In my April 10-11, 2021 column, I did an article on the Keystone Arch Bridges (KAB) in Middlefield and Becket.  They had recently been designated as National Historic Landmarks  by the US Dept of Interior.  The Federal designation was the result of a combined effort of cultural and conservation partners.  The application for the landmark designation to the DOI was filed in 2013 by the Friends of Keystone Arches and the Wild and Scenic Westfield River Committee with a unanimous endorsement by the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board.

Also included in the National Historic Landmark designation was the Chester Factory Depot, an important stopping point for the railroad, where additional engines were added to westbound trains prior to traversing the steeper grades to the west.  It is a contributing element of the Chester Factory Village Historic District. The two stone bridges included in the landmark designation, as well as the historic roadbed, are part of the Middlefield–Becket Stone Arch Railroad Bridge District.

That was the culmination of a lot of work by various people and organizations. So, who got the ball rolling to protect those arches?

Well, according to Jill Lane, former resident of Middlefield who now resides in Florida, it was her and Nancy Burnham. In the late 1970’s Jill and her late husband Fran lived in Bancroft (a hamlet of Becket).  One day they walked down the tracks, went into the woods and found the arches and they were absolutely gorgeous.  They were baffled in the way they were, just hidden there in the woods. Once discovered, Jill and Fran would frequently walk down to see them.  At the time, they didn’t realize how steeped in history those arches were.

According to Jill. the arches were soon after discovered by people from Springfield who came up into the woods and vandalized them.   At first, they were dumping cars over the arches but then they started to pry each of the stones off and push them down into the West Branch of the Westfield River.   It tore Jill up to see them being destroyed so she determined that something should be done.  All she wanted to do was to keep them from being destroyed.  She asked the Good Lord to please help her stop the vandalism.

Jill knew the late Nancy Burnham, who also lived in Middlefield, and asked her what they could do.  Nancy was from New York and she knew who to contact and she got in touch with the right people. “Nancy had a lot of pull and knew what to do and we both worked together on it”, said Jill.  (Incidentally, Nancy’s last name, Burnham, is the B in B&M Baked Beans Company).

“Save the Arches was our theme” said Jill, “and we did”.  “It took two solid years of hard work, but we had a good time”.  In fact, Jill to this day has a chest filled with documentation (paperwork, pictures, etc). of their work.   “We worked our butts off.  If it wasn’t for Nancy Burnham, her friend Ann Jewett and me, the arches wouldn’t even be there.” said Jill.

They started the project in 1978 working side-by-side with Charles Lennon from the Westfield Historical Commission.  He brought other representatives from the Historic Commission with him.  Charles completed the paperwork and sent it to the Boston Historical Commission. Boston HC requested that they get pictures of all the houses 100 years of age and older in the towns of Chester, Middlefield and Becket.  They worked with the historic commissions of those towns getting the pictures in order to establish a historic domain.

The Boston HC sent the documentation to Washington DC and, according to Jill, they were absolutely flabbergasted by it.   In 1980 they got notice from the Massachusetts Governor informing them that Washington DC felt that the Arches were worthy of national protection.  Finally, in 1980 they were able to get all nine of the Arches from Chester to Middlefield listed in the National Register of Historic Places. A TV station out of Boston sent reporters to cover the story when they found out that the Arches were put on the Register and they acknowledged Jill and Nancy.  (A bronze plaque was subsequently sent up, but by the time it arrived in 1983, Jill and Fran had moved to North Carolina and she doesn’t know what became of it.)

There may be confusion with the terms “National Register of Historic Places” and “National Historic Landmark”.  The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation.  The National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources. There are over 95,000 listings in the National Register.  One can prepare a nomination with a small filing fee through your state historical society and be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Listing as a National Historic Landmark is a higher designation, and there are only 2,600 such landmarks in the US.  A National Historic Landmark is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. This designation is the highest available and is the same category as the Statue of Liberty, the Washington Monument or Mount Rushmore.   To qualify, sites must demonstrate national significance.  The listing must be prepared by experts in the field with preference to firms who have prepared listings in the past, in KAB case, The Public Archeology Laboratories in Pawtucket, RI.

The cost, $35,000.00, was funded by Wild & Scenic.    It was filed in partnership with the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior.

Obviously, the work of Nancy, Jill and Charles Lennon photographing the old buildings, towns, bridges and area significantly contributed to the efforts of ultimately getting two of the bridges listed as National Historic Landmarks.  Such a listing is a really big deal and Jill should be very proud to have started the ball rolling with her friend Nancy which led to such an important outcome.

Dave Pierce, President of The Chester Foundation, Inc. and Friends of the Keystone Arches built a trail showcasing a section of the Chester & Becket Railroad (The Chester & Becket or C&B Trail) on the J.J. Kelly Wildlife Area in Chester and received a grant to build an urban extension for that through downtown Chester, ending up at the rail station. All these efforts are geared toward telling the story of Chester’s unique history, with a particular focus on rail, to promote growth, tourism and preservation.   In 1990, there was a ribbon cutting in Chester and he contacted Nancy and Jill (who then lived in Florida) and representatives from the Boston Historical Society.  Nancy and Jill were acknowledged as the ones that initiated the preservation of the arches.

Friends of the Keystone Arches, Inc. is the non-profit, volunteer organization that has taken the mantle of building awareness of the Keystone Arch Bridges, these strangely forgotten monuments that are such an integral part of the first mountain railroad.  With the wilds around the Keystone Arches and the untamed Westfield River as a workplace, Friends strives to maintain the Keystone Arch Bridges (KAB) Trail, as well as a website, Facebook page and a number of other initiatives over the past 25 years.

In partnership with the National Park Service / Dept of the Interior, they helped mobilize volunteers and paid professionals to stabilize and repair the two Arches owned by MA Fish & Wildlife at the Walnut Hill Conservation Area. The Westfield River Wild & Scenic Committee is a ready and frequent partner in the ongoing work along with them.

Even though this is my second column addressing the Keystone Arches, I have barely scratched the surface.  Click onto https://keystone arches.com to find out even more about the amazing history of these arches, the people who traveled over them and the people involved to protect and preserve them.

Goose hunting

Due to a recent change in the regulations, the Early Canada Goose hunting season now opens on September 1.  Be sure to check the waterfowl regulations.  More to come on early fall hunting in next week’s column.

