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MassWildlife
News Release
All Media Inquiries: Contact (617) 626-1809
MassWildlife News is published 1-2 times/month. If you are interested in receiving the MW News electronically, send an e-mail to the following address: Join-MassWildlife.news@listserv.state.ma.us.
March 2009
- BEARS AND BIRDFEEDERS
- SHARE THE FUN OF FISHING, BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
- 2010 WILDLIFE STAMP COMPETITIONS NOW OPEN
- LATE WINTER ICE SAFETY
- REMEMBER ENDANGERED SPECIES ON YOUR STATE TAX FORM
- 2009 SPRING TROUT ALLOCATIONS
- UPCOMING MEETINGS
- CALENDAR OF EVENTS
BEARS AND BIRDFEEDERS
If you feed birds and live in northern Middlesex County, Worcester County, or western Massachusetts, it's time to think about removing bird feeders before bears emerge from hibernation. With the snow melting and longer day length, bears are will soon be leaving their winter dens. To avoid possible seasonal conflicts between people and bears in central and western Massachusetts, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is issuing its seasonal reminder that bird feeders should be taken down by mid-March and other preventive steps be taken. "There is little in the way of natural foods and bears learn to seek out high-energy human foods such as bird seed," says Jim Cardoza, MassWildlife Bear Project Leader. "This may lead to conflicts that pose hazards to both bears and people." Massachusetts is home to approximately 3,000 resident bears, with the majority living west of the Connecticut River. Bears also reside as far east as Worcester County and in northern Middlesex County.
Bears have excellent long-term memories and remember which foods are
available at different seasons, as well as where these foods can be
found. Even if a feeder is inaccessible to bears, they will be attracted
by the scent of seed and suet. Once they learn the location of these
foods, bears will return. Bears are typically shy and fearful of people,
but deliberate feeding or indirect availability of human food, coupled
with a lack of harassment can cause bears to become accustomed to people.
If bears lose their fear of people and develop a taste for human foodstuffs,
bears can become bolder and may cause damage that ultimately results
in harm to people or to the demise of the animal.
If a bear is passing through a neighborhood without stopping, enjoy
the sight. However, if the bear stops to feed on trash, bird seed, or
other human generated foods, remove those foods after the bear has left
and advise neighbors to do the same. Due to their fear of people, bears
tend to leave a yard when people step outside and make noise. Keep garbage
in airtight containers, securely stored in a cellar, garage, or shed.
Put trash at roadside the day of trash pickup, not the previous evening.
Keep doors to sheds and barns latched or locked to prevent bears from
finding grain, sweet, or meaty foods. Refrain from feeding pets outdoors.
Do not deposit sweet or meaty items in compost piles as bears will soon
find them. In residential areas where bears are known to be present,
the entire neighborhood must take recommended actions or bears will
move from yard to yard seeking food. Cardoza noted that taking these
actions also reduces problems with other common wildlife species such
as coyotes, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. More
black bear information.
SHARE THE FUN OF FISHING, BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
If you have an interest in fishing and enjoy sharing this fun and relaxing activity with others, consider becoming a Volunteer Instructor with the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's (MassWildlife) Angler Education Program. Volunteer Instructors are committed and enthusiastic outdoorsmen and women (15 years or older) who want to pass on the traditions, ethics and excitement of fishing and outdoor activities to beginners of all ages. The free instructor training workshop will take place on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at MassWildlife's Field Headquarters in Westborough 10 AM - 4PM. Lunch and snacks will be provided. Though the training is free, pre-registration is required and a maximum number of 15 participants will be accepted. To register, contact Jim Lagacy, Program Coordinator at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
This training session is specifically designed for people who can work as part of a team to teach fishing techniques, how to choose appropriate fishing equipment, ethics and laws, safety tips and aquatic ecology. Upon completion of the training, participants will be considered certified Angler Education Program Instructors In-Training with MassWildlife. Instructors are asked to participate in teaching fishing skills at fishing clinics and weekend family fishing events. A minimum annual commitment of 10 hours is expected of Volunteer Instructors.
2010 WILDLIFE STAMP COMPETITIONS NOW OPEN
The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is asking interested wildlife artists to consider entering one or more of its three 2010 wildlife stamp competitions. Each year, MassWildlife issues three wildlife recreation-related stamps: an archery stamp, a primitive firearms stamp, and a waterfowl stamp. Income from the sale of these stamps supports wildlife research as well as the acquisition and management of key habitat areas. All three of the stamps feature artwork selected through competitions open to artists anywhere in the country. There is no cost to submit entries. Rules and regulations for the competitions. The deadline for entries to the archery and primitive firearms stamp competition is May 31, 2009; deadline for the waterfowl stamp is June 1, 2009.
