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MassWildlife
News Release
All Media Inquiries: Contact (617) 626-1119
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
June 2010
- JUNE IS TURTLE MONTH
- FREE FISHING WEEKEND JUNE 5 & 6
- PREVENT THE SPREAD OF NON-NATIVE AQUATIC HITCH HIKERS
- REPORTING FISH KILLS
- HELP MASSWILDLIFE COUNT TURKEY FAMILIES
- MASSACHUSETTS WILDLIFE PHOTO CONTEST
- DEER AND BEAR PERMIT APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 16
- UPCOMING MEETINGS
JUNE IS TURTLE MONTH
June is the month when normally aquatic snapping, painted, spotted, red-bellied, Blanding's and other turtles leave the relative safety of their water world and venture overland in search of nesting sites. With alarming frequency, these ancient reptiles are cut off from traditional nesting areas by an ever increasing network of roads, leaving the turtles vulnerable to high rates of road-kill.
Dubbed the "Killing Grid" by herpetologists studying the dilemma, roads take a terrible toll on female turtles that normally offset low reproductive success rates with long reproductive life spans. Cutting short adult life spans limits recruitment of young turtles in the wild and can ultimately result in the complete loss of local turtle populations. To add to the crisis, roads bring increasing development which translates into loss of nesting habitat and additional losses of turtles and turtle nests to people, and predators associated with human residential areas such as skunks, foxes and raccoons.
The solution? On a landscape scale, large tracts of habitat need to be protected to ensure the viability of Massachusetts' native turtles. The BioMap and Living Waters maps, created by MassWildlife's Natural Heritage Program, identifies such tracts and superimposes them on a statewide map creating a "greenprint" for the conservation of biodiversity. State, local and private conservation agencies and organizations use the BioMap and Living Waters maps to guide their habitat protection efforts. Currently, a major effort to update these maps is underway with completion planned for this fall.
Sustainable forest management practices on public and private lands also helps to insure that care is taken to conserve rare species during the planning and implementation of timber sales. Forestry conservation management practices for turtles and other rare species are posted on the agency website.
On an individual level, citizens can assist turtles moving to and from
nesting areas by helping them to cross roadways. While this Samaritan
act should never be attempted if any human risk is involved, a successful
road crossing can make the difference between nesting now and well into
the future, versus no nesting at all. Always remember to help a turtle
only when safe to do so and always move the turtle in the direction
it is heading. Do not take any turtles to another location or a pond!
Snappers may be safely held with one hand on the tail and another hand
slid under the turtle to support its weight. Picking them up only by
the tail can damage their spine. Painted, spotted and other turtle species
can be safely grasped by the sides of the shell. For more useful
turtle conservation tips and Turtle FAQs. Encounters with rare state-protected
turtles should be reported to MassWildlife with photo and map documentation.
Information
on reporting a rare turtle sighting.
FREE FISHING WEEKEND JUNE 5 & 6
Looking for a way to spend some quality time with your friends and family in the great outdoors? Take a family member or friend fishing in Massachusetts for free during the statewide Free Fishing Weekend of June 5 & 6. Fishing offers family and friends a great way to spend time together and create fun memories that will last a lifetime. Freshwater fishing license fees help pay for fishery and hatchery management, habitat development and protection, endangered species programs, fishing and conservation education, lake and pond maps, other publications, and many other programs. If you don't know how to fish, consider attending fishing festivals or other free fishing related activities sponsored by MassWildlife's Angler Education Program this month and into the summer!
- June 5 -- Friends of Great Falls Discovery Center Family Fishing Day, Turners Falls (Montague) -- This family friendly event will be held at the Great Falls Discovery Center from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Friends of Great Falls Discovery Center on 2 Avenue A in Turners Falls, just across the bridge from Rte 2. Contact Sarah Bevilacqua at (413) 863-3676 or sarah.bevilacqua@fws.gov.
- June 5 -- Disabled American Veterans Fishing Festival, Hudson -- This event is open to disabled veterans and will be held from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm in cooperation with the Riverside Rod and Gun Club. Contact Jim Lagacy at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
- June 6 -- 18th Annual Horn Pond Family Fishing Festival, Woburn -- This family friendly event will be at Horn Pond held from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm in cooperation with the Woburn Elks. Contact Jim Lagacy at at (508) 389-6309 or jim.lagacy@state.ma.us.
- June 12 -- Great Meadows Family Fishing Day, Sudbury -- This family friendly event will be held at the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge on Weir Hill Rd from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm in cooperation with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Contact Sue Russo at (978) 443-4661 x34 or susan_j_russo@fws.gov.
