which appeared to be half of his own weight checked in at 21.5 lbs.  There was some scuttlebutt that no way could he have caught such a large fish alone.  I saw his dad Joshua at the Wild Acres Youth Fishing Derby last weekend and asked him about it.  Joshua then proceeded to show me a cell phone video showing young Gabriel fighting and hauling that fish in.  Joshua then netted it after the fish was brought close to shore.

MassWildlife officials recently confirmed that a bald eagle that died in March was the victim of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) poisoning. While mortalities in bald eagles due to anticoagulant rodenticides have been documented in other states, this is the first confirmed case in Massachusetts. In mid-March, observers reported odd behavior of an adult female eagle at a nest located on the Charles River in Middlesex County. Unfortunately, within a day, the bird had died on its nest. MassWildlife officials retrieved the eagle and transported it to Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University where a necropsy was performed. Toxicology testing of a liver sample was performed with the assistance of the Northeast Wildlife Disease Cooperative. Both the necropsy and toxicology test results confirmed that the cause of death was lethal levels of anticoagulant rodenticides.

Anticoagulant rodenticides are a type of rodent poison that kills by preventing blood from clotting normally, resulting in a fatal hemorrhage. Wildlife can be poisoned by anticoagulant rodenticides in two ways: 1) primary poisoning when an animal directly eats the bait and dies several days later, or 2) secondary poisoning when a predator or scavenger eats prey that has consumed the bait. Secondary poisoning has been documented in birds of prey like hawks and owls, as well as foxes, bobcats, and coyotes. While bald eagles primarily eat fish, they are opportunistic foragers that feed on a variety of animals and are known to scavenge or prey on small mammals.

Given the hunting range of eagles, it’s impossible to determine the exact source of this rodenticide poisoning. Analysis of liver tissue confirmed three different SGARs were ingested by the eagle. In the past 15 years, the US EPA has taken steps to impose restrictions on certain rodenticides. SGARs are believed to be most harmful to wildlife and now cannot be sold through general consumer outlets for the typical homeowner to use. SGARs can still be purchased online in commercial use quantities, and licensed pest professionals and agricultural users are able to use them. Other rodenticides, called first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) and non-anticoagulant rodenticides, are still approved for residential consumer use if enclosed within a bait station.

“The struggle to control mice and rats is usually viewed in terms of humans vs. rodents, but wildlife such as birds of prey are often not recognized as players in this battle,” said Dr. Maureen Murray, Director of Tufts Wildlife Clinic. “Many people are surprised to learn that the mouse poison they use in their basement can also kill the great horned owl hooting in the neighborhood.” Studies in other species of birds of prey conducted at Tufts Wildlife Clinic have shown widespread exposure to SGARs among these birds. MassWildife officials, in partnership with Tufts Wildlife Clinic, provide the following advice for homeowners with a rodent problem to minimize harm to wildlife:

• Rodent-proof your home. Before using a poison, remove or securely contain any potential food sources for rodents. Repair any exterior areas of your home to prevent rodents from coming inside.
• Arm yourself with information. Consider alternatives to poison, such as snap traps. Poisons should be used as a last resort. Be sure to check the active ingredients and opt for products that contain bromethalin, chlorophacinone, or diphacinone. Use poisons only in bait stations as per the label instructions and avoid any in pellet form.
• Ask your pest control company questions. Look for an integrated pest management company that uses multiple approaches to pest control instead of relying solely on poisons. You can request that the company avoid using SGAR products.

According to MassWildlife, the overall population of bald eagles in Massachusetts continues to recover and grow in numbers and geographic distribution. There are currently over 80 pairs of bald eagles nesting in Massachusetts from the Cape to the Berkshires. According to observers, within a week of the above referenced female’s death, another adult female eagle was observed at the nest with the male adult. “The appearance of a new female in such a short period of time speaks to the state’s robust eagle population,” said Andrew Vitz, MassWildlife’s State Ornithologist.

Trout stocking

Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked by Massachusetts DFW:  Green River (South) in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Walker Brook in Becket and Chester, Yokum Brook in Becket, Potash Brook in Blandford and Russell, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Pelham Brook in Rowe and Charlemont, Cold River in Charlemont and Florida, Westfield River (Middle Branch) in Chester, Huntington, Worthington and Middlefield; West Branch Brook in Chesterfield and Worthington, Williams River in West Stockbridge and Great Barrington, Kinderhook Creek in Hancock, Konkapot River in Monterey and  New Marlborough, Little River in Worthington and Huntington, Town Brook in Lanesborough, Yokun Brook in Lenox, Factory Brook in Middlefield, Trout Brook in Peru and Worthington, Dunbar Brook in Monroe, Sackett Brook in Dalton and Pittsfield, Larrywaug Brook in Stockbridge, Hemlock Brook in Williamstown, Depot Brook in Washington, Bronson Brook in Worthington, West Branch Brook in Worthington, Upper Highland Lake in Goshen, Berry Pond in Hancock, Pelham Lake in Rowe and Windsor Lake in North Adams.

With MassWildlife currently liberating thousands of plump trout into our local waters, this column has primarily focused on them lately.  But, as the inset photo demonstrates, there are other fish, such as carp, cruising our waters just waiting to challenge the anglers.  Five-year old Gabriel Christman, already a State multi-gold pin winning angler, took up the challenge and you see who won.  He recently landed a 21.5 lbs Mirror Carp caught out of Laurel Lake. His father, Joshua Christman, said that Gabriel, who was “super excited,” had no help reeling in the fish which he caught on a medium rod, 8lb test line with a worm.  This is his new personal best. and will undoubtedly get him another State pin, perhaps another gold one.

Free Fishing Days

Just a friendly reminder that anglers don’t need to have a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license to fish on the weekend of June 5 and 6.  Wish to fish out of state?  Well, Maine’s free fishing weekend is also June 5 and 6.  New Hampshire has a free fishing day on June 5, and Vermont’s day is June 12.  Connecticut’s free day is June 20 and New York’s free fishing days are June 26 and 27. Might as well try them out.  Who knows, you may discover a new favorite area to fish.

