MassWildlife Monthly January 2021

News from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife

Thanks for your support

Hunters, anglers, and trappers are among the greatest supporters of fish and wildlife conservation in Massachusetts. License fees support MassWildlife’s efforts to keep fish and wildlife populations healthy, conserve habitat, and protect land for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation. Massachusetts is fortunate to have anglers and hunters who are passionate about the outdoors and support it with their time, commitment, and dollars. Despite challenging times, MassWildlife's dedicated staff continued to work hard this year to conserve fish, wildlife, and their habitats. With your support in 2020, MassWildlife:  

• Stocked over 500,000 trout in more than 220 cities and towns across Massachusetts. This includes 173 lakes and ponds, and 174 rivers and streams. To get more information about trout stocking in Massachusetts, visit mass.gov/trout 

• Released over 40,000 pheasants on Wildlife Management Areas and other lands open to hunting. Launched a new online map to help hunters find locations stocked with pheasants. 

• Acquired 2,200 acres of critical habitat, forests, grasslands, water frontage, and access points for hunters and anglers. In total, MassWildlife now protects and manages 223,528 acres of land and water open to hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and other outdoor recreation. View more information about properties MassWildlife acquired last year.

• Taught over 2,000 students hunting and fishing skills through Angler Education, Hunter Education, Learn to Hunt programs, Becoming an Outdoors Woman, and Facebook livestream events. To accommodate safe social distancing, educational programs were adapted for online learning. 

• Released the new digital Go Fish MA! map to help anglers find great spots to fish. The interactive map includes boat ramps, trout stocked waters, pond and lake summaries, and digital depth information—plus over 100 featured fishing sites that offer easy access to awesome fishing year-round!  

• Received over 338 pieces of artwork submitted by youth artists in grades K–12 for the 2020 Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Contest. 

Restoring and Maintaining Wildlife Habitat in 2020 

MassWildlife staff actively managed over 1,400 acres of wildlife habitat on state lands this year. These habitat projects are carefully planned to benefit a diversity of rare and declining wildlife while also providing excellent habitat for game species such as American woodcock and ruffed grouse.

• Mowing, mulching, and/or tree cutting were completed on 460 acres of state lands to promote vigorous new young forest and shrubland habitat. These habitat projects are carefully planned to benefit both rare and declining wildlife 

• Invasive plants control was conducted on 905 acres of state lands to encourage native plants to reestablish and thrive. 

• Prescribed burns were conducted on 44 acres and 75 acres were prepped for burns. Comprehensive prescribed burn plans completed for over 1,837 acres of habitat. Using prescribed fire is an effective way to maintain open habits used by an array of specialized and common wildlife and plants. Careful planning ensures that these burns are safe and effective. 

• A full roster of habitat projects to benefit Massachusetts wildlife is already in in the works. Preparations have been made for projects to begin on 1,309 acres in early 2021. 

Click here to learn more about the work MassWildlife is doing to restore and manage critical habitat for wildlife.

 

Over 2,000 acres of wildlife lands permanently conserved

In December, the Department of Fish and Game and MassWildlife acquired a 2,038-acre conservation restriction in Shutesbury, Pelham, and Leverett. The property will continue to be owned and maintained by W.D. Cowls, Inc. of North Amherst as a sustainable working forest. The conservation restriction, sometimes called a conservation easement, permanently protects the property which is made up of several large forested parcels. The acquisition will conserve critical wildlife habitat, safeguard water resources, and ensure continued public access to the property for hunting, fishing, hiking, wildlife watching, and other outdoor recreation. This major land protection project was made possible through a partnership with the Kestrel Land Trust, W.D. Cowls, and the federal Forest Legacy Program. 

More than 95 percent of the Walter Cowls Jones Working Forest, as the property will be called, is identified as Core Habitat or Critical Natural Landscape by MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program and is essential for ensuring the long-term survival of rare and common wildlife. Two reptiles listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act will benefit from the conservation of this property, as will forest birds like the scarlet tanager, blackburnian warbler, and Canada warbler. Visitors may also find common wildlife on the property, such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, porcupine, snowshoe hare, and ruffed grouse. This sizeable land acquisition benefits mammals with large home ranges such as black bear, moose, and bobcats. The area also includes headwater tributaries that are valuable habitat to coldwater aquatic wildlife.  