- June 19 -- Teach and Take a Child Fishing Clinic, Buzzards Bay
(Bourne) -- This family friendly event is sponsored by Red Top
Bait and Tackle at Queen Swell Pond from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. This program
is actually three separate two hour "learn to fish" clinics
for children ages 7 to 12. When you register you will be signing up
for one of the three clinics. Space is limited and pre-registration
is required. Sorry, no walk-ins can be accommodated. To pre-register,
contact Elizabeth Stromeyer at Red Top Bait and Tackle; (508) 759-3371
or email red.top@verizon.net.
PREVENT THE SPREAD OF NON-NATIVE AQUATIC HITCH HIKERS
Boaters launching their craft into Massachusetts waterways should check to be sure they aren't giving a free ride to non-native aquatic plants or animals. Aquatic, exotic invasives can easily be transported between water bodies by boats, motors, trailers, fishing equipment, anchors, bait buckets, live wells, swimming and diving gear, and other aquatic equipment. These hitchhikers can wreak havoc in lakes and ponds by choking waterways through explosive growth, fouling intake and discharge structures, lowering lakefront property values, impeding boating, swimming and fishing, and reducing biodiversity by crowding out native fish, insects, other animals and plants. Once they are established in a water body, it is nearly impossible to eradicate these non-native invasive organisms.
With the discovery of invasive zebra mussels in Laurel Lake in Lee
and Lenox in July of 2009, the Department of Conservation and Recreation
(DCR) wants to make boaters aware of new procedures that must be followed
for any watercraft to be launched at Berkshire waterbodies determined
to be at high or moderate risk for zebra mussel colonization. Anyone
launching watercraft at Ashmere Lake, Cheshire Reservoir, Housatonic
River, Lake Buel, Lake Garfield, Lake Mansfield, Laurel Lake, Onota
Lake, Plunkett Reservoir, Pontoosuc Lake, Prospect Lake, Richmond Pond,
Shaw Pond, and Stockbridge Bowl must fill out a Clean Boat Certification
Form. This form is available at the boat ramp kiosks and is posted on
the DCR
website.
Boaters and other water users can help prevent the spread of invasive
non-native plants and other organisms by two major cleaning methods
described on the Clean Boat Certification form, described in detail
in a DCR zebra mussel brochure.
In central Massachusetts, anglers planning to launch at the DCR Quabbin
Reservoir must follow a different launching procedure. All private boats
launched on the reservoir must now have an intact Quabbin Boat Seal
that certifies the craft has gone through a DCR approved decontamination
process. Seals must be intact when the boats are inspected by Boat Launch
Area attendants prior to launching. For more information on the Quabbin
Boat Seal Program, or call the Quabbin Visitors Center at (413)
323-7221.
Zebra mussels are small 1-2" D-shaped mussels with alternating
light and dark bands. They are very prolific and can spread at an alarming
rate, clogging boat motors, shutting down power plants, and out-competing
native freshwater mussels. Zebra mussels have a microscopic larval stage
and can travel undetected in bait buckets, live wells and cooling water.
There are no known methods of control for zebra mussels once they have
invaded a water body. To prevent an introduction of zebra mussels, it
is imperative that boaters empty all bait buckets, live wells and cooling
water on dry land away from the shore.
Report zebra mussel sightings to Tom Flannery at tom.flannery@state.ma.us,
call (617) 626-1250 or visit the Lakes and Ponds website www.mass.gov/lakesandponds
for fact sheets. DCR also asks interested citizens to consider joining
the Weed Watchers Program. The DCR Lakes and Ponds program is looking
for anglers, boaters, lake and pond association members and other water
users to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasives. Participants
will receive hands-on-training in plant identification, a Guide to Aquatic
Invasive Species and other helpful publications. Information on the
Weed
Watchers Program.
REPORTING FISH KILLS
With hot weather warming up lakes and ponds, fish kills may be discovered in some bodies of water. In May, the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) fielded reports of fish kills in several locations throughout the state. The sight of dead and dying fish along the shores of a favorite lake, pond or river can be distressing and can trigger concerns about pollution. Fish do act as the "canary in the coalmine," so it's natural to think a fish kill is an indicator of a problem with human caused pollution. However, the vast majority of fish kills reported are natural events.
Natural fish kills are generally the result of low oxygen levels, fish diseases or spawning stress. Depletion of dissolved oxygen is one of the most common causes of natural fish kills. As pond temperature increases, water holds less oxygen. During hot summer weather, oxygen levels in shallow, weedy ponds can further decline as plants consume oxygen at night. This results in low, early morning oxygen levels that can become critical if levels fall below the requirement of fish survival. In addition to reduced oxygen levels, late spring and early summer is when most warmwater fish species, such as sunfish (bluegill, pumpkinseed, largemouth bass) begin to spawn. At this time, large numbers of these species crowd into the shallow waters along the shore vying for the best spawning sites. These densely crowded areas become susceptible to disease outbreaks, especially as water temperatures increase. The result is an unavoidable natural fish kill, usually consisting of one or two species of fish.