Maintaining our special places

MassWildlife recently reported that its staff removes over 100,000 pounds of trash from its Wildlife Management Areas every year, but they can’t maintain these special places alone. They recently took a moment to thank each and every one of you who help them improve their corner of the world. “Taking care of our planet is an important responsibility, and the outdoors are better when we can enjoy it together,” they said.  Personally, I hope these people aren’t trashing our WMA’s in front of their kids, elsewise this nasty practice will be passed from generation to generation.  Terrible thought, ey?

Ladies Night Fun Shoots

By popular demand, the Lee Sportsmen’s Association will be having its ladies night fun shoots.  They begin on May 11 at 6:00 pm, with a safety briefing for all shooters at 5:45pm.  New or inexperienced female shooters are welcome.  If you have no gun or equipment, LSA can provide safety equipment, firearms, and instruction.  Due to the national ammunition shortage, ammo cannot be provided; so, participants will need to supply their own ammunition (.22 long rifle, 9mm, or .380).  Focus is on shooting fundamentals and having safe fun.  The cost is $3 for members, $5 for non-members.  Cold Range Rules apply; gun handling only at Safety Table.  For those with their own equipment: 5 magazines are recommended.   Future dates are June 15, July 13, and August 17.  For more information on these events, required equipment, and costs click onto info@leesportsmen.com or call/text Stephanie DuPont at (215) 668-7808.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Massachusetts DFW (MassWildlife) is reminding us that young wildlife belong in the wild and urging us to leave them alone. Finding a young animal alone does not mean it’s been abandoned or needs to be rescued. Adults are often nearby and visit their young only occasionally to avoid detection from predators.

What you should do:

• If you find a baby bird: While baby birds may look helpless, they do not need your assistance unless you see clear signs of injury, like a broken wing. If you find a hatchling or nestling (a young bird without feathers) outside the nest, you can try to return it to its nest or create an artificial nest. The parents will not reject it if you touch it. If you find a fledgling (a young, fully feathered bird) outside the nest, leave it alone. While it is spending some time hopping around on the ground learning how to fly, the parents are usually nearby still taking care of it. If you find a fledgling near a road or exposed to danger, it can be moved to a safer, sheltered location nearby. Young birds naturally have a low survival rate, which keeps populations in balance with available resources.
• If you find a fawn: Young deer are born in late May and early June. Even if you see a fawn alone for several days, you should still leave it alone. The animal may be motionless and seem vulnerable, but this is the normal behavior for a fawn and the mother (doe) is probably feeding or bedded nearby. Fawns are safest when left alone because their camouflaging color helps them remain undetected. Does visit their fawns to nurse very infrequently, a behavior that helps fawns avoid detection by predators. If sympathetic people repeatedly visit a fawn, it can prolong separation from the doe and delay needed feeding. Fawns cannot be cared for by wildlife rehabilitators; if a fawn is visibly injured or found with its dead mother, call MassWildlife at (508) 389-6300.
• If you find bunnies or other young mammals: Generally, young mammals are visited by their mother only a few times a day to avoid attracting predators to the young. For example, a nest of bunnies will only be visited by the adult female twice per day to nurse the young. The young are generally safe when left alone because their color patterns and lack of scent help them remain undetected. In most cases, it’s best to leave young animals alone.
• Keep pets leashed. Keeping pets indoors or restrained helps wildlife, as pets often like to chase and hunt songbirds and other mammals. This also helps your pets avoid health and safety dangers posed by wild animals, other pets, or automobiles.
• Contact a wildlife rehabilitator for advice. In almost all cases, it’s best to leave wildlife alone and let nature take its course. In the rare case you find a young animal with a dead parent or if you see visible signs of injury, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for assistance. An injured wild animal may be assisted, but a person must deliver the animal immediately to a licensed rehabilitator. MassWildlife licenses wildlife rehabilitators who are qualified to care for most injured or truly orphaned wildlife.

For more information on what to do if you find sick, injured, or young wildlife, click onto https://www.mass.gov/info.

Trout stocking

Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked by Massachusetts DFW:  Green River (South) in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington;  West Branch of the Westfield River in Becket, Chester, Huntington and Middlefield; Westfield River East Branch in Cummington (C&R), Chesterfield (C&R) and Huntington;   Westfield River Middle Branch in Middlefield, Chester, Huntington and Worthington; Westfield Mainstem in Huntington, Russell, Montgomery; Cold River in Florida and Charlemont, Hoosic River (North Branch) in Clarksburg and North Adams,  Hudson Brook in Clarksburg and North Adams, Farmington River in Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield; Green River (South) in Alford, Egremont and Great Barrington; Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee and Stockbridge, Konkapot River in Monterey, Ashfield Pond in Ashfield, Littleville Reservoir in Chester and Huntington, Mansfield Pond in Great Barrington and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

New Migratory Game Bird Regulations

A public hearing will be held on Friday, April 23 at 9:30 a.m. to establish rules and regulations relative to the 2021–2022 migratory game bird hunting seasons. This public hearing will be held virtually via Zoom

Due to the migratory game bird season filing requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the MA Fisheries and Wildlife Board must vote to finalize and approve the 2021–2022 migratory bird seasons at the close of the hearing. Therefore, please note: There will be no written comment period after this public hearing. Written comments may be submitted prior to the hearing via email to susan.sacco@mass.gov, Subject: Fisheries and Wildlife Board, or by postal mail. to the Fisheries and Wildlife Board, MassWildlife Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.

