Habitat Site Walk

The public is invited to join MassWildlife Habitat Biologists and Restoration Ecologists on October 12th from 4:00-6:00 pm on a walk through portions of the Montague Plains WMA that have been the focus of pitch pine/scrub oak barrens restoration for the past 20 years.

Many types of wildlife rely on open habitats like grasslands, shrublands, and young forests. Unfortunately these open habitats are shrinking in Massachusetts. As a result, wildlife like Whip-poor-wills, New England Cottontails, and Wood Turtles have suffered serious declines. To support wildlife, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) uses active habitat management tools like prescribed fire and timber harvest to restore and create open habitats on state wildlife lands.

This site walk will visit previous timber harvest areas from 2006 and 2015, a recently completed harvest area, and a 30-acre reserve area. Participants can learn about the restoration and management history of the site and the positive effects of these activities for common and uncommon local wildlife. They can also hear from experts about the management that will be occurring in the near future to provide valuable habitat for a number of state-listed and dwindling species.

Meet at the MassWildlife parking area off Lake Pleasant Road across from Beach Road (https://goo.gl/maps/64sqfikHiQy). Wear sturdy boots and be prepared for a moderately strenuous walk.