Officials from MassWildlife and wildlife veterinarians from Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University confirmed that in late July, a young bald eagle succumbed to second-generation anticoagulant rodenticide (SGAR) poisoning. In late July, a female fledgling eaglet in obvious distress on the ground in Middlesex County was transported to and admitted by Tufts Wildlife Clinic in North Grafton. Unfortunately, upon admission to the clinic, the young bird died. A necropsy was performed at the clinic and liver tissue was sent to a lab for toxicology testing. Both the observations from the necropsy and toxicology test results confirmed that the eaglet’s cause of death was due to lethal levels of anticoagulant rodenticides. This is the second documented rodenticide death of an eagle in Massachusetts. The first was an adult bird that died this past March. Over 80 pairs of bald eagles nest in Massachusetts.

Anticoagulant rodenticides are a type of rodent poison that kills by preventing blood from clotting normally, resulting in fatal internal hemorrhage or bleeding. 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. Studies of birds of prey in Massachusetts conducted at Tufts Wildlife Clinic have shown widespread exposure to SGARs. While bald eagles primarily eat fish, they are opportunistic foragers and will scavenge or prey on a variety of animals.

As noted in my May 8, 2021column article which dealt with the first eagle’s death, given the hunting range of eagles, it’s impossible to determine the exact source of this rodenticide poisoning. Analysis of liver tissue confirmed two different SGARs were ingested by the eaglet. In the past 15 years, the US EPA has taken steps to impose restrictions on rodenticides. SGARs are believed to be most harmful to wildlife and cannot be sold through general consumer outlets for use by the typical homeowner. SGARs can still be purchased online in commercial use quantities for use only by licensed pest professionals and agricultural users. Other rodenticides, called first-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (FGARs) and non-anticoagulant rodenticides, are still approved for residential consumer use only if enclosed within a bait station. It is illegal to place poisons outdoors except under highly regulated permitting conditions.

“Not only raptors, but many other kinds of wildlife have been the victims of unintentional rodenticide poisoning,” said Andrew Vitz, MassWildlife’s State Ornithologist. “Secondary exposure to rodenticides has been documented in other animals such as foxes, bobcats, and coyotes.” He also noted that other predatory wild mammals and unsupervised dogs and cats are vulnerable to unintended exposure.

MassWildlife and Tufts University are working together to find practical, environmentally responsible solutions to issues relating to rodent problems.

To minimize harm to wildlife and pets, MassWildlife and Tufts Wildlife Clinic offer the following advice for homeowners and other concerned citizens:

• Prevent Rodent Problems: Remove or safely secure any sources of food or garbage that attracts rodents. Keep food for pets, poultry, and livestock in animal-proof containers. Rodent-proof your home! Close off or repair any exterior openings in your home and other outbuildings that may allow rodents to enter.

• If you have rodents, start with baited snap traps which provide a swift and humane death and are easy for a homeowner to use. Poisons should be used only as a last resort. If using poisons, use enclosed in bait stations and follow the product label instructions. If you hire a company, choose a licensed 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 including brodifacoum, bromadiolone, difenacoum, or difethialone.

The choices we make as individuals and communities regarding rodent control and trash management practices can help prevent wildlife exposure to SGARs,” said Dr. Maureen Murray, Director of Tufts Wildlife Clinic.

As always, if you find a wild animal, and it has clear signs of injury or sickness, it’s best to leave it in the wild. If injury or illness is evident, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for advice before taking any action.

Concerned citizens can also help vulnerable wildlife by sharing this information and advice with friends, family, and others. Connect with groups who are working together to find practical, environmentally responsible solutions to issues relating to rodent problems. “The choices we make as individuals and communities regarding rodent control and trash management practices can help prevent wildlife exposure to SGARs,” said Dr. Maureen Murray, Director of Tufts Wildlife Clinic.

Unknown reasons for massive bird kill

Readers may recall that in mid-July, MassWildlife reported an unknown disease was circulating among songbirds in ten states, some as close as PA, NJ and Ohio. Fortunately, it was not been found in New England. The disease was said to cause symptoms of “eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs.”

Last month The Ithaca Times reported that experts from Cornell University are not “overly alarmed” by the unknown disease. Elizabeth Bunting, senior extension associate at the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab, said a possible cause of the disease is from the cicadas of Brood X.

Cicada Brood X are emerging this year after 17 years living underground. It is one of the largest and most broadly distributed groups of periodical cicadas. They can be found from northern Georgia to New York, west to the Mississippi River and in the Midwest. There can be as many as 1.5 million cicadas per acre, which brings the brood population into the trillions.

The songbirds that ate these cicadas may have gotten sick from pesticides sprayed on the cicadas, or fungi that the insects might be carrying. The pesticides may be causing neurological issues and the fungi could be the cause of crusty eyes, said Bunting and the locations where the disease was found are areas where the cicada broods emerged.  Additionally, the decrease in cases of the mystery disease has accompanied the retreat of the cicadas. “Information coming out of the National Wildlife Health Center and some of the other states said that the cases were declining all of a sudden”, Bunting told the Ithaca Times. “That would not be typical of an infectious disease outbreak. You wouldn’t expect an infectious disease to just spontaneously go away.”

The disease was not found in New England because it did not have the massive number of cicadas some other states had.

Brian Evens, bird ecologist for the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center also suggests that pesticides may be a reason for the bird decline.  “Pesticides are of course a potential cause,” he added. “Cicadas have lived underground right underneath us for 17 years and could have been accumulating toxins like pesticides or heavy metals that then the birds could be exposed to in really high concentrations, just because they’ve switched their diet over to cicadas.”

Some scientists feel that the correlation between the disease’s outbreak and the appearance of cicadas appears strong.  However; nobody really knows what mechanisms actually caused the disease. Referring to the Cornell hypothesis, they feel that though unproven, it is certainly plausible.

It is not believed that the pesticide problem will be a risk in our area, since we have no periodical cicadas, nor any other insects that become hyperabundant like that. But if there is a fungus involved, infected birds could conceivably carry that part of the condition to New England.  They believe that birds’ migratory pattern tends to be southward at this time of year, so infected birds are more likely to remain away from us.

MassWildlife, in an update on July 30, continues to ask people to refrain from feeding birds or putting out birdbaths at this time as a precautionary measure against the disease. They are still investigating the situation, and ask the public to send them information about dead birds. Birds do not need supplementary food at this point in the season. (Removing the bird feeders) will help reduce the amount of interaction among birds, to prevent and mitigate the disease from possible spread.

