Towns: Richmond
Acreage: 165
Wildlife Management Zone: 3
Description
Fairfield Brook WMA contains a variety of habitats from abandoned agricultural fields, shallow marshes with a wooded swamp, mixed woods, and a stand of hardwoods.
Location, access, & parking
Parking is informal with room for 1 or 2 cars at a bar-way off East Road as well as on a cart path off of Swamp Road near March Hare Road. Driving into the field is prohibited. See WMA map.
Note: WMAs are intentionally wild, visitors will find natural landscapes rather than maintained trails.
Habitat management
The field along Swamp Road is cut annually to maintain habitat for ground-nesting bird species.
Learn more about MassWildlife’s habitat management activities.
Hunting opportunities
White-tailed deer, wild turkey, gray squirrel, and black bear all frequent this property as the presence of oak trees and old apple trees provide them with excellent sources of food.
Wildlife viewing & other features
Savannah sparrows, bobolinks, and eastern meadowlarks regularly nest in the abandoned hayfields while nest boxes provide opportunities to view eastern bluebirds and other cavity-nesting species. Dense vegetation along Fairfield Brook provides ideal nesting habitat for marsh wrens and a variety of other bird species. The rich, calcareous bedrock under the wetlands has resulted in the establishment of several uncommon types of natural communities on this WMA: calcareous seepage marsh; red maple-black ash-tamarack calcareous seepage swamp; and calcareous sloping fen. These natural communities support uncommon plants.
Regulations
About Wildlife Management Areas
MassWildlife owns and manages over 220,000 acres of land to conserve fish and wildlife habitats and provide access for outdoor recreation. All WMAs are open to hunting, fishing, trapping, and other outdoor recreation activities. Visit the MassWildlife Lands Viewer for an interactive map of MassWildlife properties.
You can support land protection in Massachusetts. Contributions to the Wildlands Fund help pay for the cost of acquiring wildlife habitat. Learn more about the Wildlands Fund.