The full proposed rules and regulations are posted on the website https://www.mass.gov/doc/dfw-final-draft-2021-2022-migratory-game-bird-hunting-regulations/download.  Interested persons can review them and provide written comments prior to the hearing and oral comments during the public-comment portion of the hearing. Here is a summary of the proposed changes:

• Woodcock Season: October 7 through November 27

• Youth and Veteran’s Waterfowl Hunts: September 25 and October 9
• Early Goose Season: September 7 through September 24
• Regular Goose Season
  • Berkshire Zone: October 12 through November 13
  • Central Zone: October 11 through November 27 and December 13 through January 1
  • Coastal Zone: October 16 through October 23 and November 23 through January 22
• Duck Season
  • Berkshire Zone: October 12 through November 27 and December 6 through December 27
  • Central Zone: same as Regular Goose Season
  • Coastal Zone: same as Regular Goose Season

Youth Artist from Hanson Wins Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Caleb Clemons, a homeschool student from Hanson, won Best of Show in the 2021 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) Contest. His acrylic painting of American black ducks was selected from 134 entries. Clemons award-winning work will move on to the National JDS Contest.

Students from kindergarten through grade 12 from across the Commonwealth submitted original works of art depicting waterfowl in appropriate wetland habitat, demonstrating both artistic talent and a knowledge of the value of wetlands for wildlife. In March, MassWildlife held the judging, at which time the top winning artists were selected. Combinations of the top artworks will be exhibited throughout Massachusetts in the coming year based on reopening guidelines for host sites.

The Massachusetts JDS Program is sponsored by MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with support from the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council. You are asked to support the JDS Program and wetland conservation by purchasing Junior Duck Stamps featuring national winners from previous years. Stamps can be purchased at https: // www.duckstamp.com.

To learn more about the Massachusetts JDS Program, and to access the traveling exhibit schedule, visit mass.gov/dfw/jds.

Beagle Club Field Trials

After all that we have been through lately, it will be nice to get out among fellow beagle owners and their dogs.  Next weekend, April 24 – 25, the Berkshire Beagle Club on Sleepy Hollow Road in Richmond, MA is having its spring field trials.  Some of the best beagles in the northeast will compete at following the scents of snowshoe hares and/or cottontail bunnies. All of the dogs are AKC registered and many already possess championship ribbons won at other field trials.  When they strike a scent, they sure sing, some practically yodeling.  For beagle lovers, it is truly music to their ears.

The club welcomes folks to come and just listen to the dogs and observe the judges.  Every now and then, you will hear someone shout “Tally Ho!” to let the judges know that they spotted a bunny or dog on its scent.

There will be food to purchase there as well as a raffle for an Alpha Tracking System dog collar worth about $300.  (Ticket cost $10 or three for $20.)  If you decide to attend, remember to bring your mask and practice social distancing.

The number of American bald eagles has quadrupled since 2009, and more than 300,000 birds soar over the lower 48 states, government scientists said in a report recently. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said bald eagles, the national symbol that once teetered on the brink of extinction, (due to habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source, largely as a consequence of DDT)   have flourished in recent years, growing to more than 71,400 nesting pairs and about 316,700 individual birds.  “We’re approaching 80 pairs of bald eagles statewide, which is absolutely wonderful, ” said Dave Paulson of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). “This is a great time of year because right now, the eagles have either laid eggs or they will be soon. They’ll start hatching in April and May, and they’ll be very active once that happens.”  Paulson said the eagles tend to nest in tall white pines near lakes, ponds and rivers.

They have even made it to the South Shore of Massachusetts, Paulson said, and before that, the last sighting of a baby eagle was 115 years ago.  “It really captivates the local community because they are this majestic species that people grew up not seeing, but we’re seeing them more and more,” he said. “The fact that they are starting to enter into these suburbs and easterly towns is wonderful.”

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland hailed the eagle’s recovery and noted that the majestic, white-headed bird has always been considered sacred to Native American tribes and the USA generally.  “The strong return of this treasured bird reminds us of our nation’s shared resilience and the importance of being responsible stewards of our lands and waters that bind us together″ said Haaland, the first Native American Cabinet secretary.

As readers are probably aware, DFW folks are busy this time of year finding the eagle nests and banding the young ones.  I recently asked Andrew Madden, DFW Western District Supervisor if he used booms or anything like that to get to the tall nests.  No, he said, he shimmies up the tall trees to get to them.  I suspect the eagles are not too pleased with him invading their nests.  Yo!   I think that man deserves hazardous duty pay!

He asks that if people see eagles to report them to MassWildlife, especially if we see pairs of them or those carrying nest building material.  The reporting of nests by the public helps them to paint a picture of the population’s growth.

Trout stocking

Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked by Massachusetts DFW: South Branch of the Hoosic River in Cheshire and Adams, East Branch of the Housatonic River in Hinsdale and Dalton, Housatonic River (C&R) in Lee and Stockbridge, Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; West Branch of the Westfield River in Becket, Huntington, Chester and Middlefield, East Branch of the Westfield River in Chesterfield, Cummington and Windsor; Farmington River in Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield;  Littleville Reservoir in Chester and Huntington, Norwich Pond in Huntington, Pontoosuc Lake, Onota Lake, Big Pond in Otis and Windsor Pond in Windsor.

Keystone Arch bridges receive National Historic Landmark designation

Two keystone arch bridges located within MassWildlife’s Walnut Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Middlefield and Becket were recently designated as National Historic Landmarks by the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI). Soaring above the West Branch of the Westfield River, the bridges are an intact segment of the country’s first railroad built to pass over a mountain. The two bridges are part of a series of area stone railroad bridges built for the Western Railroad that ran from Boston to Albany. Major George Washington Whistler is credited with the design and implementation of an unprecedented plan to extend the rail through the central Berkshires by spanning the West Branch of the Westfield River in multiple locations. With only 2,500 National Historic Landmarks in the entire country, this prestigious designation recognizes the structures’ significant place in United States history. The federal designation was the result of a combined effort of cultural and conservation partners. An application for Landmark designation to the DOI was filed in 2013 by the Friends of the Keystone Arches and the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee with a unanimous endorsement by MassWildlife’s Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

Anyone willing to do a little hiking can experience some spectacular examples of architecture and railroad history in a beautiful natural setting. In addition to the arches, visitors can enjoy the state’s longest free flowing waterway situated in one of the largest blocks of undeveloped landscapes in the region. The West Branch of the Westfield River, a National Wild and Scenic River, is popular among anglers fishing for wild and stocked trout and for experienced kayakers paddling the river rapids. The WMA includes exemplary forested communities of northern woodlands, rich mesic forest, and hickory-hop hornbeam in various stages of growth. Walnut Hill WMA offers excellent opportunities for deer, bear, and turkey hunting. Wildlife viewing prospects include forest dwelling birds such as thrushes, warblers, and woodpeckers. Minks and otters patrol the waterways along with aquatic insects; mayflies, damselflies, and dragonflies. Several state-listed species of rare plants and insects have also been documented on the property.

