connecticut wildlife sept/oct 2001 / october 2001 connecticut wildlife 1 ... jr. ... same segment of...

Connecticut Wildlife 1September / October 2001

PUBLISHED BY THE CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTIONBUREAU OF NATURAL RESOURCES � WILDLIFE DIVISION

September / October 2001

© PAUL J. FUSCOAll Rights Reserved

2 Connecticut Wildlife September / October 2001

Volume 21, Number 5

Fromthe Director

Connecticut sportsmen are preparing for the upcoming deerhunting season. See pages 3-5 for what’s in store for the fallhunting seasons.

Photo courtesy of Paul J. Fusco

Cover:

��Published bimonthly by

State of ConnecticutDepartment of Environmental Protection

http://dep.state.ct.us

Arthur J. Rocque, Jr. ......................................................... CommissionerDavid K. Leff ....................................................... Deputy CommissionerEdward C. Parker ........................... Chief, Bureau of Natural Resources

Wildlife Division79 Elm Street, Hartford, CT 06106-5127 (860-424-3011)Dale May .................................................................................... DirectorPeter Bogue ........................................ Assistant Director (Management)Greg Chasko .......................................... Assistant Director (Assessment)Mark Clavette ..................................................... Recreation ManagementChris Vann ................................................ Technical Assistance BiologistLaurie Fortin ............................................................... Wildlife TechnicianBrenda Marquez ........................................................................ Secretary

Eastern District Area Headquarters209 Hebron Road, Marlborough, CT 06447 (860-295-9523)Paul Rothbart ............................................ District Supervising BiologistAnn Kilpatrick ................................................. Eastern District BiologistRich Garini ................................................. DEP-DOC Crew Supervisor

Franklin W.M.A.391 Route 32, N. Franklin, CT 06254 (860-642-7239)Paul Merola .............................................. Waterfowl Program BiologistHoward Kilpatrick ................................. Deer/Turkey Program BiologistMike Gregonis ....................................... Deer/Turkey Program BiologistJulie Victoria ......................... Nonharvested Wildlife Program BiologistPaul Capotosto ........................................ Wetlands Restoration BiologistRoger Wolfe ................................... Mosquito Management CoordinatorBob Kalinowski ............................................. CE/FS Coordinator (East)Winnie Reid ............................................................................... SecretaryHeather Overturf ......................................................... Program Assistant

Sessions Woods W.M.A.P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013-1550 (860-675-8130)Peter Good ................................................ Supervising Wildlife BiologistSteve Jackson ........................................... Supervising Wildlife BiologistPaul Rego ................................................. Furbearer Program BiologistJenny Dickson ....................... Nonharvested Wildlife Program BiologistPeter Picone ....................................... Urban Wildlife Program BiologistJudy Wilson .................................................... Western District BiologistDave Kubas ................................................... CE/FS Coordinator (West)Geoffrey Krukar ......................................................... Wildlife TechnicianTrish Cernik ................................................................ Program AssistantJim Warner ........................................................................ Field Assistant

Public Awareness Program / Connecticut WildlifeKathy Herz ..................................................................................... EditorPaul Fusco .............................................. Media Designer/PhotographerLaura Rogers-Castro ............................................... Education/Outreach

Wetlands Habitat & Mosquito Management Crew Hdqtrs.51 Mill Road, Madison, CT 06443Daniel Shaw ................................................ Mosquito Control SpecialistSteven Rosa ................................................. Mosquito Control Specialist

The Wildlife Division grants permission to reprint text, not artwork,provided the DEP Wildlife Division is credited. Artwork printed in thispublication is copyrighted by the CT DEP Wildlife Division. Anyunauthorized use of this artwork is prohibited. Please contact the editorat the Sessions Woods office to obtain permission for reprinting articles.

The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program was initiatedby sportsmen and conservationists to provide states withfunding for wildlife management and research programs,habitat acquisition, wildlife management area developmentand hunter education programs. It places an excise tax onfirearms, ammunition and archery equipment. Articlesreporting on Wildlife Division projects funded entirely or inpart with federal aid monies are depicted with the logo of theWildlife Restoration Program.

The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection isan equal opportunity agency that provides services, facilities,and employment opportunities without regard to race, color,religion, age, sex, physical and mental disability, nationalorigin, ancestry, marital status, and political beliefs.

As the days shorten and the leaves turn, some Connecticut residents wholive close to the land practice the age old rituals of preparing for winter.Harvesting the last of the garden crops, stacking away the firewood andmaking preparations for the fall hunting seasons. In these modern times,the need for a home garden, a wood burning stove and game for the tablemay not be as critical as it was in the past. However, some people stillprefer to use what the land has to offer and practice a more independentlifestyle. Proper management of our agricultural lands, woodlots andwildlife ensures that these uses are ecologically sustainable for as long asthe land base can support them.

