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MassWildlife
News Release
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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 2008
- BAT MORTALITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS
- TROUT STOCKING BEGINS MID-MARCH
- BEARS AND BIRDFEEDERS
- SUPPORT THE RARE WILD THINGS ON YOUR TAX FORM
- MIDWINTER WATERFOWL SURVEY RESULTS
- HELP STOCK SALMON FRY!
- CANID SHOT IN SHELBURNE IS CONFIRMED A WOLF
- UPCOMING MEETINGS
BAT MORTALITIES IN MASSACHUSETTS
After receiving reports in February from Vermont and New York about large numbers of bats dying in caves, biologists from MassWildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated caves and mines in western Massachusetts where colonies of bats are known to spend the winter. Biologists observed bats flying around outside of the state's larges mine when they should have all been inside hibernating, and found dead bats near the entrance of the hibernacula (winter quarters) which were collected for further study. Biologists confirmed that these bats, like the ones in Vermont and New York, were affected with white nose syndrome (WNS), a term used to describe some of the bats found at these sites that look like their faces were dipped in powdered sugar. This white material is a fungus that is growing on the faces of up to 10% of the bats at the affected sites. Up to 97% of the bats at some affected sites in New York have died.
Bats with crusting white fungus were first found in New York bat hibernacula during the winter of 2006-2007. Mortality was high and aroused concern among the bat conservation community. By winter 2007-2008 the syndrome and associated mortality had spread to many of the largest New York hibernacula and to sites in Vermont and Massachusetts. New sites are still being reported. Of the eight species of bats currently found in Massachusetts, it appears that the bat species most affected by WNS include widespread and common species such as Little Brown Bats, Eastern Pipistrelles and Northern Long-eared Bats as well as the rare, state listed Small-footed Bats. These bats hibernate in caves or mines. Big Brown Bats which commonly hibernate in buildings are not yet known to be affected. The Red Bat, Hoary Bat and Silver-haired Bat are migratory and apparently not affected.
Bats at the affected sites have exhibited some unusual behaviors. These behaviors include clusters of bats roosting in the light zone close to cave or mine entrances; dead bats or bat remains found outside of caves in the snow; nearby citizens reporting bats flying during the day in very cold weather (15-20°F) and bats roosting on exterior house walls. Flying bats have been observed falling to the ground or crash landing and several have been found roosting in woodpiles. Midwinter necropsies of bats have found the mammals' fat stores completely depleted, when they would normally last until the bats emerge in spring and begin to feed on flying insects.
Wildlife managers are concerned about the outbreak because bats congregate by the thousands in caves and mines to hibernate during winter months. If WNS is caused by an infectious agent, this behavior increases the potential that the disease will spread among hibernating bats. In addition, hibernating bats disperse in spring and migrate, sometimes hundreds of miles away, to spend the summer. Bats are important predators of mosquitoes and other insects. A study from Boston University estimates that 14 -15 tons of insects are consumed each summer by the 50,000 Big Brown Bats that live within the bounds of Route 128. "High bat mortality is a major concern because bats have a low reproductive rate," says Dr. Thomas French, MassWildlife Assistant Director for Natural Heritage and Endangered Species. "Most bats raise one pup per year. It will take decades for bat populations to rebound after a large die-off."
Currently, scientists do not know what is causing bats to die in such great numbers. It is not clear if white nose syndrome is a cause or a symptom of bat mortality. Currently, there are 9 universities, 4 or 5 federal agencies, state wildlife agencies and health departments from 3 states, and a host of other volunteers, researchers, and cavers working together to gather data, understand this condition and to diagnose the cause.
Anyone wishing to report observations of more than 2 bats flying around
outdoors before April 1 can contact MassWildlife by email mass.wildlife@state.ma.us
or call 508/389-6360. The "Homeowners
Guide to Bats" 
,
a bat booklet, can be picked up at MassWildlife offices or downloaded
as a pdf file.
TROUT STOCKING BEGINS MID-MARCH
Bay State anglers can look forward to over 579,900 feisty brook, brown, rainbow and tiger trout being stocked this spring according to figures released by MassWildlife. Weather and water conditions permitting, MassWildlife stocking trucks will be making their spring trout stocking runs beginning with selected lakes and ponds in the eastern areas of the state by mid-March. Other waterbodies in the state, still covered with snow will be stocked when weather, snow, water and mud conditions permit.