In an era of human and horsepower, construction of the 150-mile railroad was completed by 3,000 laborers in an incredible two and a half years, opening in 1841. The group of arched bridges located near and within the remote 900+ acre Walnut Hill WMA can be accessed via the 2.5mile one way Keystone Arch Bridge Trail in Chester. The trail is maintained by the Friends of the Keystone Arches with the permission of MassWildlife. The nearby Chester Factory Village Depot in Chester was also granted National Historic Landmark status. Visitors can stop by the Western Railroad museum in Chester to learn more about the national engineering marvel that the bridges represented at the time.

MassWildlife’s mission to protect wildlife lands across the state has been remarkably successful. Thanks to an unusual partnership, at Walnut Hill WMA the conserved land and water comes with a spectacular added cultural benefit, sure to be appreciated by all who visit.

For me, the area surrounding these keystone arch bridges evokes fond memories.  I caught my first trout with a fly that I had tied near one of them.  I caught it on a wet fly (Gold Ribbed Hares Ear) in the late 1970’s a little below Bancroft near the first arch.  Some years after that, when MassWildlife was raising and stocking salmon fry into the West Branch of the Westfield River, Taconic Chapter of Trout Unlimited volunteers trudged the river below these arches stocking them.  Paul Ouellette and his late brother Homer took on this difficult assignment, when they were probably in their 70’s, even though the remoteness of the area made assistance in the event of a mishap unlikely.  That’s around the time that my wife Jan led some hikes along the Keystone Bridges Trail which parallels the river from Chester to Bancroft.

The last time I visited that area was about 5 years ago when good friend, Fred Rugo from Rhode Island came to the Berkshires to fly fish with me one summer day.  After fishing the Westfield and Housatonic Rivers, he asked if I could take him to see these arches before he headed home.  He had heard about them in Rhode Island.  We parked at the trailhead in Chester and hiked up to see them. I’ll never forget it for below the first of the double arches were two pre-teen lads fishing.  Even though it was a hot day and no respectable fish should have been biting, they hoisted up to show us two beautiful rainbow trout they had caught.  On the way back to our car, both Fred and I remarked on what a wonderful sight it was to see those youngsters and how it reminded us of our own younger days.

Of the 500,000 trout that MassWildlife will be stocking statewide this year, approximately 100,000 will be stocked in the Western District.  Last week, subject to last minute change, the following local waters were scheduled to be stocked: Farmington River in Otis, Tolland and Sandisfield; Deerfield River in Buckland, Charlemont and Florida; Middle Branch of the Westfield River in Middlefield, West Branch of the Westfield River in Chester and Huntington, Main Stem of the Westfield River in Huntington, Montgomery and Russell; Laurel Lake, Richmond Pond, Stockbridge Bowl, Pontoosuc Lake, Lake Buel and Stockbridge Bowl.

Also note that the Trout Stocking Report, with maps and tables including Stocking Date, Town, Waterbody and Species is available at Mass.gov/trout.

As you are well aware, we are not out of the COVID-19 woods yet.  Even if you have received both vaccine shots it’s still a good idea to take precautions to prevent any possibility of spread by maintaining a distance of at least 6 feet from others, wearing a mask and washing your hands frequently. Avoid congregating in parking areas, on boat ramps, or along the shore and have a back-up plan if your usual spot is crowded.

Wear a life jacket

If you plan to fish from a boat, it is recommended that you wear a life jacket because accidents often happen too quickly to reach and put on a stowed life jacket. Wearing a properly fitted life jacket (personal flotation device) could save your life. History has shown that most boating fatality victims were not wearing a life jacket. In Massachusetts, life jackets must be worn by:

• Canoeists and kayakers from September 15 – May 15 (including waterfowl hunters)
• Youth under 12 years old
• Personal watercraft users
• Waterskiers

Fishing Derby

The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough just got the go ahead to hold monthly free children’s fishing derbies this year.   They are scheduled to have one next Saturday, April 10 from 9:00 to 10:30 am at its Lower Pond at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery, 240 Hatchery Road, Hartsville, MA.  Children aged 13 and under must be accompanied by an adult.   These fishing derbies will run once a month through September.  Following State guidelines, masks are required and 6 feet social distancing is required.

Sweren chosen to lead MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited

At its last meeting, the delegates of the MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited chose Henry Sweren, of Lanesborough, to be its Chairman.  He succeeds Paul Beaulieu of the Pioneer Valley Chapter as Chairman.    Sweren most recently had served as the President of the Taconic Chapter of TU in the Berkshires from 2018-2020.

The MA/RI Council of Trout Unlimited is a grassroots conservation organization dedicated to protect, reconnect, restore and sustain the region’s coldwater resources.  Part of the National TU organization which was founded in 1959, the MA/RI Council is the unifying body region wide, connecting more than 4,500 members spread among 13 chapters.  Through advocacy, education and partnerships with other statewide conservation organizations, the Council works towards improving the ecological health of rivers and streams throughout the state.   The MA/RI Council is a non-profit organization with 501(3)c status under the umbrella of TU National.

Replacing Sweren as the Taconic Chapter President is John Burns, of Cummington.  He was the past MA/RI Council Vice Chair of Environmental Affairs for a few years. Sweren will also serve as the Chapter Vice President.  Rounding out the officers of the Taconic Chapter are William Travis of Pittsfield, Treasurer and Fran Marzotto of Pittsfield, Secretary.