Those who are preparing to hunt this fall will find healthy and abundantpopulations of white-tailed deer, wild turkey and waterfowl. Not soironically, the current “users” of these species (the sportsmen) are thesame segment of society who rescued them from near oblivion less than acentury ago and who pay for the research and management thatperpetuates them today. Under the current seasons and bag limits,hunters will pay for the opportunity to pursue wild game and put high-quality food on the table in an ecologically sustainable way. In somecases, their efforts will help reduce overabundant wildlife populations.However, throughout much of the state, the annual harvest of gamesimply compensates for other natural mortality. It retains mankind’s rolein the natural food chain.

This system of wildlife management is working in just the way AldoLeopold said it would when he wrote the landmark textbook GameManagement in 1933. During the first half of the 20th century, when mostconservation efforts were focusing on the short-term needs of wildlifeprotection and restoration, Leopold was looking decades ahead. Theutilitarian concepts he described would pay for and perpetuate wildlife aslong as management was conducted in a scientifically sound manner.Currently, there is no substitute for the model he described nearly 70years ago.

The success of Leopold’s principles depends upon the ability of state andfederal agencies to manage hunting seasons in a way that maintainshealthy and abundant wildlife populations. It also depends upon thesportsmen’s acceptance of their role in the system of science-basedmanagement. Fortunately for Connecticut, both of these conditions arebeing met. Over the years, Connecticut sportsmen have complied with,and in many cases advocated for, harvest restrictions on migratory gamebirds when populations declined. In addition, Connecticut hunters haveassisted in deer management efforts through their willingness to harvestantlerless deer where needed throughout the state. Under this scenario,regulated hunting will continue to provide benefits to both humans andwildlife far into the future. -- Dale W. May


White-tailed Deer SeasonConnecticut’s deer population is

healthy and harvest rates are expected tobe high during the 2001 deer huntingseason. Aside from the size of the deerherd, the abundance of acorns andweather conditions during the huntingseasons are variables that will influencehunter success. The hunter success rate(22%) in 2000 approached the recordhigh success rate (22.3%) of 1995.Weather conditions experienced duringthe spring of 2001 may result in few orno acorns in most of Connecticut’sforestlands. A lack of acorns this fall willcause deer to be more mobile as theytravel to green fields to feed. Thissituation likely will yield high huntersuccess rates for hunters who haveaccess to open fields.

Since 1995, a replacement antlerlesstag system has been used to increase theharvest of antlerless deer in specificareas of the state where deer populationscontinue to increase. During the 2001season, hunters who harvest an antlerlessdeer on private land and have permissionto hunt on private land in deer manage-ment zones 11 and 12 (see the 2001Connecticut Hunting and TrappingGuide) will be eligible to obtain a freereplacement antlerless tag for use duringthe shotgun/rifle or archery deer huntingseason. A limited number of replacementantlerless tags will be available atdesignated vendor locations on a first-come, first-serve basis. Archery hunterswho harvest a deer are still required tocomplete and submit a kill report card tothe vendor. The replacement tag pro-gram has resulted in an increased harvestof female deer in deer management zone11 (southwestern Connecticut).

Hunters are reminded that bowhunt-ing is permitted during the shotgun/rifledeer hunting season in deer managementzones 11 and 12 only. On private land inzones 11 and 12, bowhunters can deerhunt for three and a half months (Sept.15-Dec. 31).

2001 will be the third consecutiveyear that the antlerless-only deer tag onprivate land shotgun/rifle and muzzle-loader permits will NOT be valid in deermanagement zone 4. This restriction wasimplemented after a four-year decline in

the deer population inthis area. After onlythe second year oflimiting the harvest offemale deer, thepopulation appears tobe increasing gradu-ally. If this trendcontinues, the restric-tion on the antlerlesstag may be loosened.

Fall Wild TurkeySeason

Hunting opportuni-ties during the wildturkey season areexpected to be abun-dant statewide. Thispast spring wasrelatively warm, withno extended periods ofrain. These weatherconditions resulted inlimited mortality onnesting hens and goodsurvival of poults.Connecticut’s wildturkey populationcontinues to remainhealthy throughout thestate.

This fall, turkeyhunters should look forbirds in areas withabundant wild grapes,bittersweet and harvested corn fields.During most years, oak ridges are goodlocations to find turkeys in the fallbecause of the abundance of acorns.However, this year will likely be anexception, due to the drought in Apriland May and a severe frost during earlyMay which damaged oaks and causedacorns to be reduced in number ornonexistent. In the absence of acorns,wild turkeys will switch to other foodsources.

