Recent News

16,000 Forested Acres Bought in NY, New England

August 03, 2017 — cfergus

By Brian Nearing, Albany Times Union

A national conservation group is protecting more than 16,000 acres of forest in Rensselaer and Washington counties from potential development while also guaranteeing it remains available for sustainable forestry and recreation.

Lands purchased by the Virginia-based Conservation Fund include forests next to Cherry Plain State Park and the Capital District Wildlife Management Area, which cover about 4,300 acres in the southern Rensselaer County town of Stephentown.

U.S. Bird Report Shows Progress

August 03, 2017 — cfergus

By John Myers, Duluth News Tribune

The future of golden-winged warblers in Northland forests, ringneck pheasants in farm country and sage grouse in the mountainous west are tied to the massive farm bill that's starting to wind through the Washington labyrinth, a coalition of wildlife and government agencies said Wednesday.

New Best Management Practices for New England Cottontail

July 27, 2017 — cfergus

A new 28-page publication, Best Management Practices for the New England Cottontail: How to Create, Enhance and Maintain Habitat, will equip habitat managers and landowners with detailed knowledge of how to make habitat necessary for the survival of the New England cottontail, a rare regional rabbit currently found in six northeastern states.

The new BMPs are currently published in an electronic format. Physical copies will be made available in the coming months.

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.

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