MassWildlife:  Keep an eye out for critters coming to areas near you.

Watch for amphibians on the road

This spring, be mindful of amphibians as they emerge from their winter retreats and travel to breeding sites. Use caution while driving on rainy spring nights.

For many Massachusetts residents, spring rain is a reminder of the changing seasons. For smaller Massachusetts natives, like amphibians, spring rains signal it’s time to emerge from winter retreats and migrate to breeding sites. Unfortunately, many of those animals will face the daunting task of having to cross roads to reach their destinations. Spotted salamanders, wood frogs, blue-spotted salamanders, Jefferson salamanders, American toads, spring peepers, four-toed salamanders, northern leopard frogs, and eastern red-backed salamanders are frequently encountered on roads during early spring rains. Migrations may have started for some pool-breeding amphibians already.

They can be difficult to see, as they are generally small-bodied and move under the cover of dark.

Recommendations from MassWildlife as to how you can help:

• Drive cautiously and carefully.
• Whenever possible over the next 2 months, consider not driving on rainy nights when air temperatures are 40°F or higher. If you must travel during such conditions, delaying beyond the first 2 hours after sunset is recommended.
• Travel on larger highways rather than small, wooded roads if possible. Plan routes that minimize the number of wetlands or vernal pools passed.
• If observing amphibian migrations, consider arriving at your destination prior to sunset, and then conduct your monitoring on foot.
• If assisting amphibians across roadways or handling them for other reasons, be sure your hands are free of lotions, bug repellent, or other chemicals.
• Report high levels of amphibian activity or mortality to the Linking Landscapes for Massachusetts Wildlife initiative, which compiles data to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions on problem roadways.
• If you encounter any of our state-listed rare amphibian species (eastern spadefoot, blue-spotted salamander, Jefferson salamander, and marbled salamander), take a clear photograph of the animal, carefully record the location, and submit an observation report to MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
• Go the extra mile to help preserve amphibian habitat by certifying vernal pools on your property. The data you collect is used to help MassWildlife and local conservation organizations better understand habitat resources for our native amphibians.

Black bears are active and searching for food: take precautions

If you have bird feeders or if you keep chickens, bee hives, or livestock act now to keep bears wild and out of neighborhoods.

MassWildlife is reminding us that now is the time when hungry bears emerge from their winter dens and seek out food. If you live in western Massachusetts, or other areas where bears have been spotted, it’s time to take down your bird feeders. Natural foods such as acorns and other nuts are usually available on the ground, but, in some areas last year’s fall hard mast crop was meager. Bears will often ignore seasonally available natural foods including skunk cabbage in favor of an easy meal at a backyard bird feeder. Other species including wild turkeys and coyotes may also frequent bird feeders leading to a variety of nuisance issues. To avoid these problems, MassWildlife asks property owners to be proactive by removing bird feeders and other potential food sources including garbage or open compost. If you enjoy watching birds in your yard, MassWildlife suggests adding a water feature, growing native plants, shrubs, and trees to attract birds. Individuals should also secure bee hives, chickens, and livestock. Properly maintained electric fencing is the only way to protect chickens or bee hives from bears. Taking these actions may prevent the unnatural feeding of bears and other kinds of neighborhood wildlife.

There are at least 4,500 black bears in Massachusetts and their range is expanding eastward. Take action by educating yourself and your neighbors about proactive measures to avoid conflicts with bears. For more information about black bears in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/bears.

Hunter Survey

You may receive a Novi Hunter Survey from the Massachusetts DFW.   Nicole McSweeney, Outreach and Marketing Manager at MassWildlife, informs us that this survey is sent annually by MassWildlife staff.  A sample of hunters who have provided their email addresses in MassFishHunt are sent this annual survey to better understand their preferences and efforts. This information helps MassWildlife biologists receive important “on-the-ground” data to aid in the management of game species. Depending on the variety of game you hunt, the survey takes around 10–20 minutes to complete. The survey is distributed through NoviSurvey and is set up so all responses remain confidential. I recommend that you respond.

Readers may recall my bemoaning the fact that we don’t get snowy, old fashioned winters anymore.  In December, I wrote about black powder hunting and how in the good old days, we deer hunted on snowshoes. A couple of days later, we got clobbered with nearly 2 feet of snow. I then received comments like “You got what you wanted Chague, thanks a lot!  Then in January, I bemoaned the fact that lately, our ice fishing seasons are too short because of climate change (warm winters) and asked for January freezes..  A week after that, it got seriously cold around here and the ice formed rapidly and may still be there.  On March 16, there was still over 15 inches of ice in some of our lakes.

It seemed like more people got out ice fishing this year, probably because they were sick of being shut-ins due to the Covid-19 and took to the outdoors.  Some people who gave up the sport years ago took it back up again.  However; the covid also had a negative effect on ice fishing as most derbies were cancelled.  Organizers just didn’t want to get people congregated together and become spreaders.

There are those who question the ice fishermen’s sanity.  How can you sit out on a frozen lake all day?  Have you frozen or numbed your minds?  Don’t you get cold or bored?  The answer is, no!  It doesn’t get any better! 

The following are some of the highlights that my group of 10 or so ice fishermen experienced this year.  Most mornings, we enjoyed absolutely beautiful sun rises, with colors of salmon pink.  After we cut our holes and baited our tip-ups, it was time for breakfast.  Stan Kordana, Dan Miraglia or John Bassi usually took care of that by making egg sandwiches cooked on our grills. Someone usually brings venison for lunch.  Mark Lucier, Stan Kordana, Brian Kordana, Rick Saldo and Ed Bertelli kept us pretty well fed with venison stews, chilis, tenderloin tips and burgers.  My nephew Joe Chague and I brought additional hamburgers, hot dogs and sausage links.  The last time we got out, John brought filet mignon to grill. After dining, someone inevitably remarks, “The food is good here, I think I’ll come back and dine here again.”