"Half of the 341,000 rainbow trout we will be putting out will be over 14 inches long," observes Chief Fish Culturist Dr. Ken Simmons. "They'll be distributed statewide throughout the stocking season by our five regional Wildlife District offices." 147,600 brown trout will be stocked of which more than 36,000 are larger than 13 inches. The larger water bodies will receive the larger fish with the smaller brooks and streams receiving the smaller fish. 86,000 brook trout, some of which weigh more than 3 pounds will be stocked in a similar fashion. Anglers can also anticipate trying to take some of the 5,000 tiger trout to be released. These handsome fish, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout will average over 14" in length.
Once the stocking season begins, weekly
trout stocking reports will be updated each Friday on the MassWildlife
website. All schedules are subject to alteration or cancellation due
to equipment failure, inclement weather, high water or other unforeseen
circumstances. Please refrain from asking when a particular water body
will be stocked for the same reasons! Anglers without Internet access
may also call the nearest District office for information on trout stocked
waters: 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 "hook"
a new angler of any age on to fishing!
BEARS AND BIRDFEEDERS
To avoid possible seasonal conflicts between people and bears in central and western Massachusetts, MassWildlife is issuing its seasonal reminder that bird feeders should be taken down by mid-March and other preventive steps be taken. With the snow melting away and warmer days, bears are now leaving their winter dens. In some cases, bears did not den at all during the winter. "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 2,000 resident bears, with the majority living west of the Connecticut River. Bears also reside as far east as Worcester County and towns in northern Middlesex County.
Bears have excellent long-term memories and remember which foods are
available at different seasons, and 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 out for roadside pickup the day of trash pickup, not the previous
evening. Bears can break into small sheds and barns with loose doors
in search of grain or other sweet or meaty smells. Refrain from feeding
pets outdoors. Do not deposit sweet or meaty items in compost piles
as bears will soon find it. 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 these
actions also reduce problems with other common wildlife species such
as coyotes, raccoons, skunks and foxes. For more
detailed black bear information, click the Wildlife button on the
MassWildlife website.
TAX SEASON: THE SEASON TO SUPPORT ENDANGERED WILDLIFE
Since 1983, Massachusetts tax filers have been able to donate to MassWildlife's
Endangered Species Fund while filing their state income tax (Line 32).
When you contribute to the fund, you help to protect and restore rare
and endangered animals, plants, and their habitats. Past donations have
helped conserve and restore in the Commonwealth populations of the Bald
eagle, Hessel's Hairstreak butterfly, the Northern redbelly Cooter,
and the beautiful Eastern Silvery Aster. Donations to the Fund may also
be made year round by sending a check made out: Natural Heritage &
Endangered Species Fund and sent to: MassWildlife Field HQ, NHESP, 1
Rabbit Hill Rd Westborough MA 01581. Check the Natural
Heritage area of MassWildlife's website for more details on the
program's mission.
HELP STOCK SALMON FRY!
Volunteers from high schools, sporting clubs, civic groups, colleges
and individuals with a passion for rivers, fish or fishing are needed
to assist MassWildlife in stocking 1.5 million salmon fry (juvenile
fish) as part of the Atlantic salmon restoration program. According
to Dr. Caleb Slater, MassWildlife's Anadromous Fish Project Leader,
at least 20 stocking dates are planned in April and early May to release
salmon fry into dozens of Connecticut River tributaries. The fry will
come from MassWildlife's Roger Reed Hatchery in Palmer and the White
River National Fish Hatchery in Bethel, Vermont. Fry will be trucked
to meeting sites where volunteers will gather and caravan to release
sites. The tiny fish will then be moved from truck to water by bucket
using volunteer man and woman power.
Dr. Slater offers some tips for potential volunteers, "You may
get wet! A change of clothes is a good idea. You will be walking on
slippery stream and river beds, so waders or other waterproof footgear
is useful." There are a few waders to loan. Volunteers will also
be climbing up and down steep stream banks and should be in good physical
condition. MassWildlife aids anadromous (migratory) fish in a number
of ways: stocking fry in tributaries of the Connecticut River, monitoring
fish passage at dams on the Connecticut, Westfield and Merrimack Rivers;
trapping salmon and shad for transport to hatcheries and/or upstream
release locations, working with other federal agencies to ensure safe
upstream and downstream fish passage at hydroelectric dams, and working
with local watershed groups to improve freshwater habitat for fish.
