MassWildlife – Central District Activities – April 2017
As provided to the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs
TROUT STOCKING – Central District stocking crewss continue stocking throughout Worcester County. During the week ending Friday, April 21, stocking took place at the Ware, Quinebaug, Burnshirt, East Branch of the Swift, Otter, Tully and Millers Rivers. Lake Quinsigamond, Whalom, Dennison, Fort, Barretts Pond and Lake Louisa also received trout. Brown and rainbow trout are being taken from the Bitzer Hatchery in Montague to complement the fish previously taken from the McLaughlin Hatchery. An Earth Week stocking was held at Regatta Point State Park in Worcester on April 19th. Stocking reports are updated daily on the state website at www.mass.gov/trout .
WACHUSETT AND QUABBIN RESERVOIRS - Wachusett Reservoir opened on Saturday, April 1 and Quabbin opened on Saturday, April 15 as scheduled. Weather made fishing challenging with rain at Wachusett and high winds at Quabbin on the respective openers. When winds picked up at Quabbin boats were not allowed to launch from the three Boat Areas. Good catches of lake trout, landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass have been reported. Wachusett is at capacity while Quabbin is down about 7 feet. Trout stocking events were held at Quabbin and involved area schools.
COMMON LOON MORTALITY – Two common loons have been observed taking shiners on angler’s hooks. Fishermen are urged to pull hooks baited with shiners out of the water when loons are present and continue fishing when the loons have passed. Loons are listed as a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts and also protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS – District staff did road maintenance on the Little Chauncy Pond Fishermens’ Access at the MacCallum WMA and opened the gate that was closed during the winter to protect the road from rutting. Also at MacCallum, the District met with Habitat Program Coordinator John Scanlon to further identify areas suitable for habitat management demonstration units. The units will be used to educate colleagues and the public about the various types of habitat wildlife depend on and the active management necessary to create, maintain and/or enhance them. While walking a section of WMA boundary several minor dumpings were identified and addressed with abutting private landowners.
Volunteers from the Ware River Nature Club will be cleaning and repairing bluebird nesting boxes at the High Ridge WMA in Westminster. ATV violations and a possible timber trespass are also being investigated.
A continuing encroachment and motor vehicle trespass issue is being addressed at the Moose Brook WMA in cooperation with the town of Barre.
Dam maintenance continues at the Merrill Ponds WMA in Sutton where members of the Singletary Rod and Gun Club voted to support MassWildlife’s efforts to protect public safety while maintaining habitat diversity and providing wildlife related recreational opportunities.
District staff continues to address beaver flooding issues at the Bolton Flats WMA in Lancaster and Cusky Pond Access in New Braintree. The District has authorized the town of Brookfield or their agent to enter the Richardson WMA to remove beavers under the terms of a 10 Day Emergency Permit issued by the town Board of Health.
Mowing for habitat management is being done under contract at the Muddy Brook WMA in Hardwick. Vegetation Control Services is mowing areas off Patrill Hollow and Jackson Roads to retain grassland/shrubland habitat types under conditions developed by MassWildlife’s Habitat Program.
BLACK BEAR PROJECT – Culvert traps are being deployed in an effort to capture black bear sows, radio collar them and release them on site as part of on-going black bear research in central Massachusetts. Areas around Worcester are being targeted as this is the frontier of established black bear range in the state. Anyone seeing a collared black bear, or an uncollared sow with cubs or yearlings, is asked to contact the District with specific location information.
PRESCRIBED FIRE GUIDELINES – MassWildlife Senior Staff met with representatives of the Habitat and Natural Heritage Programs to review agency guidelines with respect to the use of prescribed fire for habitat management. Jon Regosin and Caren Caljouw led the discussion which emphasized safety, procedures, protocol and partnerships.
EAGLE SURVEY RESULTS - State Ornithologist Drew Vitz reports at least 60 active bald eagle territories were identified during the April 7 statewide bald eagle nest survey. MassWildlife staff and volunteers checked known nests and worked to confirm reports of new territories. Active nests were confirmed in Royalston, Petersham, Lunenburg, Westminster, Brookfield, Holden, Shrewsbury, Boylston and Northbridge. Reports of bald eagles should be made to the District office or to Drew Vitz at the Westboro Field Headquarters.
TURKEY SEASON – Spring turkey season opens one half hour before sunrise on Monday, April 24. The Youth Turkey Hunt day is Saturday, April 22. The daily bag limit is one bearded bird per day and two birds per season. Hunters are reminded to have “Hunt Safely” decals affixed and visible when sighting in.