Researchers across the country are continuing to monitor the mystery disease’s development.

Many thanks to the Ithaca Times for some information provided for this article.

Recently, my stepson, Lance Ross sent us an interesting article from the town of Ludington, Michigan.  In case you have never heard of that town, it is the largest city and county seat of Mason County in Michigan. With a population of about 8,000 it is a harbor town located on Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Pere Marquette River.

The local newspaper, The Ludington Daily News, reported that 19-year old Luis Martinez, from Ortonville, Michigan, caught a 47.86 lbs, 47.5 inch Chinook (King) Salmon.   The article stated that Martinez had never fished for salmon before and had just purchased a fishing license on Friday, August 6.  By the end of the following day, he was celebrating having caught a Michigan record for Chinook Salmon.

While fishing on Lake Michigan with Icebreaker Charters, Martinez landed the behemoth that broke the state record which had stood for 43 years, as reported by the newspaper and local TV station WLNS. The old record was 46.06 lbs and 43.5 inches caught in 1978 in the Grand River in Kent County.

“I honestly fell asleep the whole way until my mom said, ‘You’re up,’ and I was like, what?” Martinez explained to WLNS. “They handed me the fishing pole and I started reeling the thing in.”  It took about 30 minutes to land.

“The first 10 minutes were tiring, my arms were sore, (and) I was ready to give up, but my mom was yelling, ‘Don’t give up, keep reeling it in,’” Martinez told WLNS. “The fish started to jump out of the water, you could see it and they were like so excited because it was huge. I was like, it’s just a fish, there’s nothing special about it, at least that’s what I thought.”

Capt. Bobby Sullivan recognized the potential of the catch immediately.  “When it hit the (boat) floor, I said, ‘This thing is big,’” Sullivan told the Ludington Daily News. “And then I started second-guessing myself. I thought it was pushing 40 [lbs]. I told him, ‘You don’t realize what you just caught.’”

Using a Moonshine raspberry carbon spoon lure, the catch was made at 7:30 a.m. They continued fishing a while longer, catching one more salmon.

“The whole time I’m thinking, ‘I wish I had a scale. I wish I had a scale,” Sullivan told the Ludington Daily News.

They eventually headed to Ray’s Auto Marine where the fish weighed more than 47 pounds on a scale that wasn’t certified, prompting a desire to get an official weight. That came at Northside Market, where the certified scale read 47.86 lbs. Later in the day, Jay Wesley, the Lake Michigan Basin Coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources, certified the catch as a state record.

“Unbelievable to have 47 pounds,” Wesley told the Daily News. “In fact, the last state record was in 1978, and it was snagged in the Grand River. To have this one to officially bite a lure, caught out in Lake Michigan and caught in the Salmon Capital of Michigan, Ludington, is pretty amazing.”

Martinez, who was fishing with his mother, sister and stepfather, told the TV station it was like winning the lottery in the fishing sense. He added, “I will go back [salmon fishing again], but I will never beat this fish. Everything is downhill from now on.”

Many thanks to Lance, for sending that interesting article on to us.

Incidentally, quite a few Berkshire anglers fish for King Salmon in Lake Ontario, NY.  Yes, they can catch large ones there, too, with the official record for the largest salmon caught there weighing 47.13 lbs.

According to Wikipedia, Chinook Salmon are the largest Pacific salmon species and, on average, grow to be three feet long and approximately 30 pounds; however, some of them can reach more than five feet long and 110 pounds. The largest known size of a Chinook Salmon is 126 pounds measuring 4 feet 10 inches long which was caught in a fish trap near Petersburg, Alaska in 1949. An angler also caught a 97-pounder in the Kenai River in 1986.

Huge King Salmon are caught annually by flyfishermen out of the Salmon River, a tributary to Lake Ontario in Pulaski, NY.  Local flyfishers such as Ron Wojcik, Bill Travis, Dick Bordeau, and others haul in some very large ones every year.

BNRC “Trails-From-Towns” Takes Next Step in Great Barrington 

Congratulations to the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) for receiving a $28,000 grant from MassTrails, an inter-agency initiative of the Commonwealth led by the Governor’s Office, in collaboration with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

The grant will be used to expand trail options at BNRC’s Thomas & Palmer Brook conservation reserve, and to advance plans to connect Great Barrington’s downtown center by footpath to Thomas & Palmer Brook and other conserved lands heading north toward Stockbridge. The work proposed for this next phase will include the construction of a new woodland hiking trail connecting the popular accessible loop at Thomas & Palmer to the upland forest, and natural features within it.

BNRC President Jenny Hansell travelled to Cape Cod in July to participate in the MassTrails award ceremony. At the ceremony, Governor Charlie Baker announced nearly $4 million in grant funding to support 52 trail projects across the Commonwealth.

Upcoming DCR Forest Management Projects

The Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) Bureau of Forestry will be hosting two virtual public meetings to discuss forest management projects in Chester-Blandford, Mount Washington, Northfield, Otter River, Lawton, and Myles Standish State Forests.

During the virtual meetings, slides describing each proposed forest management project will be presented by DCR foresters. Questions on specific projects may be posed through the written Q&A function during

the respective presentations. On Tuesday, August 17, 2021, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, three nearby projects will be discussed:

A project within Chester-Blandford State Forest (Hampden County) proposes to use uneven age and even age management in both mixed hardwood stands and Norway spruce plantations to

regenerate native species.

A project within Mt. Washington State Forest (Berkshire County) proposes to use a combination of uneven- and even-age management systems to salvage and reduce ash density, and even-aged management in larch plantations to regenerate native species.

A project in Northfield State Forest (Franklin County) proposes to use uneven-age management techniques to create better growing conditions for residual trees using a variable density thinning. Additionally, a collaborative research project with UMass Amherst is proposed here to study interactions between vegetative diversity, forest management and forest carbon dynamics.

The meeting for the other three projects, which are located in Worcester and Plymouth Counties will take place on Thursday August 19 from 4:00 to 5:30pm.

Participants should check with DCR’s Bureau of Forestry with instructions on how to join the meetings.

The proposals may also be viewed at the website address: https://www.mass.gov/guides/forest-management-projects#-forest-management-projects-proposed-2021. The public comment period, originally scheduled to end on August 14, has be extended until August 31 to ensure all participants are allowed the time for comment after listening to the presentations.