Other memorable times this year were:  We were nearby when Jamie Pollard caught that 15 ½ lbs. brown trout out of Stockbridge Bowl.  We could see and hear them hooting and hollering over the catch.  During the season, a couple of us hooked really large trout, but they either got off or they broke the line.  I’ll never forget one of our guys hooked a large brown trout at Richmond Pond and he had the fish up to the hole with its head out of the water.  As the ice fisherman stepped back to heft the fish out, he stepped on a loose piece of ice and went “arse over teakettle” and landed on his back, unhurt.  The sudden pull on the line as he went down enabled the fish to escape.  It was actually a graceful fall – wish I had my camera.  He went back to that same spot again a few days later, but that fish wouldn’t fall for the bait again. 

Then there was the time when we were fishing Richmond Pond a week ago when the weather got up into the 60’s.  We got onto the ice with no problems, but during the day with the warm temperatures, the ice thawed along the edges of the lake, in spite of over 15 inches of ice further out on the pond.  Getting off was a different matter and I’ll never forget it.  Just as I took my last step from the ice to the shore, the ice broke under my foot and there I was standing in about a foot and a half of water.  With my boots filling up with water, I hurriedly pulled my sled ashore, but not before the motorized ice augur fell off of the sled into the water also.  It was completely submerged.   No damage done, though, for when I got home, it started right up again.

Then there was the time when we were entertained by an airplane doing landings and take offs on the ice at Stockbridge Bowl.  Instead of wheels, the plane was equipped with skis. On another day at that same lake, we were entertained watching Frank Wall of Ghent NY skimming along the lake in his ice boat.  We saw him on several different occasions and on the windy days, that thing really moved.  Just last week, on Richmond Pond, John and I threw a small perch onto the ice a little distance from us and watched a bald eagle swoop down and grab it.

This year, there were a couple of weeks with ice without snow cover.  You had to wear studs or spikes on your boots in order to walk.  Because of the lack of snow on bare ice, the wind would occasionally blow our folding chairs across the ice.  Now that’s a comical sight, watching a fellow chase his empty chair across the lake trying to catch it.   Perhaps the most unusual sight of the season was watching Jim from the Chatham, NY Unicycle Club peddling around Stockbridge Bowl on his unicycle.  The tire on it was studded so that it didn’t slip on the slick ice.  After 70 years of ice fishing, I never saw that before.

 Bored?  You’ve got to be kidding me!

But, as they say, all good things must come to an end.  It was a good, long season and my friends and I are done for this year.   

Getting back to the Chatham Unicycle Club (chathamunicycleclub@gmail.com), if you are interested, it has indoor and outdoor practice sessions, Unicycle Hockey, group rail trail and group mountain unicycling rides. Although drastically curtailed this past year, they have started to resume activities. The practice sessions are suitable for all levels and they have a bunch of unicycles to try.

More chatter regarding the proposed license fee increase

I recently received a letter from an active local hiker in response to my recent articles about reduced revenue coming in from anglers and hunters and the proposed hike in licensing fees.  This person suggested a partial solution that would provide some equity in the “pay as you go” recreation sector and would help generate revenue for managing open spaces and in particular Fisheries and Wildlife lands. This hiker suggests that hikers and other passive recreation users (bikers, runners, horseback riders, skiers) of public lands might willingly participate in a permitting process through a yearly purchased pass to use trails.  Most users understand that purchasing open space and managing the lands has become costly for F&W and that current revenues don’t meet what is needed to create and maintain sustainable trails. How broad and deep support is for this idea could be assessed by creating a survey for hiker/biker/skier groups. Some could choose to pay a higher fee to support free permits for lower income users or students etc. Since numbers of outdoor recreationists have increased substantially these past years, the fee could be set low. People are now used to getting online tickets in advance for everything from skiing to museums so the process wouldn’t be difficult for users to manage.  Issues like administration and compliance would have to be worked out as well as the incorporation of a mandate that funds generated go into state park or F&W budgets and not general funds. Certainly, education and peer pressure would need to play a role. But if licensing can be done for anglers and hunters, a variation on that can be developed for other user groups. This hiker feels the time has come for all users to pay their fair share of supporting F&W and public lands and believes there is strong support for that to happen.

We thank the writer for that letter.  Its nice to know that she and other non-hunters and fishers are sympathetic to our plight and want to help.

The subject of MassWildlife’s proposed license fee increase is still a hot topic among Massachusetts outdoor sportsmen. Readers may recall that the proposed hunting and fishing license fees will increase moderately, but the proposed permit fees (for hunting bear, waterfowl, turkey, antlerless deer, and now for pheasants) would increase nearly 300%.   As noted in previous columns, most sportsmen understood the need for a license increase, but increases of 300% for permits?  Seniors like me who got free licenses last year but who paid $20 or more for the various permit fees, (for turkey, bear, waterfowl, archery, etc.) saw the proposed cost skyrocket to $180.  The Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Alliance and the Massachusetts Gun Owner Action League, representing thousands of sportsmen, came out opposing the existing proposal.   No word yet where the Massachusetts Sportsmen’s Council stands on this issue.  The Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) is waiting until all of the listening sessions have transpired and after consulting with its member clubs before making its decision.  Incidentally, the last informational sessions is scheduled for Thursday, March 25 at 6:30 PM.  Click onto: http://mass.gov/info-details/masswildlife-funding and there, you will find the zoom links to the new information sessions and important background information about MassWildlife’s programs, its funding, and the proposed new license fees.

In response to the sportsmen’s ire, MassWildlife has held several informational sessions explaining reasons for the steep rise – it will go broke in less than 5 years unless drastic action is taken.    In my opinion, they did a good job in explaining the dilemma they face.    In these sessions, sports folks were given the opportunity to ask questions and make recommendations. The vast majority of comments dealt with their concerns that:   Massachusetts does not allow Sunday hunting, does not allow use of crossbows (unless a doctor recommends it) and has what some consider overly restrictive setback requirements from roads and dwellings.  They bemoan the fact that they have to foot the entire bill for maintenance of the wildlife management areas, habitat management, etc., even though the general public has full use of them without paying one cent.  They cited numerous examples of hunters who will now hunt out of state, and the decrease in the numbers of outdoor sports folks will only be exasperated by the propose fees.

