News  Land protected at Mount Watatic

MassWildlife is pleased to announce the permanent protection of 186 acres of land on the south slope of Mount Watatic. Located in the towns of Ashby and Ashburnham, the new property will be managed by MassWildlife as part of the 1,036-acre Ashby Wildlife Management Area. The property is centrally located within an extensive network of more than 3,650 acres of conservation land, including the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s (DCR) 2,200-acre Ashburnham State Forest, the 280-acre Mount Watatic Reservation, and MassWildlife’s 140-acre Watatic Mountain Sanctuary.

The acquisition benefits people by increasing access to outdoor recreation and conserves habitat for wildlife. “It’s also important to note that the Mount Watatic acquisition protects land that is critical for climate change adaptation and resiliency. The forested landscape and topography of the property provide water filtration, carbon sequestration, and opportunities for local species to migrate to higher elevations,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card.

The Department of Fish and Game acquired the 186 acres of land from the North County Land Trust (NCLT) for $995,000 in July 2022, with half of the funding from state open space bond funds and half from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund grant program. In 2020, with an imminent threat of sale and development of the property, the NCLT coordinated fundraising and agreed to pre-acquire the property to allow the state time to secure funding sources. In January 2021, NCLT purchased 201 acres for $1.3 million from the Thomas L. Mikes Family Trust. This included the 186-acre property and 15 acres of adjacent land with an existing farmhouse. NCLT will use the farmhouse property for conservation education programs and will grant MassWildlife a conservation restriction on the 15 acres to preclude further development.

“I want to thank the North County Land Trust and the people of the region who contributed their time, money, and energy to complete the acquisition and permanent protection of this incredible property,” said Department of Fish and Game Commissioner Ron Amidon. “The property and the larger network of protected open space in the region support all types of wildlife and recreational opportunities, such as fishing, hunting, hiking, and wildlife observation.”

“The Mikes Trust property was the last major piece of land needed to conserve the entirety of Mt. Watatic. North County Land Trust was intent on using all our resources, tools, partnerships, local relationships, and abilities as a private land conservation organization to see that it was permanently protected,” said Anna Wilkins, Executive Director of the North County Land Trust. “The dedicated staff at the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife were phenomenal to work with. We are thrilled to have seen this accomplishment through and look forward to continued collaboration and partnership with the state.”

“MassWildlife manages nearly 230,000 acres of land for all wildlife to thrive and for all people to enjoy,” said MassWildlife’s Director Mark Tisa. “The variety of habitats in this beautiful new addition include mature and young forests, grasslands, ponds, and wetlands that support deer, wild turkey, black bear, and several species of conservation concern.” Go to mass.gov/wildlife-lands to view all MassWildlife properties.

As part of the Ashby Wildlife Management Area (WMA), the property is now open to the public for passive recreation, including fishing, hunting, hiking, wildlife observation, and environmental education. The property includes the south peak of Mount Watatic and provides important and improved connections to the Wapack Trail and Mid-State Trail located on the abutting Mount Watatic Reservation. The Ashby WMA offers excellent fishing opportunity on the upper portion of Watatic Pond, Bennetts Brook, and the South Branch of the Souhegan River. Opportunities for hunting on the WMA include waterfowl, furbearers, deer, wild turkey, and stocked pheasant. The area is also popular with bird watchers, particularly during the hawk migration season from the peak of Mt. Watatic.