After the meetings, the presentations will be available for viewing at https://www.mass.gov/dcr/past-public-meetings. DCR encourages the public to share additional feedback on its website. Comments may be submitted online at Forestry.comments@mass.gov. Please note that the content of comments you submit to DCR, along with your name, town, and zip code, will be posted on DCRs website if provided.

Additional contact information when commenting, notably email addresses, will only be used for outreach on future updates on the subject project or property.

If you have agency-related questions or concerns or would like to be added to an email list to receive DCR general or project-specific announcements, email Mass.Parks@mass.gov or call 617-626-4973.

By now, readers are probably aware of the MassWildlife Advisory to report dead birds and remove feeders.  (Berkshire Eagle, July 17-18, 2021, State warns of mysterious disease killing birds written by Berkshire Eagle reporter Jimmy Nesbitt) .  If you aren’t, the advisory reported the following:

“In late May, wildlife managers in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky began receiving reports of sick and dying birds with eye swelling and crusty discharge, as well as neurological signs. More recently, additional reports have been received from Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. While the majority of affected birds are reported to be fledgling common grackles, blue jays, European starlings, and American robins, other species of songbirds have been reported as well. No definitive cause(s) of illness or death have been determined at this time.

While there is always an increase in reports of dead birds at this time of year due to natural high mortality rates of young birds, MassWildlife is encouraging the public to report any observations of sick or dead birds (with unknown cause of mortality) as a precaution to help track this widespread mortality event. However, the mystery disease is not known to be in any of the New England states at this time. It is not necessary to report dead birds where strong evidence links the mortality to collision with glass or vehicles or predation by cats. Please email reports to mass.wildlife@mass.gov and include your location, number and species of birds, symptoms observed, and any photos.

As another cautionary measure, MassWildlife is also recommending the public to stop using bird feeders and birdbaths including hummingbird feeders. Birds congregating at bird feeders and bird baths can transmit diseases to one another. MassWildlife, as well as other affected states, recommend taking the following precautions:

• Cease feeding birds until this wildlife morbidity/mortality event subsides.
• Clean feeders and bird baths with a 10% bleach solution (one part bleach mixed with nine parts water), rinse with water, and allow to air-dry.
• Avoid handling birds unless necessary. If you do handle them, wear disposable gloves and wash hands afterwards.
• If picking up a dead bird, place an inverted plastic bag over your hand to avoid direct contact with the bird. To dispose of dead birds, place them in a plastic bag, seal, and discard with household trash or alternatively bury them deeply.
• Keep pets (including pet birds) away from sick or dead wild birds as a standard precaution.

At this time of year, birds are able to find plenty of natural foods on the landscape without needing bird seed. MassWildlife advises that seed from bird feeders can draw the unwanted attention of squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, mice, rats, and even black bears. Wild animals that become habituated to human-associated foods like bird seed can become a nuisance, spread disease, and cause problems.

Gobi’s budget amendment reimburses lost funds to MassWildlife

State Senator Anne Gobi (D-Spencer), co-chair of the Massachusetts Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus and past chair of the Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources and Agriculture, fought successfully for the inclusion of an amendment to the FY22 state budget aimed at addressing lost revenue that the state is failing to reimburse to the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife. The bipartisan amendment targets the nearly $1 million/year the agency forfeits each year by providing free hunting and fishing licenses to residents 70 and over that is not currently being reimbursed by the state and ensures that these funds are appropriated annually from the General Fund. Governor Baker has subsequently signed the budget and the amendment stayed in.

Gobi had this to say on the amendment’s acceptance in the conference committee report, “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. Our sportsmen and women play a critical role in conservation, and the fees from licenses make sure that land is set aside for all types of outdoor recreation. Reimbursing the lost revenue is also the right thing to do, and I am proud that our body recognized and prioritized these important agencies in this budget.”

“The work of MassWildlife benefits all residents of Massachusetts,” says Emily Myron, policy manager at The Nature Conservancy in Massachusetts. “It conserves and manages lands that provide habitat for our most imperiled and iconic species, recreational opportunities, and clean air, water and carbon sequestration, as well as hosts educational programs that inspire residents of all ages. The impacts of climate change and the pandemic have made this work even more essential. We are grateful to the legislature for recognizing MassWildlife’s important role and for working to close its funding gap.”

Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife (MassWildlife) provides free fishing and hunting licenses to residents over 70 years of age, but is not reimbursed for this loss in revenue. As a result, the agency is losing approximately $1 million per year, and that loss is expected to increase as the 70+ population continues to grow. At the same time, MassWildlife is reimbursed each year by the state to offset losses associated with discounted fishing and hunting licenses offered to people ages 65 to 69. This amendment addresses this inconsistency while simultaneously raising desperately-needed dedicated funds for this important agency, tasked with overseeing sportsmen and women’s activities while conserving and restoring critical habitat.

In addition to this the conference committee report saw the inclusion of $1 million for the Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, a significant boost for MassWildlife that will enable them to continue their work on behalf of Commonwealth residents.

HVA’s Beginner’s Paddle

If you missed the first Housatonic Valley Association paddle which took place last Thursday, you have another chance on August 3 from 10:00 am to 12:30 pm.  This session is for you if you want to be prepared for other paddle trips, just experience canoeing or maybe gain confidence. You will learn how to safely enter and exit a canoe, perform basic paddling strokes, steer safely, and just enjoy paddling on the Housatonic River. It will be led by HVA volunteer & ACA certified instructor Charles Murray. Families with children 10 years and older are welcome.

The location will be at the Lenox (Decker’s) Landing and the trip length is 1 – 2 miles at the beginner level. Canoes and equipment provided or register to bring your own canoe.  Trip information provided upon completion of registration.  There is limited space so registration is required. (413-298-7024).

Northern Black Racer snakes

According to MassWildlife, these snakes are at risk from habitat loss and fragmentation, and it appears the species is declining in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan ranks the black racer as common across the state, but it is of concern because little is known about their current abundance and distribution.  If you see a northern black racer, (could be five feet long) MassWildlife encourages you to report your sighting using Heritage Hub, mass.gov/heritagehub.