MassWildlife points out that they have no say in the above-mentioned issues and that authority to change them rests with the Legislature.  MassWildlife can’t even lobby for such changes.    At the March Meeting of the BCLS, F&W Board Member, Stephen Sears of Dalton pointed out that the Agency provides a lot of public service to the non-hunting public – racoon problems, bear problems, etc.  MassWildlife does a lot not directly related to the sportsmen.  It’s because that is part of the Agency’s mandate and is their responsibility.  General funds for that type of thing would be a better approach than trying to figure out different user groups and trying to attach dollars onto specific user groups.  DFW Director (Tisa) and a sub-committee of the F&W Board are looking at these types of things and how they can generate income from the public that they serve and not just the sportsmen bearing the entire burden.   Sears also mentioned that the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program is part of MassWildlife and is glad it is, but there is no financial support of it other than contributions on your taxes each year. That brings in a few hundred thousand dollars, which don’t come close to offsetting the expenses of services provided, which are enjoyed by every resident in MA.

He brought up another thing, as a perspective. Anybody who is 40 years or younger has never in their lifetime seen an increase in the license fees; and anybody who is 55 has seen only one license increase.  In explaining, he said: “You don’t get a license until you are 15; you add that 15 to 40 years, and you come up to 55 years old.  You have seen only one increase.  Put that into perspective to what is happening in the rest of the world.  It is important that we out here in the Western District, get all of our comments out – the good, the bad, and the ugly.  In the first three listening sessions that had already transpired, there were only 110 participants statewide, which is awful”.  The public information sessions are invaluable, you can ask questions to DFW Director Mark Tisa and they are all written down and answered.

While reviewing the various major expenses that MassWildlife incurs each year, about $1,000,000 is spent covering the cost of free licenses which are granted to seniors over 70 years of age.  MassWildlife explains that the Massachusetts Legislature mandated that they issue those free licenses.  But the Legislature doesn’t fund it.  Somehow, MassWildlife has to cover that expense which is expected to grow as more people reach the 70-year age mark.  So, where does MassWildlife get funds for that?   From those younger license buyers under 65.  In effect, these are funds taken away from other important MassWildlife programs.  So, are those free licenses really free to the total population of hunters and fishermen?  That’s a pretty good deal that the Legislature put together, ey?  I should note that the state does offset discounted licenses for those aged 65 to 69.

Thankfully State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), who is co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and past chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture, has filed a bill (SD.1453) aimed at addressing lost revenue that the state is failing to reimburse to the Massachusetts DFW, An Act to Reimburse the Inland Fisheries and Game Fund, would target the more than $1 million/year the agency forfeits each year by providing those free licenses to residents aged over 70 that is not currently being reimbursed by the state.

Gobi said, “Our sportsmen and women play a critical role in conservation and the fees from licenses have made sure land is set aside, not just for hunting and fishing but for many types of recreation such as hiking and bird watching. Offering free licenses to those over a certain age is the right thing to do, especially now when we want people to enjoy the outdoors. Reimbursing that lost revenue is also the right thing to do. I appreciate the support I have received including from the Nature Conservancy and the Trustees (of Reservations).   This legislation targets that inconsistency while raising desperately needed funds for the agency tasked with overseeing sportsmen and women’s activities while conserving and restoring critical habitat.”

Perhaps the local outdoor community should contact and ask Senator Hinds to support this bill.

MassWildlife:  Report winter fish kills

During winter, thick ice and heavy snow cover can result in low dissolved oxygen levels in ponds. With increasing ice and snow packs, there is less light penetration through the water column. This alters chemical and biological processes, often resulting in a winter fish kill.

The vast majority of fish kills turn out to be caused by this natural event. However, it’s important for biologists to rule out other causes including pollution. Natural fish kills are generally the result of low dissolved oxygen levels (anoxia), spawning stress or fish diseases. Dissolved oxygen depletion is one of the most common causes of natural fish kills. Weedy ponds that are less than 15 feet deep are particularly vulnerable. This can be the case at any time of the year but generally occurs during severe winters or late spring/early summer.

Ice anglers may encounter signs of a low oxygen environment when they drill through the ice and notice the smell of rotten egg or observe sluggish or dying shiners. The odor is hydrogen sulfide gas which is a natural byproduct of low dissolved oxygen environments, and is not likely the result of pollution. Oxygen levels will  return to normal shortly after the ice melts in the spring.

If you observe dead fish, contact the Environmental Police’s 24-hour radio room at 1 (800) 632-8075. A MassWildlife biologist will review each situation to determine whether the kill

On January 15, John Scanlon, MassWildlife Habitat Program Supervisor, of Barre, MA retired after 35 years of service. The Habitat Program will now be managed by Brian Hawthorne, who was promoted from his role as Habitat Planning Coordinator.

The job of Habitat Program Manager is 1.) To inventory and assess the State’s Wildlife Management Areas (WMA), particularly the forested portions, which is the majority of land. 2.) To design and contract management practices to benefit a diversity of species, (game and non-game) whether common, declining, threatened or endangered.  Thanks to the State Wildlife Action Plan, many species of conservation need have been identified across the state.

Several tools are used to create, restore, and maintain a variety of open habitat types including grassland, shrubland, and young forests on public WMAs across Massachusetts to meet habitat goals. Tools include: forest cutting, mowing and mulching, invasive plant management, and prescribed fire.

The Division’s mandate is to conserve the full diversity of native wildlife species and that was the most enjoyable part of John’s job.  Once it is determined that a conservation need exists on a WMA, and biologists identify where they can best enhance conditions, they get to work.   John’s job was to coordinate with district supervisors and other biologists, design projects and then get them contracted out addressing the whole spectrum.   There is much overlap between management for game species, such as ruffed grouse, American woodcock, wild turkey and non-game threatened and endangered species.

