Recent News

Albany Pine Bush Marks Karner Blue Recovery

July 24, 2017 — cfergus

By Dave Lucas, WAMC - Northeast Public Radio

One of New York's ecological treasures is one step closer to recovery.

Almost everyone has heard of Albany's Pine Bush Preserve and its celebrated occupant, the Karner blue butterfly. But those who frequent the 3,200-acre nature area already know that the Pine Bush is larger than one might think, while the Karner blue is much smaller than the average butterfly.

RI Bobcat Tracking Program Nears End

July 17, 2017 — cfergus

(In a healthy environment, New England cottontails form a significant part of the prey base for bobcats and other predators. Wildlife scientists are studying bobcats’ population, distribution, and home range sizes in Rhode Island. The state’s Department of Environmental Management monitors the cats’ potential impacts on cottontails.)

By Jackie Roman, Valley Breeze and Observer

NJ Cabin Owners Working to Save Endangered Birds

July 16, 2017 — cfergus

(Editor's note: When multiple landowners cooperate to make habitat for wildlife, the impact of their habitat creation efforts is increased. Conservationists working to help New England cottontails, American woodcock, and other young forest wildlife may learn from and be inspired by the article that follows.)

By Michael Izzo, NJ Daily Record

A group of Jefferson Township cabin owners are taking action to rescue an endangered species of bird by making their property an ideal habitat.

Eastern or New England Cottontails in Vermont?

July 06, 2017 — cfergus

By Ken Picard, Seven Days

Vermont, it seems, is in the midst of a full-blown bunny boom. At least, that's the unofficial assessment of several Seven Days readers and staff, who've noticed a dramatic uptick in the number of wild rabbits this year, especially in the Champlain Valley. We've received reports from Burlington, Charlotte, Colchester, Corinth, Essex, Grand Isle, Jericho, Milton and Winooski that higher-than-normal numbers of the cute critters have been spotted snacking on garden veggies, flowers and herbs.

NC Nonprofit Helps Landowners Blend Economics, Ecology

July 05, 2017 — cfergus

By Karen Chavez for the Asheville Citizen-Times

SWANNANOA – Western North Carolina's forests are having a midlife crisis.

Emerging from a bad past, forests are caught in a middle age limbo, with very little early succession, or young forest — important habitat for deer, turkey, birds and other wildlife — and very little old growth forest, also needed for wildlife, as well as for clean water, healthy soils and carbon sequestration, important in mitigating climate change.

NY Landowners Can Apply for Habitat Funding

June 26, 2017 — cfergus

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering producers of forest products in the state of New York the chance to apply for funding to increase the amount of young forest habitat for wildlife. Enrollment will continue through July 21.

Second Chance for Yankee Cottontails

June 19, 2017 — cfergus

By Ted Williams for Cool Green Science

Stunned but delighted is how Dr. Robert McDowell, Director of Wildlife at the University of Connecticut, sounded when I arrived at his office to learn about New England cottontail rabbits.

WILD Act Passes Senate by Unanimous Consent

June 19, 2017 — cfergus

The U.S. Senate passed legislation by unanimous consent on June 8 to reauthorize the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program and create new national conservation awards.

The Wildlife Innovation and Longevity Act (WILD Act, S. 826) was introduced in April and is championed by Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman John Barasso (R-WY) and committee Ranking Member Tom Carper (D-DE).

Agencies Partner for Troubled PA Game Birds

June 19, 2017 — cfergus

By Joe Evans

A state-agency partnership is creating more habitat for two troubled game birds and other wildlife species that rely on young forest.

Since 2011, the Pennsylvania Game Commission and the state’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have teamed to restore thousands of acres of idle, difficult-to-manage habitat for ruffed grouse and woodcock on state forests.

Ruffed Grouse Sighting a Pleasant Surprise

May 18, 2017 — cfergus

By Bill Reid for the Norwich Bulletin

This past March I was hiking through a forest that had recently gone through an extensive timber harvest.

Most of what foresters refer to as the overstory, composed of dominant, mature white pine, had been harvested to make way for younger and mid-sized deciduous oaks, maples, pines and birch trees.

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