Issue No. 2, 2021 of Massachusetts Wildlife magazine will have a pretty comprehensive article about them. Other topics included in the issue will be hooded mergansers, an endangered species art exhibit, and advice on becoming a hunter on a budget. To subscribe, visit mass.gov/dfw/magazine

That duck is no fool

Last week, I did a piece in this column reminding people not to feed the ducks.  Remember Raymour the duck with a messed-up beak and tongue and how Ron Smith had been feeding him by hand?  Since then, Paul Dufur of West Housatonic Street, Pittsfield contacted me and said that last year he also had been feeding that duck.  The last time he saw him was last February.  Dufur lives about a mile from Ron Smith so it appears that Raymour can fly if he wants to.

Ron said that he has not seen that duck since last week’s article came out and that it might have jinxed him.  Or, maybe a predator got him.

I prefer to think that Raymour is embarrassed now that he has been exposed as a two-timer, mooching food off of two sympathetic people and is afraid to show his face around here for a while.

Michael Fabrizio, Nashville singer/songwriter and son of Dr. Michael Fabrizio, a respected local pediatrician, sent us a fish story.  We’ll let him tell you in his own words:

“This morning, July 2, 2021 my father and I and our neighbor Peter Rando forged ahead with a last-minute fishing trip out on Onota Lake. We reserved a pontoon boat from Onota Livery the day before despite the chance of rain and went out at 6:30 am this morning. The owner of the livery, Rick (Wendling), couldn’t believe we actually showed up. The rain was spitting and we were doubting getting out on the water but since there were no thunderstorms in the forecast, we figured we would weather a little rain, dress warm, pack essentials and see what the morning would bring us. We all had been wanting to pull something BIG out of Onota Lake FOREVER. Peter and I had fished the lake as kids and my father and grandfather had fished the lake with me beginning over 30 years ago. We’ve been more focused however the last 3 summers since I had been coming back up from Nashville with my family for a month to enjoy a solid taste of summer back home. “

“We weren’t on the water for more than 30 minutes when I heard Peter yell from the back out of the boat “fish on!” I reeled in my line and rushed to get my phone (in its waterproof case) to capture whatever was about to happen. Peter handed the rod to my father to reel in and grabbed a long-handled net. The next 5 minutes were such a rush it’s hard to describe. We knew we had a bass and we knew it was BIG. Peter was using 10 lb test (line) on a sturdy medium weight rod and it was being TESTED the whole time. Peter stuck his net out and pulled the fish into the boat.  My father had landed a roughly 7-9 lb smallmouth bass. Incredible colorings and simply a natural beauty of a fish. We were all dumbfounded like three kids who just caught their first fish. We did our photoshoot with a blurry camera lens (due to the waterproof case I had on).  We shot a video as well which captures the emotion of the moment. We really wanted to weigh and measure but the time the bass had been out of the water was dangerously close to lethal. The last thing we wanted to do was let a creature which had grown that large and lived that long die because of our need to document it. When we put him back in the water he was moving very slowly and sluggish and we were nervous. I got around to him reached into the water, grabbed his tail and rocked him back and forth allowing the water to rush through his gills rapidly and within a few seconds he took off with a few pops of his powerful tail back to the depths.”

(Incidentally, they caught that fish on a purple artificial worm).

“We were young again. We were free. We had conquered the unconquerable Onota Lake. Finally!”

“However, we didn’t realize what we had. When we got back to the dock, we asked Rick at the livery what the state record for smallmouths was. He wasn’t sure. His son Drew came out and looked at the picture and said that’s the biggest smallmouth bass we have seen! That’s a lot coming from a family who sees fisherman day in and day out all year round, year after year. On the way home I looked up the official records and the WORLD record is 11 lbs. 15 oz. The MA state record is 8 lbs 2 oz caught 30 YEARS AGO in the Wachusett Reservoir. We will never know if we had a record breaker. But, all-in-all, persistence on a gloomy, rain spitting, wet and cold morning turned out to be one of the most thrilling fishing stories that I will get to pass on to my children.”

It certainly was a huge smallmouth bass, there’s no denying that, even though the picture was taken through a waterproof case and came out cloudy. We can’t see the faces of the lucky anglers, but the main attraction, the bass, came out fairly well. Estimated to be over 22 inches long, that fish would have easily qualified for a bronze pin from MassWildlife in the Catch and Keep or Catch and Release categories, perhaps a gold pin.  In the last several years smallmouths in the 4 to  5 lb weight category have been winning the gold pin.

However; regulations of the MassWildlife Freshwater Fishing Program clearly stipulate that to qualify, a catch and release fish must be measured at the site of capture, photographed against a standard measuring device, then immediately released. A clear, side view, close-up photograph of the fish against a flat, clearly labeled measuring device must be included with all affidavits. The photo must include the entire fish and the measurement must be clearly discernible. A total length measurement will be used and all fish measurements will be rounded up to the nearest ¼ inch.

The anglers have no remorse for letting that fish go and not collecting a pin.  They are happy that the bass is presumably still swimming around in Onota Lake today. Who knows, without precise measurements, that fish may grow a tad larger each time they tell the story.

Boat Parade

Meanwhile, on another local lake, there were different happenings.  The Fourth of July Boat Parade on Ashmere Lake in Hinsdale.  The day started out a bit raw, cloudy and rainy, but by the time the parade started, the weather turned nice.  About 15 boats, mostly pontoon boats all decked out with red, white and blue flags and buntings, participated this year.  The parade proceeded to most coves with boat riders tooting horns, playing patriotic music and waiving to all the people who had congregated along the shoreline.  Of course, the parade observers waived, applauded and waived their own flags, too.  “Happy Fourth of July” could be heard all over the lake.  It was nice.

Antlerless deer permit applications due next week

If you want to hunt antlerless deer this fall, you need an antlerless deer permit. If you apply for a permit by the July 16 deadline, you then must check back after August 1 to find out if you have been awarded the ability to purchase the permit. Hunters can apply online using MassFishHunt on a computer or smartphone. You need a valid hunting or sporting license to apply for an antlerless deer permit. There is no fee to apply; a $5 fee is charged only if you are awarded a permit during the instant award period.

The instant award period begins August 1st at 8 a.m. and ends on December 31. Your odds of being awarded a permit are the same regardless of when you check your permit status. You can check the status of your permit through MassFishHunt.

Learn more about Antlerless Deer Permits, including how to apply and permit allocations by zone by clicking on Apply for an Antlerless Deer Permit | Mass.gov .