Protecting this large block of forested lands will help sequester and store carbon and help mitigate climate change. Parts of the property are near other conserved lands including the Quabbin Reservation, Town of Amherst watershed land, Montague Plains Wildlife Management Area, and the Paul C. Jones Working Forest. Connecting large blocks of wildlife habitat provides plants and animals improved ability to adapt to changing climate conditions. The acquisition adds to the more than 220,00 acres of MassWildlife’s Wildlife Management Areas and Wildlife Conservation Easements conserved statewide. Click here to discover MassWildlife lands near you. 

 

Calling all youth artists

There is still time to enter the Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) contest. Students from kindergarten through grade 12 can submit original artwork for this fun and educational competition. The entry deadline is February 15, 2021. The process of creating these works of art allows students to appreciate the importance of preserving wetland habitats and the delights and diversity of wildlife. "Even if students do not enter the competition, science and art teachers will value the JDS curriculum as a useful resource," advises MassWildlife’s Wildlife Education Coordinator, Pam Landry.

The JDS program links the study of wetlands and waterfowl conservation with the creation of original artwork. Students in grades K-12 learn about the habitat requirements of various kinds of ducks and geese and then express their knowledge of the beauty, diversity, and interdependence of these species artistically, by creating a drawing or painting which can be submitted to the JDS art contest. The art is judged in four age group categories in a statewide competition; the entry judged Best of Show moves on to represent Massachusetts in the national JDS competition. Art teachers, science teachers, and parents who home-school can visit our website for an information packet and entry information.

For more information contact Pam Landry at [e-mail].

Why you shouldn't feed wildlife this winter

Each winter, MassWildlife receives inquiries from the public regarding whether or not to feed wildlife. While people have good intentions, supplemental feeding of wildlife typically does more harm than good. Most wildlife seasonally change their behavior to adapt to cold temperatures and scarce food supplies. Supplemental feeding can alter that behavior and have detrimental, and sometimes fatal, effects. Wildlife in Massachusetts have adapted over thousands of years to cope with harsh winter weather, including deep snow, cold temperatures, and high winds. 

Supplemental feed sites congregate wildlife into unnaturally high densities, which can:

• Attract predators and increase risk of death by wild predators or domestic pets;
• Spread diseases among wildlife or cause other health issues (e.g. Rumen acidosis in deer, Aflatoxicosis in turkeys);
• Cause aggression and competition over food, wasting vital energy reserves and potentially leading to injury or death;
• Reduce fat reserves, as wild animals use energy traveling to and from the feeding site;
• Cause wildlife to cross roads more frequently, therefore increasing vehicle collisions;
• Negatively impact vegetation and habitat in areas where feeding congregates animals.

Providing wildlife with food at any time of year teaches them to rely on humans for food, which puts them at a disadvantage for survival and can lead to human/wildlife conflicts. Once habituated behavior is established, it can be very difficult or impossible to change.

What can you do?

The best way to help wildlife make it through the winter is to step back and allow the animals’ instincts to take over. To help wildlife near your home, focus on improving the wildlife habitat on or near your property, by including natural food and cover (e.g., some conifer cover and regenerating forest or brushy habitat). It is also important that wildlife populations are in balance with what the habitat can support.

Bird feeding

MassWildlife biologists advise against feeding wildlife. While backyard bird feeding during winter months is generally acceptable, we recommend using native plants and water to attract birds to your yard. Fallen bird seed can unintentionally attract many types of wildlife, including bears, turkeys, small mammals like squirrels and mice, and predators like foxes, fishers, and coyotes that feed on small mammals. If you notice unwanted wildlife in your backyard, bring in your bird feeders immediately. 

Stay safe on the ice this winter

It's wintertime in Massachusetts and residents will begin to venture out onto the ice for fishing, skating, or other winter activities. Stay safe this winter by taking a few moments to review these ice safety tips and ice thickness guidelines. 

How can you tell if ice is safe?

There are no guarantees. Always consider ice to be potentially dangerous. You can't judge ice conditions by appearance or thickness alone; many other factors like water depth, size of waterbody, water chemistry, currents, snow cover, age of ice, and local weather conditions impact ice strength. 

Ice tips to remember:

• New ice is stronger than old ice. Four inches of clear, newly formed ice may support one person on foot, while a foot or more of old, partially thawed ice may not.
• Ice doesn't freeze uniformly. Continue to check ice conditions frequently as you venture out onto the ice.
• Ice formed over flowing water and currents is often more dangerous. Avoid traveling onto ice-bound rivers and streams, as the currents make ice thickness unpredictable. Many lakes and ponds may contain spring holes and other areas of currents that can create deceptively dangerous thin spots. 