Wildlife stamps play an important wildlife management role in Massachusetts, generating about $300,000 annually. These funds are used to enhance critical wildlife habitat. All of the stamps are issued both in full-color hard copy and in a black-and-white stamped version for those who opt to purchase their licenses online. The stamps are required of licensed hunters who hunt deer during the archery or primitive firearms season or hunters pursuing migratory birds. Highly collectible for many hunters, these stamps are also sought by other conservationists and stamp collectors.
Through these competitions, the MassWildlife obtains the right to produce the designated stamp featuring the winning artwork. The artist retains ownership of the artwork and the right to sell prints, which are of specific interest to members of conservation organizations such as the Massachusetts Bowhunters' Association, Ducks Unlimited, and beyond.
Complete sets of all three stamps are on display at MassWildlife's Field Headquarters in Westborough. Collectors wishing to purchase stamps from past years should call Mary Cavaliere in the MassWildlife Boston office at (617) 626-1577. The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem has a limited quantity of waterfowl stamps and stamp sets available for collectors. The Massachusetts Waterfowl Stamps and Prints, a loose-leaf binder with a detailed history of the waterfowl stamp program from its inception to the present was published by the Peabody Essex Museum and is available for purchase. Contact the Museum at (978) 744-3390.
Information
and rules governing the three stamp competitions or call Jill Durand
at (508) 389-6301. For more details on the stamp competitions, contact
Ellie Horwitz at ellie.horwitz@state.ma.us
or call (508) 389-6305.
LATE WINTER ICE SAFETY
As the winter months come to a close, the variable temperatures experienced in the state in the past week means the condition of ice on the Bay State's waterbodies is unpredictable and could be treacherous. Outdoor enthusiasts need to play it safe and check ice carefully before venturing onto ice-covered waters. An ice strength table is posted on the agency website. Clear, blue ice is the strongest ice. Slush or snow (white) ice is only one-half the strength of blue ice and can be very treacherous. "Honeycombed" ice, which occurs in the spring or during major winter thaws as the ice is melting, is the most dangerous ice. This type of ice is best avoided unless you are certain there is a safe layer of solid ice beneath the honeycombed surface.
Assess ice safety by using an ice chisel to chop a hole in the ice to determine its thickness and condition. Make sure you continue to do this as you go further out on to the ice, because the thickness of the ice will not be uniform all over the pond or lake. Be aware that ice tends to be thinner on lakes and ponds where there are spring holes, inlets or outlets. Don't venture on to ice-bound rivers or streams because the currents make ice thickness unpredictable.
What if you fall through the ice? As with any emergency, don't panic! Briefly call for help. It doesn't take long for the cold water to start slowing your physical and mental functions, so you must act quickly. Air will remain trapped in your clothes for a short time, aiding your buoyancy. Kick your legs while grasping for firm ice. Try to pull your body up using "ice pins" that should be hanging around your neck. Once your torso is on firm ice, roll towards thicker ice. This will better distribute your weight. Remember that ice you have previously walked on should be the safest. After you reach safe ice, don't waste precious time because you need to warm up quickly to prevent hypothermia. Go to the nearest fishing shanty, warm car, or house. Don't drive home in wet clothes!
If a companion falls through the ice remember the phrase "Reach-Throw-Go."
If you are unable to reach your friend, throw him or her a rope, jumper
cables, tree branch, or other object. If this does not work, go for
help before you also become a victim. Pet owners should keep pets on
a leash. If a pet falls through the ice do not attempt to rescue the
pet, go for help. Well-meaning pet owners can too easily become victims
themselves when trying to save their pets.
REMEMBER ENDANGERED SPECIES ON YOUR STATE TAX FORM
How can you raise birds, hatch turtles, and grow flowers with nothing but paper and ink? Join the thousands of in-the-know people who use their state tax form to make a big difference for rare species in Massachusetts! Since 1983, Massachusetts tax filers of Form 1 have had the option of donating to the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Fund when filing their state income tax (Line 32a: "Endangered Wildlife Conservation"), and tens of thousands of people have done so over the years. All contributions go directly into the Fund, currently the source of a significant portion of the annual operating budget of MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP), which conserves and protects endangered species and their habitats in Massachusetts.
Over 20,000 tax filers support the program with almost $200,000 in
critically-important donations each year. Won't you join them? With
your contributions to the Fund, you directly help to study, protect,
and restore rare and endangered animals and plants and their habitats.
If you have made contributions in this manner, thank you for supporting
the Program and its conservation efforts! Past donations have helped
restore populations and conserve and maintain habitat for Bald Eagles,
Hessel's Hairstreak butterflies, Northern Red-bellied Cooters, and the
beautiful Eastern Silvery Aster. Direct contributions to the Fund can
also be made by sending a check payable to the Natural Heritage &
Endangered Species Fund to: Natural Heritage & Endangered Species
Program, Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, 1 Rabbit
Hill Rd, Westborough, MA 01581.
