Thank You, Sportsmen, NWTF and State Fish and Wildlife's for bringing back our Native Birds.

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

When settlers first arrived in Connecticut, the land was mostly forested, and turkeys were plentiful. As the land was cleared, turkeys lost their habitat, and as a result, the species disappeared from the state and most of the Northeast by the early 1800s. In 1975, 22 wilds turkeys were live-captured in New York, using a rocket net, and released in northwestern Connecticut by Wildlife Division biologists. Pictured is former biologist Steve Jackson releasing one of the first wild turkeys. As a result of these efforts, wild turkeys are once again a common sight in our state. We are thankful for your continued support and passion for our natural resources. 49 States now have a healthy population and 6.5 million nationwide of the 4 species of Wild Turkey that we all enjoy again.

Teaming up for fish conservation

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Teaming up for fish conservation 

Dam removal study partnership

MassWildlife and the UMass Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit are working together to conduct fish surveys in rivers at current and former dam locations. So far, nearly 50 rivers have been surveyed as part of a broader project to more fully understand the impacts of dams and dam removals on fish and aquatic invertebrates. Coldwater fish like native eastern brook trout are particularly dependent on upstream and downstream movements for reproduction and survival. Previous research suggests that abundances of coldwater and coolwater fish, including brook trout, longnose dace, and white suckers, increase following dam removals. Monitoring will continue for the next several years.

Connecticut River American shad monitoring

MassWildlife and US Fish and Wildlife Service have completed a third year of cooperatively monitoring juvenile American shad in the Connecticut River. Biologists capture shad at night during the summer and fall using an electrofishing boat. Abundance, length, and weight measurements are collected and used to assess the growth, survival, and productivity of the population. This study is designed to help determine the impacts of dams on juvenile shad. Shad populations have significantly declined as a result of 19th century dam construction, which prevent adults from migrating upriver to find spawning habitat. Shad are an abundant food source for smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, perch, and northern pike. Shad also provide food for birds and terrestrial mammals, as well as marine fish including striped bass.

Cold Weather Brings First Large Batch of Stranded Sea Turtles November 14, 2019

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Courtesy of the New England Aquarium.

QUINCY – Three cold-stunned sea turtles rescued over the long weekend were joined by 11 more Wednesday at the New England Aquarium’s Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy.

The Kemp’s ridley sea turtles, the most endangered sea turtle species in the world, were rescued by Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary staff as the frigid air hit the region.

“The water temperature in the middle of the bay turned to 52 degrees and for some reason that seems to be the magical temperature where sea turtles will start stranding in volume,” said Tony LaCasse, a New England Aquarium spokesman.

During Veterans Day weekend, the water temperature was 53-54 degrees and only three live turtles were found despite strong northwest winds late last week.

“We thought that we might be seeing a fair number of turtles come up over the weekend,” LaCasse said.

Most of the new batch of turtles rescued were found in Wellfleet and Eastham.

“The strandings are usually somewhat more dependent on wind direction and the staff at Mass Audubon are experts in being able to predict where that is and putting out staff and volunteers, particular following a high tide,” LaCasse said.

LaCasse said it is critical to rescue the turtles quickly in frigid temperatures. Four of the turtles were found after the overnight high tide.

“If they are not found for six or eight hours their body temperatures can drop down into the 40s or even the 30s, and survival rates go way down once you get beyond the mid-40s,” he said.

The sea turtle stranding season used to begin around November 1 through the 1990s and 2000s. Since 2010, the stranding season has started a few weeks later, according to LaCasse.

“The sea surface temperatures are much warmer than they used to be,” he said. “We are always waiting for that magical 52 degrees where we start seeing a lot of sea turtles that will strand.

LaCasse said the season started a little late and slow this year.

The Sea Turtle Hospital in Quincy has an ideal capacity between 80 and 100. They are kept dry for the first few days and are slowly rewarmed by about 5 degrees per day.

“It is a different method than you would use with humans with hypothermia, but it increase survival rates,” LaCasse said. “After three or few days they will be going into tanks.”

The hospital can handle between 120 and 150 turtles.

“We are usually in that case looking to start to move turtles out to other rehab facilities down south or in the mid-Atlantic,” LaCasse said.

A volunteer group, Turtles Fly Too, transports sea turtles down to Gulf States.

“We are always looking for pilots,” LaCasse said. “So if somebody happens to be flying south for some type of holiday event in a private plane and they have room, we ask that they contact the Aquarium.”

Pilots can also visit turtlesflytoo.org to find contact information.
Source: Brian Merchant grew up in Central Massachusetts and now lives in South Dennis on the Cape. He has been part of the news team in the CapeCod.com NewsCenter since the spring of 2014.

Maine: Governor Swears in Game Warden Colonel Dan Scott

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Augusta, Maine – Acting Colonel Dan Scott was sworn in as colonel of the Maine Warden Service by Governor Janet Mills in a brief ceremony this afternoon in the State House.

“As the Maine Warden Service enters its 140th year, I am excited at the opportunities that lie ahead for the agency and the warden service,” said Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Commissioner Judy Camuso. “Dan’s experience, enthusiasm, and leadership will be invaluable not only to the warden service, but to the state as well.”

Scott, a game warden of over 22 years, was most recently the lieutenant of Division C in Bangor. As lieutenant, he supervised over 20 game wardens in an area that covered Washington, Hancock and Penobscot counties. Prior to that, Scott was a Game Warden Captain for four years, after being promoted from his role as investigator. He also served as a district game warden in the Bangor area for nine years.