Good news for turtles

Recently, Eversource workers hosted a Turtle-Palooza to teach others how to protect wildlife.  The turtle protection program is designed to train the energy companys’ crews in locating and protecting endangered turtles. Denise Bartone, manager of licensing and permitting at Eversource Energy, explained that “these turtles are state-listed endangered species, so we work with the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Massachusetts to make sure we are still protecting the species while  providing reliable services to our customers.”

This initiative is part of their work with the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife under the Natural Heritage Program.

State wildlife experts recently ascended to the top of the W.E.B. Du Bois Library at UMASS Amherst to band four peregrine falcon chicks.  David Paulson and Tom French (retired) of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MA DFW) removed three female chicks and one male from the nest situated on the edge of the library’s roof. The fluffy, white birds were then banded, coded by color and location, to allow wildlife researchers to track the movements and histories of the falcons over time. These efforts have even traced one female falcon born and banded at a nest in Brockton all the way to the UMASS Amherst campus.

Annual falcon banding is part of statewide initiatives to improve the conservation status of peregrine falcons from “Threatened” to “Special Concern” under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act. For decades, the peregrine falcon population declined with the use of DDT. By 1966, not a single nesting pair could be found in any state east of the Mississippi River. Now, peregrine falcons can be seen year-round across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

At UMass Amherst, the falcons have become a staple of the campus community. Follow along with them via the FalconCam, a live video feed that allows viewers to check in on the falcons each spring on Twitter, @DuBoisFalcons, to muse over the latest falcon sightings, births, and happenings.

Also, recently, MA DFW personnel and noted biologist and TV personality Jeff Corwin have assessed for health and banded some four-week-old peregrine falcon hatchlings in Boston.    Corwin will be showcasing this important conservation work in a new TV series airing this fall.  Hope we can pick it up around here in the Berkshires.

In-person fishing class

Adults and families who want to learn how to fish on their own are invited to join MassWildlife’s Learn to Fish Class to learn all the basics for having a fun and successful fishing trip. Feel free to bring your own equipment or borrow theirs. You will need to bring their own bait. This class will cover all the fishing basics from baiting, to setting up your line, and casting followed by time to do some fishing.  The location and time in the Berkshires are Pontoosuc Lake on July 20 from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Classes are free, but pre-registration is required and space is limited. Register by clicking https://www.mass.gov/service/angler-education-calendar.  To get the most out of the in-person class, participants are encouraged to watch MassWildlife’s online video tutorial prior to attending the class. You will receive a link to video with your confirmation email when you register. Any participants ages 15 and younger are required to be accompanied by an adult.

Fishing Derby

The Berkshire Hatchery Foundation in Hartsville-New Marlborough is scheduled to have a youth fishing derby next Saturday, July 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.  The following of State guidelines regarding social distancing, face masks etc., is required.

A comical fishing day I’ll never forget

In a recent column, I noted the death of a well-known local sportsman and close friend Paul Ouellette of Lanesborough.  In that column, I mentioned that he used to play a jaws harp while his brother Homer played the harmonica whenever we sat around the campfire. The jaw’s harp (a/k/a Jew’s harp, mouth harp) is a small musical instrument which is held against the teeth or lips, and plucked with the fingers making a twangy boing-boing sound. (Click onto Wikipedia to hear it).  Whenever I hear it, I associate it with the sounds coming out of the Appalachian Mountains.  Paul was pretty good at playing it.

I decided to buy one.  Actually, once I got it, I didn’t have much use for it and most of the time I couldn’t find it.  It would show up in my fishing vest, glove compartment or laying on the floor somewhere.

One day, for some reason, I took it with me when I went fishing the East Branch of the Westfield River near Chesterfield.  The area I fished was downstream from Chesterfield Gorge but upstream of the Indian Hollow Campgrounds.  It is really remote there and one would never suspect that he is fishing in Massachusetts. It is an area more like the wilderness of Maine or New Brunswick.

I should mention here and now that this occurred sometime in the late 1980’s, after the movie Deliverance came out.   Readers may recall that movie was about some folks who went for a canoeing trip together in the Georgia wilderness, only to come into terrifying conflict with some inbred locals, tapping into very primal fears — man vs. nature, town vs. country, etc., and preying on masculinity, thanks to an unforgettable scene.

On this beautiful sunny, spring morning, I was walking a trail to a nice fishing spot which required about a 1-mile hike to reach. The birds were chirping, the grouse drumming – one of those mornings that you feel great to be alive.

Upon arriving at the destination, to my disappointment, there was a guy already flyfishing there.  He never saw nor heard me approach from behind.   Not wishing to disturb him, I went to another spot to fish about a quarter of a mile away.  After an hour or so fishing there without any luck, I went back to that spot where that other guy was fishing.  He was still fishing there so I sat on a nearby fallen log patiently waiting for him to leave.

He kept fishing and showed no signs of moving on.  After about an hour of waiting, I took out the jaws harp from my vest and started to twang a tune.  “Boing, boing, boing”, it went.

The guy froze in his place in the middle of the river and slowly turned around to see from where the sound was coming.  I also froze, holding the harp at my lips, and stopped playing.  Even though he looked in my direction, he didn’t see me, probably because I wearing camouflage and partially concealed by the surrounding vegetation.

He resumed flyfishing, and I resumed playing – “Boing, boing, boing”.  He looked back again and I stopped again.  This went on for a period of time.  I should have waived to him, but something stopped me.  I varied the timing of playing the harp, sometimes I would wait 5 minutes before resuming, each time when he was focusing on the fly that he was casting.

Oh, you should have been there!  After a while I got laughing so hard, I could hardly play the instrument and I almost choked on it.  In fact, as much as I tried to stifle my laugh, he heard it.  Out of the river he splashed, with a panicked look on his face, crashed through the brush to get on the trail and off he rushed away.  I never saw a person in chest waders move so quickly.  His fly got stuck in some brush along the trail, but he didn’t stop to retrieve it.  He just snapped it off and high tailed it out of there, periodically looking behind.  He never saw me, but if he had, he would have been even more freaked out seeing this guy sitting on a log all by himself in the middle of the woods and laughing his head off.

Shame on me you say, I was probably under the influence of the Devil.  Hey, I was only playing a tune on the harp.

I prefer to think that maybe the Good Lord allowed it to happen because he felt that the three of us needed a good laugh that day at the expense of that angler.

Have a great 4^th of July weekend!