The fall bowhunting and firearmsseasons, which will be open statewide,start on September 15 and October 20,respectively. During the bowhuntingseason, the bag limit is two birds ofeither-sex taken on either state or privateland. During the firearms season, the baglimit will be one bird of either-sex on

state land and two birds of either-sex onprivate land. Although hunters havemany hunting options during the fall,some claim that wild turkey huntingprovides excitement and challengeunequaled by any other game species.This is also a great time to be inConnecticut’s forests enjoying theautumn colors.

Waterfowl SeasonDucks: The U. S. Fish and Wildlife

Service (USFWS), in conjunction withthe Atlantic Flyway Council, of whichConnecticut is a member, again hasoffered the liberal harvest option basedon the status of the Eastern mallardpopulation. The population estimate of

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Connecticut’s deer population is healthy and harvest rates areexpected to be high during the 2001 deer hunting season.

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one million mallards is wellabove the population objective.A 60-day season with a six-bird daily bag limit will beoffered, the same as last year.Individual species’ daily baglimits remain unchanged. Thecanvasback populationdeclined to average levels andcannot support the full liberalharvest. The USFWS hasoffered a 20-day canvasbackseason within the regularseason. Black duck harvestrestrictions will remain. Noblack ducks can be taken in theearly season.

The early duck seasonsbegin October 10. TheWednesday opening day helpsto spread out hunter pressure.Also, sportsman have preferredthe season opening prior to thesmall game season as this also reducesopening day overcrowding.

Canada Geese: Special early andlate Canada goose seasons will again beoffered. These seasons target residentgeese. The early season will be Septem-ber 4 to 25 in the north zone andSeptember 17 to 25 in the south zone,with a daily bag limit of five birds. Thelate season will be January 15 toFebruary 15, 2002, in the south zone,with a daily bag limit of five birds. Aspecial late season cannot be offered inthe north zone because there are toomany migrant geese present during thatperiod.

The North Atlantic Population(NAP) of Canada geese remained ataverage levels. The USFWS recom-mended maintaining the moderateharvest regulations of a 45-day season,with a two-bird daily bag limit. TheUSFWS did change the framework andthe season can now extend until January20. The NAP unit in Connecticutincludes all counties except Litchfieldand Hartford Counties west of theConnecticut River.

The Atlantic Population (AP), whichnests in northern Quebec, increasedsubstantially from last year and hadexcellent production of young. Thispopulation has fully recovered since thepopulation bottomed out in 1995 whenthe season was closed. This is an

example of successful internationalcooperative wildlife management. TheUSFWS increased the season to 30 days,with a two-bird daily bag limit. The APunit in Connecticut includes Litchfieldand Hartford Counties west of theConnecticut River. For a more detaileddefinition of the boundaries for the APand NAP units, consult the 2001-2002Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, availableat town clerk’s offices, Wildlife Divisionoffices and on the DEP’s website (http://dep.state.ct.us).

Youth Waterfowl Hunter TrainingDays: The USFWS offered two YouthWaterfowl Hunter Training Days thisyear, but the days must be consecutivehunt days and on non-school days. TheYouth Training Days in Connecticut willbe October 6 and 8, 2001. Participantsmust be 15 years of age or younger,possess a valid small game huntinglicense and a HIP permit and be accom-panied by an adult at least 18 years ofage. Adults must possess a valid huntinglicense; however, they are not allowed tohunt waterfowl. Ducks, mergansers andcoots may be pursued by youth hunters.Bag limits and shooting hours are thesame as for the regular duck and goosehunting seasons, except that no canvas-backs can be taken. Youths may takeone black duck per day.

All waterfowl hunters are remindedthat, in addition to obtaining a hunting

license, they are required to purchase afederal Duck Stamp, a Connecticut DuckStamp and a HIP permit. Federal DuckStamps are available from local postoffices for $15.00. State Duck Stamps($5.00) and HIP permits ($2.00) can bepurchased at local town clerks’ offices.

Small Game and Upland BirdSeasons

The Wildlife Division will purchase18,935 adult ring-necked pheasants fordistribution on public hunting areasduring the 2001 pheasant season. Thetotal represents a slight reduction fromlast year’s purchase of 20,180 pheasantsand will result in some minor adjust-ments in allocations for the varioushunting areas. In addition to the adultpheasant purchase, 1,050 eight-week-oldpheasants have been purchased anddistributed to the Norwich and SpragueRod and Gun Clubs for rearing tomaturity and eventual release on permit-required hunting areas in that region ofthe state.