“What we have always tried to do at MassWildlife is to take the ecosystem approach, as opposed to saying ok, we are going to do grouse management here, endangered moths there and over there help that species.  We really try to avoid that and take a more systems-oriented approach” said John.

“The Fish & Wildlife Board long ago approved state-wide habitat goals for state wildlife lands with specific amounts of grassland, scrubland, young forest and old forest habitat to make sure they had the full diversity of habitats in place to provide good hunting opportunities and to provide habitat for threatened and endangered species as well.  They often merge really nicely and it’s a great thing to see.  Frequently there are species overlaps with various habitat types, such as game bird and songbird benefits in young forest areas, and game birds and native pollinators such as endangered bees and moths in shrubland areas, especially barrens habitats like at Montague Plains WMA”.  John’s focus was on the habitat types that were most lacking in the State.

His work over the past decade focused on expanding grassland habitats for rare pollinators and threatened songbirds like grasshopper sparrow (these grasslands also provide courtship areas for woodcock, feeding grounds for grouse and turkey poults, and fawning sites for white-tailed deer), restoring globally rare shrubland barrens where prescribed fire supports multiple threatened and endangered species (and also provides excellent feeding areas for ruffed grouse on abundant scrub oak acorns), as well as young forest, in particular aspen forest regeneration.

“During the last decade or so, MassWildlife does between 1,000 and 2,000 acres a year of active management projects on the ground requiring coordination among the various districts and the Westboro staff.  District supervisors are critical to have on board for they are responsible for the properties in their district”.  John always tried to work closely with the district managers to make sure they are on the same page.  He heaped praise on all five district managers.

Habitat projects here in the Berkshires where John was involved included aspen regeneration work on Stafford Hill WMA in Cheshire, abandoned field reclamation at the Gene Moran WMA and aspen and orchard work on the Peru WMA.  One big project site is on Fox Den WMA in Middlefield.  Brian Hawthorne, MassWildlife Habitat Planning Coordinator, ran the 35- acre aspen regeneration project at the Fox Den WMA in 2008 with direct design input from Dick DeGraaf, long time wildlife biologist with the US Forest Service.  (DeGraaf is the author of New England Wildlife: Habitat, Natural History, and Distribution; Landowner’s Guide to Wildlife Habitat: Forest Management for the New England Region and at least 4 other books, which serve as the foundation of landscape habitat used by MassWildlife.

Other local projects included the young forest cutting at the Farmington River WMA in Otis (David Scarpitti from the Westborough Field Headquarters oversaw a 20-acre cut there about 8 years ago).  They are preparing another 20- acre cut adjacent to that one.  “There has been incredible deer use of the Otis cut” he said.

Under Scanlon’s management, they did habitat work at the Maple Hill WMA in West Stockbridge, and a new young forest project in Ashfield-Hawley is now being done by Fletcher Clark from the Westborough Field Headquarters.

“A dozen years ago, when we first started to work on Fox Den WMA’s combination of abandoned orchards and aspen regeneration, Brian did the contracting and worked long winter hours with a local logging crew on that project”.  John is happy with all of the work he’s done with MassWildlife, but in terms of individual projects, “The wildlife response at Fox Den exceeded our highest expectations producing some of the most awesome covers in the state.  The aspen at Fox Den is on moist ground, with some adjacent wetlands, which is highly productive for American woodcock, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, black bear, whitetail deer and moose”.

This past year they went back to that same site of the original 35 acres that Brian Hawthorne worked on a dozen years ago.  This time they regenerated 8-10 acres of it to get the second age class of aspen started.  They also did some work to get the orchard open and on 50 adjacent acres they did a pretty heavy cut of aspen and northern hardwoods.  That work was overseen by Tom Wansleben, (who worked for Scanlon as a habitat biologist).    In September, only 3 months later, there were a number of turkey dust sites, as well as plenty of non-game species and song birds.  If someone wants to see ruffed grouse, woodcock, moose, whitetail deer and bear in our area, that would be John’s first choice recommendation.  “It was a prime example of how a well-designed project can succeed so quickly.   Brian Hawthorne did such a tremendous job, and now Tom Wansleben is following up”, he said.

Rich Pantermehl, heavy equipment operator, worked the whole winter there.  It was so thick and isolated they had to do burns all winter long.  “For aspen regeneration you have to cut heavy to stimulate root suckering. You need enough direct sunlight to warm the soil to the point where the shallow aspen roots will sprout.  Fox Den is living proof of just how well a system can respond if you are doing the right treatment at the right time”, said John.

In the February Fish & Wild Board Meeting, DFW Director Mark Tisa announced that Brian Hawthorne, out of the Dalton Office (since 2004) has been promoted to MassWildlife Habitat Program Manager replacing John.    Brian has been the Habitat Planning Coordinator since 2015 working for John and coordinating the statewide effort in habitat planning.

Brian Hawthorne

Brian will be overseeing the habitat program for the agency statewide. Since the habitat biologists and restoration ecologists in the program spend most of their time in the field, he expects to be doing a fair amount of “managing by driving around” as well as continuing to telework. He’ll be keeping his office in Dalton, and will certainly be making many trips to Westborough Field Headquarters once we are past our current pandemic restrictions. “John (Scanlon) built an excellent program in his decades of work for the Division, and the team I am picking up from him is an extraordinary group of experienced professionals” said Hawthorne.

We extend our congratulations to John Scanlon for the job well done and wish him a long and happy retirement.  To Brian Hawthorne we congratulate him too for the well-deserved promotion.  We are glad that he will stay in our district and wish him the very best in his new position.

Readers are surely aware that there currently is a furor over the necessity for MassWildlife to increase its license fees.   I hope you picked up on the 1,000 to 2,000 acres of active habitat management projects a year.  Such important projects didn’t even exist 26 years ago, when the last fee increase was implemented.