Bills filed by State Representatives Lori Ehrlich and Ann-Margaret Ferrante and Sen. Michael Moore   (H 904 / S 587), would enter Massachusetts into the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, a network that seeks to reduce wildlife poaching through information sharing across state lines and reciprocal recognition of license suspensions and revocations for fishing, hunting, and trapping.  This legislation would update the Commonwealth’s outdated penalties for illegal hunting, some of which have not been updated in a century and currently amount to little more than a slap on the wrist,” Ehrlich said recently at an Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture virtual hearing.   Simply put membership protects wildlife, supports law-abiding hunters and anglers, and provides the Massachusetts Environmental Police (MEP) additional resources to combat poachers and other wildlife criminals.

Stephanie Harris of the Animal Legal Defense Fund feels that Massachusetts is a poacher’s paradise and it is uniquely vulnerable to poachers. “(The Compact) simply adds another tool to our agencies’ tool belts. (It) ensures that MEP has access to the information that they need to determine where an out-of-state violation would or should result in license suspension here in the Commonwealth,” she said.  “The legislation mainly updates penalties for illegal hunting to strike a balance between modernizing certain century-old penalties without becoming too punitive.”  “For instance, the bill increases fines for hunting in a wildlife sanctuary from a range of $50 – $100 to a range of $100 – $500 and allows for the suspension of licenses for up to three years for a first offense and up to 10 years for a third offense.

“It similarly updates fines and license suspensions for other violations unchanged since the 1930s, when there was a major boom in state wildlife laws because certain species were hunted or trapped nearly to extinction,” Harris said. “And for context, a fine of $50 in the 1930s would, keeping up with inflation, be about $800 today. The (proposed) updates are more modest.”

Massachusetts and Hawaii are the only two states not in the Compact, though legislation is pending that would enter the Aloha State into the national compact. “Massachusetts has always led the way in terms of the protection of animals, but for some reason we’ve missed the opportunity to work collaboratively with other states and stop wildlife criminals.”  said Christopher Borgatti, a member of the New England Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.  “The Commonwealth’s initial membership to the Compact is long overdue.  Simply put membership protects wildlife, supports law-abiding hunters and anglers, and provides the MEP additional resources to combat poachers and other wildlife criminals.” he said.

Should Massachusetts pass the legislation, it would authorize the Commissioner of the Department of Fish and Game (currently is Ron Amidon) to join the compact.  Then, MassWildlife and the Division of Marine Fisheries would have a year to promulgate regulations around implementing the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, according to the bill.

Good sized bowfin hauled out of Onota Lake

Crystal Taylor of Pittsfield was fishing for crappie with her fiancé Tara Taliaferro on the Dan Casey Causeway on Onota Lake recently.  Using minnows as bait, she hooked into a large fish that put up a good fight.  When she got it near the shore, Tara, who is also an experienced angler, netted it for her.  It turned out to be a large bowfin. measuring about 26 inches and weighed approximately 5 lbs.  According to Chuck Pero, who lives on the lake and who happened to be walking by, Crystal was obviously a seasoned angler for she “landed it like a true professional despite the fight it put up”.

Unfortunately, they didn’t have a measuring tape or scale, said Pero, but it looked over 26 inches and weighed about 5 lbs, probably worthy of a state pin.

After posing for pictures, Crystal released the fish.  She was experienced enough to know not to put her fingers in or near its mouth to retrieve the hook.   Instead, she clipped the fishing line right next the hook

Massachusetts Environmental Police Lt. Tara Carlow saw this picture and asked that I please identify it as a bowfin and not a snakehead which is a different species. Contrary to messages on Facebook claiming otherwise, it was a bowfin. They are not one and the same and don’t necessarily have to be killed, she said.

Public hearings on license and fee increases

MassWildlife has released a new license proposal, which incorporates public input on the original February proposal. In the new proposal, most fee increases will be phased in over five years beginning in 2022 and fee increases for hunting permits and stamps are lower than originally proposed.

The current proposal incorporates public feedback gathered through six information sessions held in February and March, phone calls, emails, letters, and a webform. Although many stakeholders expressed an understanding of the need to raise fees after 25 years, there was a strong desire to see fee increases phased in over time, and to lower the proposed increases to hunting permits and stamps. In response, MassWildlife and the Department of Fish and Game worked with the Baker-Polito Administration to revise the original fee proposal. Recognizing that all Massachusetts residents benefit from MassWildlife’s work to conserve wildlife, protect open space, and preserve clean water and air, the Baker-Polito Administration will work to diversify MassWildlife’s funding and reduce the burden on the fee-paying sporting community. This change will make it possible to maintain MassWildlife’s programming and services with lower fees than originally proposed.

Public hearings will be held on June 22, 23, and 24 on Zoom to provide the public an opportunity to comment on the new proposed changes. Check out the MassWildlife web page for instructions on how to join the hearings. You can also provide written comment up until 4:00 pm on July 8. The hope is that the entire process will be finalized in time to incorporate the changes into the 2022 Fish and Wildlife Regulations.

Enjoyable fishing derby at the Hatchery

The way the day started last Saturday you would have thought that no one would attend the monthly Youth Fishing Derby at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery pool in Hartsville (a hamlet of New Marlborough). Fifteen minutes before the scheduled opening, cars carrying kids and their parents started arriving and by opening time, the rain had stopped. Out of the cars and to the pool ran the kids awaiting opening time and looking for some of the 300 or so trout which were previously stocked there. The parents signed them in at the official measuring station, manned by Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery President Dave Ziegler.

The rules of the free fishing derby stipulated that only youths aged 13 years or younger could participate and they had to be accompanied by an adult.  Each fish had to be checked in and officially measured at the checking station.  Kids could keep as many fish as they caught or release them back into the pond.  Prizes for the winners were fishing poles and a tackle box.   If someone caught a tagged trout, they received an official Friends of the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery T-shirt. The derby officially starts at 9:00 am and ends at 10:30 am.

At 9:00 am sharp, Dave yelled “Start fishing!”  Out flew the bobbers and baited hooks.  No sooner had they hit the water when the brook trout starting hitting.  Each time a kid caught a trout, he or she ran to the measuring station to have it measured and checked in.  Some kids carried them in their bare hands and others wrapped them in towels so that they wouldn’t slip away.  Some released their fish back into the water and some kept them to bring home to eat.

The weather turned nice and some 19 or 20 kids entered and had a great time.