“I am honored and humbled for the opportunity to lead the Maine Warden Service, and am thankful for the confidence Governor Mills and Commissioner Camuso have placed in me,” said Scott, “There are upcoming challenges facing all law enforcement agencies, including the Maine Warden Service, and I look forward to leading the Maine Warden Service to meet these challenges.”

The Bureau of the Warden Service is a division within the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and is comprised of over 120 game wardens. The Game Warden Colonel oversees and administers all the duties of the bureau which includes enforcement of the laws and rules pertaining to inland fishery and wildlife resource management and protection; operation of snowmobiles, watercraft, and all-terrain vehicles; and general laws. The Maine Warden Service also investigates hunting incidents and recreational vehicle crashes, and oversees search and rescue operations in the woods and inland waters of the state.

Proposed Cutline For Attached Photo: Governor Janet Mills swears in Dan Scott as Colonel of the Maine Warden Service in the cabinet room of the State House earlier this afternoon. (photo courtesy of MDIFW)

Wooly Bear Caterpillars on the Move....

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Woolly bear caterpillars seem to be everywhere these days – creeping across the lawn, along the road when I’m walking the dog, hidden in the wilted cut-back of the perennial garden. 

Perhaps because of their recognizability and the timing of their wanderings, there are several weather-predicting legends attached to woolly bear caterpillars. One is that the direction the caterpillars travel foretells the severity of the winter: if they’re headed south, they’re running away from coming cold; north means winter will be mild. Anyone who’s ever paid attention to the movement of woolly bears likely knows they travel any which way on any given day, so there’s not much merit to that tall tale.

Another prognostic idea suggests the severity of winter can be predicted by the width of the caterpillar’s brown band: a larger band means a milder winter; narrower means winter will be severe. Since the brown band grows wider with each molt the caterpillar completes, it’s really more an indication of age – and, Layne said, sometimes genetics.

At this time of year, woolly bears are on the move, eating just about any growing thing they can find. Perhaps in their captivating wanderings, they’re also looking for that perfect pile of leaf litter to curl into and wait for winter to pass.

Lovell’s Pond Boat Ramp to Close for Repairs

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The Lovell’s Pond Public Ramp in Cotuit. Courtesy of the Town of Barnstable.

COTUIT – The public boat ramp at Lovell’s Pond in Cotuit will be temporarily closed beginning Tuesday, November 5.

The closure is required as DPW, Marine & Environmental Affairs and SOLitude Lake Management crews will remove inoperative air delivery lines which are part of an air circulation system.

The closure will last until the work is completed – about two days, weather permitting. Source; Capecod.com

New England Fall Fishing Heats Up as Waters Cool

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photos by Wayne G. Barber

The dropping temperatures and shorter days of fall bring some of the year’s hottest fishing action on New England's lakes, ponds, and streams, according to Wayne G. Barber, host of the Outdoor Scene.. 

 

“As water temperatures cool off, many different fish species begin to feed heavily,” said Wayne, some warm water species such as largemouth and smallmouth bass, northern pike, perch, and walleye, to cold water species like trout and salmon, fish feeding activity really picks up and creates exceptional fishing conditions for anglers.”   Hit your Cape Cod kettle ponds for big bronzebacks in the day and the evening a Rapala Brokenback in shallow waters for the biggest Brown Trout of the year.

 

While the hot temperatures of summer can sometimes make fishing slow, the autumn months represent a transition time when fish become more active and easier to catch.  This increase in feeding activity can be attributed to fish boosting their reserves of essential nutrients in order to sustain themselves during winter when their metabolism slows and they feed less. 

 

Fishing pressure on New England waters also decreases significantly as the seasons change, so there is less competition from other anglers.

Lake Dunmore in Vermont gave me some nice pike action when the Green Moutain campground traffic slowed down. About 30 fett of water in front of a weedline with big Mooselook Wobblers in Bronze color.

 

“Fall is one of the absolute best times to be on the water in New England – regardless of what species you want to target or where you want to fish,” said Barber'.  “Some of the best days I’ve had on the water have come late in the fall when many other anglers have already put their rods away for the winter.  It’s an amazing time of year to be on the water, and you’ll likely have your favorite fishing holes all to yourself.”

 

One enhanced fall angling opportunity is bass fishing, whether it be on world-renowned Lake Champlain, Wallum Lake and the diverse Connecticut River or one of New England’s many smaller lakes and ponds. 

 

"Fall makes the great bass fisheries of New England even greater,” said Barber.  “Cooler air temperatures bring comfortable fishing weather and less boat traffic, and the bass also know to take advantage of cooling water temperatures by feeding more in shallow water.  More bass in shallow water means more exciting bass opportunities for anglers.”

 

“Massachusetts has near equally abundant smallmouth and largemouth populations,” said Barber. “You can try different fishing strategies for the two bass species during other seasons, but I've found largemouth and smallmouth bass mix together more in the fall when temperatures cool.  This makes fall bass fishing even more fun."

“For bass and pike, fishing locations and lure selection is pretty straight forward at this time of year when these species are feeding aggressively.  In any lake or pond, focus on fishing around the outside edges of dying weedbeds and shorelines that change from shallow to deep water.  If you can find 6 to 8 feet of water along the edge of a thinning weedbed, that’s a great place to start.  As the weeds thin out and break down in the colder water, baitfish are left without dense cover to hide in, and predators like bass and pike take advantage of that.”