The Division’s Pheasant Program isself-supporting. The annual budget forthe purchase of pheasants is determinedby the net revenue collected from thesales of pheasant tags and huntinglicenses to sportsmen pursuing stockedpheasants on public lands. The numberof pheasant hunters has been decliningeach year, while the cost of purchasing

Hunting Season, continued

Connecticut’s wild turkey population continues to remain healthy throughout the state.

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pheasants has continued to increase overthe long-term. In 2000, 9,668 hunterspurchased pheasant tags, compared to10,024 hunters in 1999, resulting in aloss of supporting revenue for thepurchase of pheasants.

The outlook for fall pheasant huntingopportunities remains good, as the ratioof birds stocked per hunter has remainedrelatively stable for many years. Nomajor changes in areas to be stocked areanticipated for the upcoming season.Pheasants will be released regularly atdesignated state-owned, state-leased andpermit-required hunting areas startingprior to opening day (October 20) andcontinuing through Thanksgiving Day.Approximately 28 percent of thepheasants will be stocked by openingday; the remaining allotment of pheas-ants will be released during five addi-tional distribution periods. To obtain acomplete list of major stocking areas,

contact the Wildlife Division, at (860)424-3011.

The opening day for most smallgame hunting will be the third Saturdayin October (October 20) during the 2001hunting season. Wildlife species thatdepend on early successional stagehabitat types, such as rabbits and ruffedgrouse, remain at relatively low levels.However, wildlife species that live inforested habitats, such as gray squirrels,are abundant across the state. The graysquirrel hunting season opens onSeptember 1, providing an excellenthunting opportunity when most otherhunting seasons are closed. Huntingsquirrels can sharpen a hunter’s power ofobservation and provide additionalrecreation while scouting for deerhunting stand locations in the preseason.

Sportsmen pursuing woodcock arereminded that the woodcock season runsfrom October 27 to November 24, 2001.

The rail season is from September 1 toNovember 4.

Attention Rabbit HuntersThe Wildlife Division encourages all

rabbit hunters to support an ongoingresearch project documenting thedistribution of New England cottontailsin Connecticut (see article on page 4).Hunters can participate by dropping offfrozen specimens at the WildlifeDivision’s Franklin or Sessions Woodsoffices, or by calling these offices forassistance. Information on the location(road and town), collection date,collector’s name and contact phonenumber must accompany all rabbitspecimens. This information willimprove current knowledge aboutConnecticut’s cottontail populations aswell as enhance our ability to bettermanage the cottontail resource.

The DEP Wildlife Division hasmonitored bear sighting reports for 15years as one means to assess thepopulation’s trend. The number of bearsightings (372) recorded through July31, 2001, has surpassed the totalsightings recorded in any previousyear. Both 2000 and 1999 were recordyears for bear sightings, with over 300reports received each year.

The increase in sightings reflectsthe growth and expansion of the bearpopulation in Connecticut. Anotherfactor is the more formal program ofkeeping track of reports. Bears havebecome a part of the landscape in manyLitchfield and Hartford County towns.These towns are closest to westernMassachusetts, which is believed to bethe primary source of our bear popula-tion. Eastern Connecticut is fartherfrom this population source and haslagged behind the northwest in bearactivity. However, more bear reportswere received in eastern Connecticutthus far in 2001 than in any previousyear.

Connecticut is not only on thereceiving end of bear migration. Inrecent years, two bears handled and

tagged in Connecticut were subsequentlyseen in Massachusetts. Another waskilled by a vehicle in New York andanother was reported in Rhode Island. InConnecticut, the DEP has handled bearspreviously marked in Massachusetts,New York and Pennsylvania. One bearthat is currently settled in Connecticutwas previously trapped by Massachusettswildlife officialsseveral times andwas even seen inVermont.

Connecticut isexpected to experi-ence the same patternof black bearpopulation increasewitnessed in Massa-chusetts. The BayState bear populationincreased from anestimated 700-750bears in 1988 toapproximately 1,800in 1998. The increaseand expansion ofConnecticut’s bearpopulation will befueled by reproduc-

Bear Sightings Continue Upward TrendWritten by Paul Rego, Furbearer Program Biologist

Connecticut Towns with ReportedBear Sightings

tion by resident bears and will beaugmented by a growing source ofimmigrant bears to the north.

The Wildlife Division continues tocollect reports of bear sightings in thestate. To report a bear sighting, call theDivision’s Sessions Woods office, at(860) 675-8130 (Monday throughFriday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm).