The weather was perfect, a sunny morning with a gentle, warm breeze blowing just enough to keep the mosquitos away.  The pond had been previously prepared and the brook trout were eagerly awaiting the arrival of some VIP’s.  The fish had been purchased by the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) and transported to Reynolds Pond in Cheshire a few days earlier from the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery in Hartsville/New Marlborough. Volunteers from the Cheshire Rod & Gun Club, Adams Outdoor for Youth (AOFY) and the BCLS arrived earlier to assemble the fishing gear – brand new fishing poles, reels, line, sinkers and bobbers which were donated to MassWildlife by Cabelas.  MassWildlife, in turn, provided them free of charge to the anglers who would be arriving shortly.  (Through the MassWildlife Angler Education Program, led by Jim Legacy, MassWildlife provides equipment for just such cases). Prior to the VIPs arrival the volunteers attached the hooks and sinkers to the lines, meted out the worms and grubs into styrofoam cups along with the soil to keep them fresh.  And, get this, anglers had their choice of using red or green worms!  Yes, you read that right. Pond owner, Mr. Reynolds even talked some songbirds and woodpeckers to provide the background music.

The bonfire was crackling away and preparations were under way to prepare the food and drink for lunchtime.

So, who were these very important guests?

Fifteen tots from the North Adams area who were bussed in by the folks from the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, which is the umbrella agency for many social services in the area.  They were accompanied by Alex Daugherty, Probation Officer with the Northern Berkshire District Court, Jason Hooks a Court Officer there as well, Colleen Murphy, a Probation Officer with the Berkshire Juvenile Court, Liz Boland, a staff person with the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, Wendi Gore a Para Professional with Greylock Elementary School in North Adams.   Kids who probably would not otherwise have had the opportunity to obtain the necessary fishing equipment and to go fishing.  They were all well behaved kids who could hardly wait to cast for those trout. Most of them, some as young as 6 or 7 years old, were able to cast their lines on their own.  (Just don’t stand too close on any side of them when they casted, for one never knew in which direction the bobbers would fly, and that included up into trees).  Most had no problem hooking the wiggly worms onto the hooks.  In fact, one little girl named Zulma insisted not only on putting the worms onto her hooks, but also wanted to gut one of the trout that she caught.

And boy, the fish were cooperating!  Lots of healthy, fat brookies were caught by every kid.  Volunteer Jim Loughman of AOFY was kept busy cleaning most of the fish that were caught. At times he was aided by Dan Miraglia of BASS organization.  The cleaned fish were placed in plastic bags and were brought home to be eaten. I’ll bet they were tasty, too, some with nice pink flesh.

One little fella named Quinton told me that he had never been fishing before and was hoping he would catch a fish.  Well, as time went by, he mastered the art of casting and had caught four trout before noon.  He really didn’t enjoy putting the worms on the hook, though.  He assigned that job to me. Another youth, William was elated when he caught his first fish, especially when his aunt Colleen and Uncle Nuchie (or was it Uncle Butchie) there to see it.  There was even a set of triplets there having a great time

Around noon, the anglers broke away and enjoyed a lunch of hamburgers and hot dogs cooked up by Mike Cutler, Rick Gurney and Wayne Tinney of AOFY.

Most of the people involved in putting on this event are used to helping getting kids get interested in the outdoor sports.  Assisting that day were Karen and Mike Kruszyna, Jodi Goff, Mike Cutler, Wayne Tinney and Dan Miraglia, all BCLS Sportsmen Award recipients. But there was also help from people who could not attend that day.  The BCLS donated around $1.000 to cover the cost of obtaining the fish and providing the food.  Thanks to a grant from the Berkshire Chapter of Whitetails Unlimited, most of that expense was recovered.  The grant application was prepared and submitted by BCLS delegate Phil Hiser, another Sportsman Award recipient.

Yes, all in all, it takes a lot of people to pull off something such as this.  It takes a community (of sportsmen and women). And I would be willing to bet that those who experienced the most satisfaction that day were the volunteers and supporters.

Are unstocked wild Tiger Trout swimming our waters?

Some experts tell us that generally speaking, no, that they do not exist naturally and only appear where they are produced in hatcheries. A Tiger Trout is a sterile hybrid that is the result of crossing a female brown trout with a male brook trout. They appear to grow faster than natural species.   But actually, the Tiger Trout might occur anywhere that Brook Trout and Brown Trout inhabit the same waters.   Only on rare occasions does this hybrid occur naturally in the wild so most areas require stocking efforts to keep their populations stable.  Coloring, markings, and tail shape can vary but generally is a dark maze-like pattern all over a brownish, gray, or silver body.  Apart from their aggressiveness, Tiger Trout are easily distinguished from other stocked trout by their vibrant colors and unique markings.  Tiger Trout are highly aggressive fish eaters, and are a good control against rough fish populations. Some bass tournament friends of mine frequently catch them on bass lures.  For a while, Tiger Trout were exclusively stocked in the Great Lakes. After the stocking program was discontinued, a 20-pound-plus world-record Tiger Trout was caught in one of the Great Lakes.

Here in Massachusetts, MassWildlife stocks them in selective waters.  Approximately 2,500 tiger trout were stocked statewide this year.  Some of them, which measured around 14 inches long, were stocked in Western District waters, mainly in Littleville Lake in Chester/Huntington and Lake Buel in Monterey.

Back to the original question, are there any unstocked wild Tiger Trout in our area?  The answer is definitely yes. Brian Majewski, of Lenox Dale, caught one recently out of a stream in Pittsfield.  In fact, he believes he caught either the same trout or possibly another one on two separate occasions. They measured around 6 inches, much smaller than the size that the State stocks.  He reported it to MassWildlife’s Western District Aquatic Biologist Leanda Fontaine Gagnon, who is quite interested and is hoping to do a fish survey this summer in that stream in order to learn more about them.

HooRWA offers beginners fly casting session

The Hoosic River Watershed Association will offer a free beginners’ guide to fly fishing session, including the basics of fly-fishing equipment and technique, focused on the methods used to catch wild trout of the Hoosic River.  The event will be next Saturday, June 19 from 9:00 am to noon near to the access for the Williamstown, MA transfer station.  If you have never touched a fly rod before, but are curious to do so, HooRWA says this is the event for you. All participants will have a chance to practice casting, as well as to walk the river to learn about how to approach fishing from a “biological approach.”  Contact HooRWA at 413-458-2742 or office@hoorwa.org to register.