2009 SPRING TROUT ALLOCATIONS
Bay State anglers can look forward to over 518,000 feisty brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout being stocked this spring according to figures released by the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife). Stocking will begin when ice, snow and mud conditions allow the 2-ton District tank trucks access to the waterways. Anglers are advised to contact the District office for updates on when stocking will begin in the area.
"We'll be putting out 289,000 rainbow trout that will average
12 inches or longer, and about 75% of these rainbows will be 14 inches
or larger," observes Chief Fish Culturist Dr. Ken Simmons. "They'll
be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five
regional Wildlife District offices." More than 50,000 brown trout
in the 12-inch category will be stocked along with another 90,000 browns
in the 6 - 11 inch range. The larger water bodies will receive the larger
fish and the smaller brooks and streams will receive the majority of
the smaller-sized fish. Brook trout will be stocked in a similar fashion
with approximately 8000 fish measuring a foot or better, and more than
75,000 in the 6 - 11 inch class. Anglers can also anticipate trying
to tame some of the 3,000 tiger trout to be released, all topping the
14 inch mark. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout
and a male brook trout, have become popular with folks lucky enough
to hook and land one.
For a listing
of trout stocked waters or details on weekly trout stocking activities
or call the nearest District office: Western 413/447-9789; Valley 413/323-7632;
Central 508/835-3607; Northeast 978/263-4347 or Southeast 508/759-3406.
Don't forget to take friends and family fishing!
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The following meetings will be held at the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Field Headquarters off North Drive in Westborough. Both meetings are open to the public and the building is handicapped accessible. The Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee will meet on March 12 at 1:30PM. The Fisheries & Wildlife Board will be meeting at the same location on March 24 at 1PM. For directions, call (508) 389-6300 or check the MassWildlife website.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
- March 4 -- Coyotes in the City, Cambridge-The City of Cambridge Animal Commission and Water Department will sponsor this public information session from 6 to 7:30 PM, at the Walter J. Sullivan Water Treatment Facility on 250 Fresh Pond Parkway. Laura Hajduk, MassWildlife Furbearer Biologist will discuss the dynamics of living with coyotes in the city and a question-and-answer session will follow. For more information, call the Cambridge Animal Commission at (617) 349-4376.
- March 7 -- Woodlands Management for Outdoorswomen, Harvard Forest, Petersham-Do you want to improve wildlife habitat, derive income from timber in the futre, create trails for woodland walks or conserve habitat for rare or endangered species? This Forest Stewardship workshop is designed for women own woodlands, or work with a Conservation Commission, Land Trusts or other large land holders. Professional foresters and wildlife experts will provide an introduction to reading the forested landscape, techniques to formulate your stewardship goals and include some hands-on experience in using some of the tools needed to evaluate your woodland. Registration form and medical form must accompany payment for pre-registration. Registration deadline is March 2.
- March 7 -- Massachusetts Bird Conference, Worcester-There is still time to register for the 17th Annual Bird Conference with the theme of "Birds and Birders on our National Wildlife Refuges". Program details and registration information or call Linda Cocca at (781) 259-2151.
- March 14 -- Project WILD/Aquatic WILD Workshop for Educators, Easthampton-MassAudubon's Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary invites all K-12 educators to participate in an exciting six-hour interdisciplinary hands-on/minds-on workshop focusing on terrestrial wildlife and ecosystems. Scout leaders, youth group leaders, and formal & non-formal educators find the materials & workshop experience very valuable. Hours may be used toward obtaining PDP's. Pre-registration is required by calling contact Patti Steinman (413) 584-3009.
- March 15 -- Deadline for Youth Artists' Submission to the Junior Duck Stamp Program! -This conservation education program is designed to stimulate awareness and personal involvement in waterfowl & wetland conservation for students in grades K-12 through a student art project. If you are a student or know of a student who loves to draw, color or paint, this is for him or her! Information about the contest.
- March 25--Bobcats in Massachusetts, Groton-Learn about one of the more secretive predators in the state, the bobcat, from Laura Hajduk, MassWildlife Furbearer Biologist. This program is sponsored by the Nashua River Watershed Association at their Resource Center on Rte 119 at 7PM. Call Nashua River Resource Center at (978) 448-0299 for more information.
- March 26--Black Bears in Massachusetts, Southwick-Learn about
the black bear, a more common sight in the Connecticut River Valley,
from Jim Cardoza, MassWildlife Bear Project Leader. This public program
will be held at the American Inn, 1 Sawmill Park at 3PM. For more
information contact, Barbara Huntoon, (413) 569-1945
Last Updated: 03/02/2009