Sightings from Jan. 1-July 30, 2000

Sightings from Jan. 1-July 30, 2001


2001 CT Duck Stamp: Buffleheads at Oyster PointPremier wildlife artist Rob

Leslie has created a beautifulrendering of a coastal scene,featuring buffleheads and anoyster boat, for the 2001Connecticut Migratory BirdConservation Stamp (DuckStamp). This stunning paintingshows a small flock of buffle-heads flying across the oysterbeds offshore from New Haven.These diminutive birds are oneof the smallest ducks and areeasily recognized by the strikingblack and white plumage of themales. The males also sport aglossy, nearly iridescent purple-green head.

The background of thepainting displays a detaileddepiction of one of the boats inConnecticut’s renowned oysterfleet. Today, in Connecticut,approximately 400 people workat harvesting oysters, using afleet of 71 vessels. Connecticutvies with Louisiana for the topdollar value of oyster harvestevery year.

Sportsmen, art collectorsand wildlife conservationistsalike should consider purchas-ing full-color art prints and stamps of the2001 Connecticut Duck Stamp. Not onlyare Connecticut Duck Stamps collectibleworks-of-art which feature nativewaterfowl and local landmarks, but mostimportantly, the proceeds collected fromthe sale of stamps, prints and other DuckStamp memorabilia can only be used tofinance wetland habitat restoration andenhancement projects in the state.

What other Connecticut Duck Stamp featured both buffleheads and boats?

The 1999 print by Keith Mueller featured Canada geese in the foreground, but also hadbuffleheads in the background, as well as boats anchored in Mystic Harbor.

Rob Leslie also created the artwork for Connecticut’s secondDuck Stamp. The 1994 painting featured canvasbacks, withthe spectacular background of Falkner Island and itshistoric lighthouse.

Duck Stamp funds have financed along and impressive list of wetlandprojects throughout Connecticut, in both

�� Your purchase will help habitat restorationefforts and waterfowl conservation in our state.��

The 2001 Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp--Buffleheads at Oyster Point--was painted bywildlife artist Rob Leslie.

state forests and wildlife managementareas. The funds also enabled the DEP topurchase a specialized amphibiousmulching machine that can createopenings in vegetation-choked wetlands.

Waterfowl hunters are required topurchase the state Duck Stamp. How-ever, anyone interested in wetland andwildlife conservation should buy one.Stamps are available for $5.00 from anyConnecticut town hall. Collector’seditions of stamps and prints can bepurchased from local art dealers.


CT’s Mourning Doves Counted in Annual SurveyMany Connecticut residents are

familiar with the sight and sounds of themourning dove. This resident of bothrural and suburban areas is one of themost widely distributed and abundantbirds in North America. The mourningdove is also a popular game bird that canbe legally hunted in most of the lower 48states. However, mourning doves are nothunted in Connecticut and other NewEngland states (except Rhode Island).

Because the mourning dove is amigratory bird, the U. S. Fish andWildlife Service (USFWS) oversees itsmanagement. A primary managementgoal, as established by the USFWS, isthe maintenance of mourning dovepopulations in a healthy, productivestate. To achieve this goal, the manage-ment of doves includes assessingpopulation status, regulating harvest andmanaging habitat.

In an effort to monitor mourningdove populations, federal and state

biologists from the lower 48 states(including Connecticut) participate in theannual Mourning Dove Call-countSurvey. The resulting information onstatus and trends is used by wildlifeadministrators in setting annual huntingregulations.

In the United States (U.S.), thesurvey currently includes more than1,000 randomly selected routes. Eachcall-count route is usually located onsecondary roads and has 20 listeningstations spaced at one-mile intervals. Ateach stop, the number of doves heardcalling, the number of doves seen andthe level of disturbance (noise) thatimpairs the observer’s ability to heardoves are recorded. The number ofdoves seen while driving between stopsis also noted. Counts begin one-half hourbefore sunrise and continue for abouttwo hours. Routes are run once betweenMay 20 and June 5. The total number ofdoves heard on each route is used to

determine trends in populations andprovides the basis for determining anindex to population size during thebreeding season.

Within the U.S., there are three zonesthat contain mourning dove populationsthat are largely independent of eachother. These zones encompass theprincipal breeding, migration and U.S.wintering areas for each population.Connecticut is part of the EasternManagement Unit. Within that Unit,Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire,Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Islandare combined to form a New Englandgroup. The Eastern Management Unitincludes 27 states comprising 30 percentof the land area of the U.S. Dove huntingis permitted in 18 of those states,representing 74 percent of the land areaof the unit.

Survey Results for the EasternManagement Unit

The New England states, along witha few other states in the Eastern Manage-ment Unit, averaged less than 10mourning doves per route during the2000-2001 count. There was a 6.1percent decrease Unit-wide during the2001 count. However, there was nosignificant change in population esti-mates in New England.