When a caller reports a fish kill, a DFW fisheries biologist determines if the kill is due to pollution or is a natural event. Generally, pollution impacts all kinds of aquatic life, therefore the most important piece of evidence for the biologists is knowing the number of fish species associated with the fish kill. Fish kills in which only one or two species are involved are almost always a natural event. When it is likely a fish kill is due to pollution, DFW notifies the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). DEP takes the lead on a formal investigation which includes analysis of water and fish samples to determine the source of pollution. DFW provides DEP with technical assistance by identifying the kinds and numbers of fish involved.
To report a fish kill Monday through Friday between 8:00 am and 4:30
pm, contact Richard Hartley at (508) 389-6330. After normal business
hours or on holidays and weekends, call the Fish Kill Pager at (508)
722-9811 or contact the Environmental Police Radio Room at 1-800-632-8075.
More information on fish
kills.
HELP MASSWILDLIFE COUNT TURKEY FAMILIES
Sportsmen and -women, birders, landowners and other wildlife enthusiasts are encouraged to assist the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (DFW) to count turkey families this summer. DFW conducts an annual wild turkey brood survey from June through August. "The brood survey serves as a long term index on reproduction," explains Dave Scarpitti, Turkey Project Leader. "It helps us determine productivity and allows us to compare long-term reproductive success." Scarpitti also points out that citizen involvement in this survey is a cost-effective means of gathering useful data, and he encourages all interested people to participate. A turkey brood survey form has been posted on the website. Information needed includes date, town, number of hens seen, and number of poults (young turkeys) and their relative size compared to the hens. Multiple sightings of the same brood should also be noted. The survey period runs from June 1 - August 31. Completed forms should to be mailed to the MassWildlife Westborough Field Headquarters, 1 Rabbit Hill Rd, Westborough, MA 01581. The last few years of survey information is posted in the Wild Turkey area of the website.
MASSACHUSETTS WILDLIFE PHOTO CONTEST
Have you taken a beautiful photo of a coyote in your back yard? Caught a magnificent eagle on the wing? Snapped an image of a colorful spider wrapping up its dinner or the first bloom of a gorgeous wild orchid? Have you captured the perfect sunrise from a Cape Cod beach - or the perfect sunset from a Berkshire mountain? How about the ear-splitting smile of a child with a first fish - or Mom paddling a kayak for the first time? We want to see what you've got! For the first time ever, Massachusetts Wildlife will devote an issue to a public photography competition, the 2010 Massachusetts Wildlife Photo Contest. Other than bragging rights, prizes are modest: a free, 2- year subscription to the magazine for the first-place winners in each category; and an award citation and four copies of the #4, 2010 issue of Massachusetts Wildlife for all first-, second-, and third-place winners.
The photo contest is open to amateur photographers who may submit up
to ten images. Photos must be taken in Massachusetts. There are eight
entry categories: flora, scenic, outdoor activities, invertebrates,
fish, herps (reptiles and amphibians), birds and mammals. Deadline for
entry submission is September 1, 2010. More
details about the contest and an entry form are now posted on the
agency website.
DEER AND BEAR PERMIT APPLICATIONS DUE JULY 16
Deer hunters, don't wait in line; apply on time! All deer hunters are reminded that in order to take antlerless deer during any deer hunting season, they must possess an antlerless deer permit. The July 16 application deadline is fast approaching. Applications postmarked after July 16 will not be accepted. Antlerless deer permit applications are found on paper licenses bought over the counter. Due to a printing problem this year, the line next to the name was not printed on the paper application and hunters have not included their names on the application. The Division reminds hunters to be sure to print their name on the antlerless deer permit application. Hunters who apply through the mail should be sure to double check that ALL name and mailing information has been printed on their application prior to mailing. Internet license buyers need to access the MassOutdoors website and apply at www.mass.gov/massoutdoors. Only online license holders may apply for any permits through MassOutdoors. MassWildlife cautions deer hunters to refrain from assuming large quantities of over-the-counter permits will be available after permits are sent out.
The bear permit application deadline is also July 16. Bear permit applications
are found on the duplicate license certificate of the over-the-counter
license or on-line for MassOutdoors license buyers. A mass mailing of
these permits will be sent out in August. Applicants are reminded again
that only online license holders may apply through the website for a
permit.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Advisory Committee will meet at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife's Field Headquarters located off North Drive in Westborough on Thursday, June 10, 2010 from 1:30- 4:30 PM.
The Fisheries and Wildlife Board will meet on June 16, 2010 at 1:00 pm in southeastern Massachusetts and when finalized, the exact meeting location will be posted on the agency website.
Both meetings are open to the public.
For information on other wildlife events and activities visit the
Calender of Events.
Last Updated: 08/16/2010