FIELD HEADQUARTERS OPEN HOUSE – MassWildlife will host an Open House on Saturday, June 10th, at the Field Headquarters in Westboro. The event is part of the town of Westboro’s 300th Anniversary Celebration. The public is invited to this family oriented free Open House, with a free raffle to win a kayak, life vest and paddle. Other activities will include a scavenger hunt, archery range, prizes and interactive displays. The Open House will run from 10 AM to 3 PM with Sunday, June 11th, as a rain date.
WACHUSETT AND QUABBIN RESERVOIRS - Wachusett Reservoir opened on Saturday, April 1 and Quabbin opened on Saturday, April 15 as scheduled. Weather made fishing challenging with rain at Wachusett and high winds at Quabbin on the respective openers. When winds picked up at Quabbin boats were not allowed to launch from the three Boat Areas. Good catches of lake trout, landlocked salmon and smallmouth bass have been reported. Wachusett is at capacity while Quabbin is down about 7 feet. Trout stocking events were held at Quabbin and involved area schools.
COMMON LOON MORTALITY – Two common loons have been observed taking shiners on angler’s hooks. Fishermen are urged to pull hooks baited with shiners out of the water when loons are present and continue fishing when the loons have passed. Loons are listed as a Species of Special Concern in Massachusetts and also protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS – District staff did road maintenance on the Little Chauncy Pond Fishermens’ Access at the MacCallum WMA and opened the gate that was closed during the winter to protect the road from rutting. Also at MacCallum, the District met with Habitat Program Coordinator John Scanlon to further identify areas suitable for habitat management demonstration units. The units will be used to educate colleagues and the public about the various types of habitat wildlife depend on and the active management necessary to create, maintain and/or enhance them. While walking a section of WMA boundary several minor dumpings were identified and addressed with abutting private landowners.
Volunteers from the Ware River Nature Club will be cleaning and repairing bluebird nesting boxes at the High Ridge WMA in Westminster. ATV violations and a possible timber trespass are also being investigated.
A continuing encroachment and motor vehicle trespass issue is being addressed at the Moose Brook WMA in cooperation with the town of Barre.
Dam maintenance continues at the Merrill Ponds WMA in Sutton where members of the Singletary Rod and Gun Club voted to support MassWildlife’s efforts to protect public safety while maintaining habitat diversity and providing wildlife related recreational opportunities.
District staff continues to address beaver flooding issues at the Bolton Flats WMA in Lancaster and Cusky Pond Access in New Braintree. The District has authorized the town of Brookfield or their agent to enter the Richardson WMA to remove beavers under the terms of a 10 Day Emergency Permit issued by the town Board of Health.
Mowing for habitat management is being done under contract at the Muddy Brook WMA in Hardwick. Vegetation Control Services is mowing areas off Patrill Hollow and Jackson Roads to retain grassland/shrubland habitat types under conditions developed by MassWildlife’s Habitat Program.
BLACK BEAR PROJECT – Culvert traps are being deployed in an effort to capture black bear sows, radio collar them and release them on site as part of on-going black bear research in central Massachusetts. Areas around Worcester are being targeted as this is the frontier of established black bear range in the state. Anyone seeing a collared black bear, or an uncollared sow with cubs or yearlings, is asked to contact the District with specific location information.
PRESCRIBED FIRE GUIDELINES – MassWildlife Senior Staff met with representatives of the Habitat and Natural Heritage Programs to review agency guidelines with respect to the use of prescribed fire for habitat management. Jon Regosin and Caren Caljouw led the discussion which emphasized safety, procedures, protocol and partnerships.
EAGLE SURVEY RESULTS - State Ornithologist Drew Vitz reports at least 60 active bald eagle territories were identified during the April 7 statewide bald eagle nest survey. MassWildlife staff and volunteers checked known nests and worked to confirm reports of new territories. Active nests were confirmed in Royalston, Petersham, Lunenburg, Westminster, Brookfield, Holden, Shrewsbury, Boylston and Northbridge. Reports of bald eagles should be made to the District office or to Drew Vitz at the Westboro Field Headquarters.
TURKEY SEASON – Spring turkey season opens one half hour before sunrise on Monday, April 24. The Youth Turkey Hunt day is Saturday, April 22. The daily bag limit is one bearded bird per day and two birds per season. Hunters are reminded to have “Hunt Safely” decals affixed and visible when sighting in.
FIELD HEADQUARTERS OPEN HOUSE – MassWildlife will host an Open House on Saturday, June 10th, at the Field Headquarters in Westboro. The event is part of the town of Westboro’s 300th Anniversary Celebration. The public is invited to this family oriented free Open House, with a free raffle to win a kayak, life vest and paddle. Other activities will include a scavenger hunt, archery range, prizes and interactive displays. The Open House will run from 10 AM to 3 PM with Sunday, June 11th, as a rain date.