2001 Survey in ConnecticutDuring Connecticut’s 2001 survey, a

total of 29 doves were heard calling,seven were seen at the survey locationsand 16 were seen between survey stops.In 2000, 26 doves were heard, eight wereseen at stops and 12 were seen betweensurvey locations.

The report, Mourning Dove BreedingPopulation Status, 2001, written by D. D.Dolton, R. D. Holmes and G W. Smith andpublished by the U.S. Fish and WildlifeService, was used as a reference for thisarticle.The mourning dove is a common resident of both rural and suburban areas. It is one of the

most widely distributed and abundant birds in North America.

New Publication on Beavers AvailableThe DEP Wildlife Division recently published a helpful booklet entitled, Beavers in Connecticut -- Their Natural History

and Management. The booklet is intended to provide property owners, land managers and municipalities with information onthe natural history, population dynamics and beneficial aspects of beavers, as well as options for resolving beaver/humanconflicts. The Division plans to distribute the booklet to various individuals and agencies. Those interested in learning aboutbeavers or how to resolve problems can request a free copy of the booklet from the Division’s Sessions Woods office.

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The differences in skullcharacteristics of New England andEastern cottontails have been areliable method of identification. Onthe skull, the nasal frontal suture isjagged for NEC and smooth for EC.

Eastern cottontail

New England cottontail

The New England cottontail (NEC)is the only rabbit native to Connecticut.Historically, the NEC could be found asfar west as New York, as far north assouthern Maine and it was distributedstatewide in Connecticut. In the early1900s, private organizations and someNew England states introduced theEastern cottontail (EC) to supplementthe native cottontail populations.

By the late 1930s, the EC wasdistributed statewide in Connecticut.Also in the 1930s, a statewide collectioneffort to assess NEC distribution wasconducted. Researchers found 88 NECin 45 of the 80 towns that specimenswere collected. Several studies havedocumented NEC in different regions ofthe state during the past 50 years, but nocurrent statewide distribution data existsfor NEC.

To document the current distributionof both species, a statewide collectioneffort was necessary. In October 2000, aproject was initiated by the DEPWildlife Division to collect cottontailspecimens throughout Connecticut fromhunters, incidental roadkills and live-trapping.

Identifying CottontailsPast researchers have documented

that body size and markings on the furcould be used to differentiate the NECand EC. On average, the NEC typicallyweighs one-half pound less than the ECand has a black spot between the earsand a black line along the edge of theear. The EC typically lacks the black

spot and ear line and usually has whitehairs or a white spot on the forehead.However, one in three cottontails lacksthese distinctive spots, making identifi-cation between species difficult. Forthese situations, two other methods areused to differentiate between the NECand EC. If skulls are available, thedifferences in skull characteristics havebeen a reliable method of identification.On the skull, the nasal frontal suture isjagged for NEC and smooth for EC (seeillustration). The nasal frontal suture is areliable characteristic for identifying thetwo species of cottontails and is com-monly used to verify species identifica-tion. If skulls are not available, recentadvances in DNA analysis have madethe identification of cottontails possibleusing muscle tissue. Because the NECand EC are genetically distinct, tissuesamples can be extracted from cotton-tails for DNA analysis to differentiatethe species.

Collecting CottontailsIn October 2000, the Wildlife

Division requested that hunters,sportsmen’s clubs, wildlife rehabilitatorsand DEP staff donate cottontail speci-mens for the study. From October 2000to June 2001, 284 cottontails werecollected from 78 of 169 Connecticuttowns by hunters and from roadkills,livetrapping and wildlife rehabilitators(see map).

Of the 284 cottontails collected, 61specimens were not identifiable by fur orskull characteristics and are pendingDNA analysis. Twenty-one specimens,collected from 11 towns, were identifiedas NEC and 202 specimens from over 61towns were identified as EC. Hunterscontributed the largest sample (131) ofcottontails from 25 towns, of which 14were NEC and 117 were EC. The 108roadkilled cottontails were collected

The Tale of Two Rabbits: New England or Eastern?Written by W. David Walter, Research Assistant

The Eastern cottontail (left) usuallyhas white hairs or a white spot onthe forehead.

The New England cottontail (top) hasa black spot between the ears and ablack line along the edge of the ear.

Towns where cottontails werecollectedTowns where collectionscontained New Englandcottontails.

Connecticut towns where cottontails werecollected and where New England cottontailswere found.

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from 50 Connecticut towns and contrib-uted three NEC and 66 EC. Livetrappingresulted in the capture of 36 cottontails,of which four were NEC. Three cotton-tails were killed by predators and foundin the woods and six were youngcollected by wildlife rehabilitators.

Which Cottontail Is FoundWhere?