For more
information on dates, meeting locations and times for fry stocking
or contact Dr. Caleb Slater at 508/389-6331.
MIDWINTER WATERFOWL SURVEY RESULTS
MassWildlife's waterfowl biologist, H. Heusmann, reports that the
annual Midwinter Waterfowl Survey (MWS) on the Bay States coastal areas
has been completed. This year the count is notable for the large number
of eiders and scoters counted in Massachusetts. The state total was
83,461 eiders and 24,000 scoters, 82% and 355% above their 10 year average,
respectively. Included in this total is information from the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS) reporting 14,000 eiders and 19,000 scoters
around Martha's Vineyard and 57,000 eiders and 1,300 scoters around
Nantucket.
American black duck numbers at 19,271 were 5% above the 10 year average
and the 5,133 mallards counted were a record high, but only 1% higher
than last year's count. Most mallards, however, overwinter on inland
sites where people feed waterfowl and they are not found in great numbers
on the MWS, a coastal oriented survey. More than 12,000 mallards were
counted at such sites this year. Counts of most other ducks were slightly
above or below their 10 year average. This was also true for Canada
geese with 12,243 counted, but like mallards, many Canada geese, especially
Massachusetts resident birds, winter on inland sites not surveyed by
the coastal MWS. Brant numbers, which winter strictly on the coast,
were 59% above average with 2,916 counted.
The Boston area portion the survey was covered from the ground by the
Boston based bird group, Take
a Second Look, on January 6, while the remainder of the state's
coastline was covered with a float plane provided by the USFWS with
the cooperation of MassWildlife personnel during the period January
21-25, 2008.
CANID SHOT IN SHELBURNE IS CONFIRMED TO BE A WOLF
A large canid shot in Shelburne last October was an eastern gray wolf,
according to Special Agent in Charge Thomas J. Healy of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's Northeast Region. According to Healy, the Service's
National Forensic Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon, examined the wolf,
conducting both genetic and morphological examinations. Forensic scientists
compared the Shelburne canid's DNA to DNA from wolves of known origin
and concluded that the individual was an eastern gray wolf. Their structural
comparison concluded that the animal was consistent with gray wolf and
inconsistent with coyote, domestic dog and wolf-dog hybrids. "We
have no indication that this wolf was ever held in captivity,"
Healy said. "But what we don't know about this wolf's origins far
outweighs what we do know."
In mid-October, a Shelburne farmer notified Massachusetts Division of
Fisheries and Wildlife that a canid had killed and partially consumed
lambs on his property. A MassWildlife biologist visited the farm and
took photographs of the lambs and measured tracks found in the area.
The following day, the canid was killed on the farmer's property. The
MassWildlife biologist returned to the farm and, upon seeing an apparent
wolf, took possession of the carcass. MassWildlife conducted a brief
examination, determining that the animal was male, weighed 85 pounds,
and the stomach contents included remains of lamb. A wolf researcher
from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst also examined the carcass
and concurred that it was most likely a wolf. Because wolves are a federally
endangered species, MassWildlife contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USFWS), and turned the carcass over to that agency.
The gray wolf was extirpated from Massachusetts by the mid-1800s. The
closest known wolf population to Massachusetts is in the Canadian province
of Ontario. Information about gray wolves may be found on the USFWS
website. Some researchers have proposed that the eastern wolf should
be recognized as a separate species than the western gray wolf, but
this proposed separation has not been officially accepted by the scientific
community. For more information, contact Tom Healy, USFWS at 413/253-8329.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The following meetings will be held at the MassWildlife Field Headquarters. Both are open to the public and the building is handicapped accessible.
March 13--Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Advisory Committee Meeting, Westborough - Held at MassWildlife's Field Headquarters, this meeting is open to the public. Topics on non-game and endangered species will be covered, an update on agency activities will be part of the agenda. The Committee makes recommendations on these issues to MassWildlife's staff and the Fisheries & Wildlife Board. 1:30 - 4:00 PM. Phone is 508/389-6360.
March 18--Fisheries and
Wildlife Board Meeting, Westborough --The March meeting of the
Fisheries and Wildlife Board will be held at noon at MassWildlife's
Field Headquarters,
1 Rabbit Hill Road, (off North Drive) in Westborough. Please Note: In
case of inclement weather the meeting will be held the following day
at the same location. This meeting is open to the public. Phone is 508/389-6300.
Last Updated: 03/10/2008