Before heading out onto the ice

• Tell someone your plans, including where you are going and when you expect to return.
• Come prepared. Carry a cell phone in case of emergency. Always carry ice picks and rope with you on the ice. In case of emergency, drive the nails into the ice and pull yourself to safety while kicking (see tips for falling in below). 
• Wear your life jacket. If you fall in, a life jacket will keep you at the surface and can provide insulation against the effects of cold water.

Ice thickness guidelines

The guidelines below are for clear, blue ice on lakes and ponds. White ice or snow ice is only about half as strong as new clear ice and can be very treacherous. Use an ice chisel, auger, or cordless drill to make a hole in the ice and determine its thickness and condition. Bring a tape measure to check ice thickness at regular intervals. 

Ice Thickness (inches)	Permissible Load (on new clear/blue ice on lakes or ponds)
2" or less	STAY OFF!
4"	Ice fishing or other activities on foot
5"	Snowmobile or ATV
8"–12"	Car or small pickup truck
12"–15"	Medium truck

Falling through the ice

If you fall in: 

• Don't panic: Call for help if there are people nearby.
• Don't remove winter clothing: Air trapped in your clothes can provide warmth and help you float.
• Turn the direction you came from: Ice you previously walked on should be the safest.
• Place your hands and arms on an unbroken surface and kick your legs: If you have ice picks or a pair of nails, use them to pull yourself up onto the ice while kicking.
• Lie flat and roll away: Once your torso is on firm ice, roll toward thicker ice to distribute your weight.
• Find shelter and get warm: Change out of wet clothing and find warm, dry coverings. If you are in a remote area, get to or start a campfire. Otherwise, get to a car or house. Seek medical advice from your physician on medical attention.

If someone else falls in:

Remember the phrase "Preach-Reach-Throw-Go."

• Preach: Call 911 if you can. Shout to the victim to reassure them help is on the way.
• Reach: If you can safely reach them from shore, extend an object like a rope, jumper cables, tree branch, or ladder to them.
• Throw: Toss one end of a rope or something that will float to the victim.
• Go: If the situation is too dangerous for you to perform a rescue, call 911 or go to find help. Untrained rescuers can become victims themselves.

If a pet falls in:

Do not attempt to rescue the pet, go find help. Well meaning pet owners can easily become victims themselves when trying to assist their pets. Remember to always keep pets leashed while walking on or near ice. 

New Year's Resolution: Respect the wilderness

Interest in outdoor recreation continues to grow and the forests, fields, and beaches that we love to explore continue to welcome us. While you take an adventure into the outdoors during the new year, challenge yourself to leave only footprints and keep nature wild.

Here are a few simple steps you can take to respectfully enjoy the outdoors: 

• Plan ahead - Beaches, state parks, and conservation lands might have different regulations you should be aware of like what activities are permitted on the property. Research the rules for the area you plan to visit beforehand. Respect private property and do not trespass on private land. Find WMA rules here. MassWildlife owns and manages over 220,000 acres of Wildlife Management Areas and Conservation Easements that are open to hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreation. Prepare for your adventure by visiting our MassWildlife Lands Viewer to customize and print maps of MassWildlife properties.

• Pack out what you pack in - This includes food wrappers and remains, drink containers, and dog waste bags. If you’re hunting or fishing, be sure to take all equipment out with you like discarded fishing line or shotgun shells. A good goal to keep in mind is to leave an area cleaner than you found it.  

• Give wildlife space - Keep a reasonable distance from wildlife. Use your binoculars and spotting scope rather than your feet, to get "closer" to your subject. If you get too close to an animal, its behavior will change. It may stop feeding, look at you, vocalize, appear nervous or flee. If you note a change in behavior, back off slowly until you're out of the animal's "space". Do not feed wildlife.

• Respect the land - Avoid damaging plants and trees, do not carve into tree bark and be aware of where you are stepping. Follow posted signage to avoid nesting areas and vernal pools. Please stay on trails if they are available.

• Be considerate of other visitors - Many people visit the wilderness to enjoy the quiet and tranquility. Remain a respectful distance away from other visitors, avoid loud noises, and follow regulations for pets. 

Date published:	November 30, 2020