Generally, results of the statewidecollection effort confirmed that the NECstill maintains a statewide distribution,occupying sites on both sides of theConnecticut River. The NEC tended tooccupy wetland areas with denseunderstory vegetation. All NEC in thisstudy were found at sites that containedor were adjacent to riparian habitat (i.e.,lakes, swamps, rivers, streams). Thesewet areas were typically large patches(more than 12 acres) of shrub-dominatedwetlands or forests with dense under-story vegetation (top photo). The ECoccupied shrubby habitats as well, but italso exploited open fields, hedgerowsand disturbed patches more than thenative NEC.

Habitat loss, fragmentation andcompetition with the more adaptable ECall have been implicated as possiblereasons for the declining NEC popula-tions throughout the Northeast. Tounderstand the affects these factors haveon NEC populations in Connecticut, theWildlife Division will conduct a radiotelemetry study in fall 2001 in habitatswhere NEC and EC are co-inhabiting.Attaching radio collars on both specieswill enable a detailed study of habitatuse and interactions between species.Evaluating the size and use of rabbithome ranges, habitat characteristics andmortality factors, as well as interactionsbetween both species, will assist biolo-gists in understanding managementneeds for the NEC.

Help Is Still NeededAlthough samples were collected

from 78 towns in Connecticut, morespecimens are needed to providesufficient distribution data. Collectionsso far have documented NEC in 11towns, but they likely are present inmany more areas where samples werenot collected. The Wildlife Division isencouraging interested individuals tocollect cottontail specimens by all legalavailable means on public and private

The New England cottontail study wasmade possible through a grant from theConnecticut Endangered Species/WildlifeIncome Tax Check-off Fund. The DEPWildlife Division would also like to thankthe sportsmen, wildlife rehabilitators,landowners and volunteers who helpedmake this preliminary effort to learn moreabout the New England cottontail asuccess.

Habitat in Nehantic State Forest, in Lyme, where a New England cottontail was trapped inFebruary, 2001.

Habitat on private property in Woodstock where an Eastern cottontail was captured inMarch, 2001.

property throughout the state. Allcollected cottontails or heads should belabeled and stored frozen. WildlifeDivision personnel should be contactedfor pickup. In eastern Connecticut,contact or deliver specimens to theFranklin Wildlife Management Area inNorth Franklin (860-642-7239) or, inwestern Connecticut, Sessions WoodsWildlife Management Area in Burling-ton (860-675-8130).

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Connecticut’s Sleek Aviators - The Swallows

Five species of swallows and onemartin call Connecticut home. Look forthem flying gracefully over open fieldsand around bodies of water as they catchtheir preferred food, flying insects.Long, pointed wings carry their stream-lined bodies in fluid, darting flight. Theyare strong and tireless fliers that feedalmost entirely on the wing.

Swallows are slender, sparrow-sizedbirds with very small feet and small,short bills. Their bills open with a widegape as they catch multitudes of flyinginsects. Most swallows are patternedwith dark iridescent plumage above andlight plumage below. All have slightlyforked tails, with the exception of thebarn swallow, whose tail is deeplyforked, and the cliff swallow, which hasa more squared-off tail. Some swallowsnest in colonies while others are fiercelyterritorial and nest singly.

All swallows migrate south for thewinter, with most leaving the UnitedStates and Canada for faraway reaches ofSouth America. Many will go as farsouth as Argentina.

In Connecticut, the bank swallow isthe smallest member of its family, with alength of four and three-quarter inches,while at seven inches the purple martinis the largest. Sometimes swallows canbe observed perched in groups on wiresor dead tree branches.

Among their prey are many kinds offlies and beetles, grasshoppers, wasps,flying ants and termites, mosquitoes andmidges. With food habits like this, it’sno wonder that the members of theswallow family have long been regardedas being beneficial to humans.

Native Americans recognized thevalue of purple martins and hunghollowed gourds to encourage them tonest in their villages. Being cavitynesters, martins were attracted to thegourds, forming nesting colonies in thevillages. Purple martins were valued notonly for their insect consuming skills,but also because they would fearlesslydefend the nest colony, driving awayhawks, crows and other predatory birdsin mass attacks, thus also protecting thevillage poultry.

Gourds are still used today to providenesting places for martins. Prefabricatedplastic gourds are available commer-

cially, as are large martin houses that canhave nest cavities for over a dozen pairs.

Nest boxes are readily used by one ofour more common swallows, the treeswallow. Where boxes are plentiful, theycan frequently be found nesting nearEastern bluebirds. Both species favorsimilar open habitats and require oldwoodpecker holes or tree cavities inwhich to nest. Beaver marshes, with theirstanding dead trees and plentiful insects,are ideal natural habitats, especially fortree swallows. In areas with a shortage ofnatural tree cavities, nest boxes canprovide a much needed element for bothtree swallows and bluebirds to reproducesuccessfully.

As harbingers of spring, the firstswallow to return to Connecticut is thetree swallow, usually making an appear-ance by mid-March, well before the lastice and snow have melted. Theseadvance “scouts” sometimes don’t farewell if the weather remains cold and wetfor an extended period of time. Insituations like this, tree swallows areknown to feed heavily on the winterpersistent fruit of northern bayberry.

The bulk of the spring migration fortree swallows in Connecticut lasts fromlate March through the mid-May, with

most nest boxes being occupied by theend of May.

In fall, large numbers of migratingtree swallows stage at some shorelinelocations, often forming huge flocks.During the evening they sometimesmake an impressive sight as thousands ofswallows swarm down to their nighttimeroost in a marsh.

Rural areas with nearby open waterare favored by bank swallows. Theseswallows are colonial nesters, buildingtheir nests inside tunnels that are duginto steep banks of sand, clay or gravelnear rivers or in gravel pits. Starting withtheir bill, then using their feet, each pairof bank swallows will excavate the nestburrow up to three or four feet long nearthe top of the embankment. Theseembankments may be honeycombedwith hundreds of nest holes.

The bank swallow is perhaps theleast adaptive to human development.All the other swallow species commonlyuse buildings, man-made structures orartificial nest boxes to reproduce. Bankswallows will not use these types ofnesting areas, and so, their abundance isclosely tied to the availability of earthenbanks.

Written by Paul Fusco, Public Awareness Program

Cliff swallows are colonial nesters. They build their nests out of mud pellets, whichfrequently are adhered to a sheltered surface on buildings or bridges.

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Usually found nearlarge bodies of water,the Northern rough-winged swallow alsonests in cavities. It isknown to excavateburrows, similar to thebank swallow, or usean existing cavity. Theexisting cavity chosencan be as diverse as acrevice in a stone wall,a hole in an old bridgeabutment or woodenbuilding, drain pipes,culverts, rock caves orsometimes the old nestcavity of a bankswallow or kingfisher.Rough-wingedswallows are normallyfound nesting in singlepairs and not incolonies.

Over the last 100years, rough-wingedswallows haveincreased their range,spreading northward into Connecticutand beyond. In the late 1800s they wereconsidered to be rare summer visitors.However, now they are considered fairlycommon nesters. The increasing pres-ence of rough-winged swallows inConnecticut may be a result of thesebirds adapting to living close to humansand development.

An interesting courtship behavior ofthe rough-winged swallow may be seenwhen a pair of birds is in flight. Whilechasing after the female, the male willextend his long, white, under-tail covertfeathers outwards at the base of his tail.These flashy feathers will curl up andaround the dull, brown, outer tail,becoming visible from a good distance.

In Connecticut, the cliff swallow hasbecome well adapted to living close tohumans, now nesting mainly on dams,bridges, other masonry structures andunder the eaves of buildings instead of atits traditional cliff sites. Cliff swallowsbuild their nests out of mud pellets,forming the shape of a bottle, sometimeswith a long entrance neck. The species ishighly gregarious and nests in colonies.

The cliff swallow has undergonedramatic swings in its Connecticutpopulation over the last 200 years.Records indicate that in the early to mid-

1800s, the cliff swallow was an increas-ingly abundant summer resident here,but by the late 1800s, the species was innoticeable decline. There seem to be twomain reasons for this decline. First, therewas a change in habitat that occurred atthe time. In the early 1800s, Connecticutwas largely cleared of forests forfarming. Expansive open fields withbarns for building nests provided idealhabitat for the cliff swallow and thepopulation grew. As the late 1800sapproached, many farm fields began tobecome overgrown with vegetation andhave since succeeded into much of theforest that we have today. Combinedwith this habitat change was the explo-sive increase in house sparrows, whichare known to usurp the nests of the cliffswallow. Today, aside from the purplemartin, the cliff swallow is the leastabundant of our swallows.

The long, forked tail is diagnostic forConnecticut’s most abundant swallowspecies -- the barn swallow. It nestssingly or sometimes in small colonies inrural and suburban areas. It builds a cup-shaped nest out of mud and grass,usually plastering it to a sheltered part ofa building, such as under eaves, insideopen barns or under a bridge. Barnswallows favor agricultural areas with

lakes or ponds nearby, and are mostcommon in farmland habitat.

The barn swallow remains one ofConnecticut’ most abundant nestingsongbirds, as the population has notchanged much over the last century. Itsgraceful flight and colorful bubblingsong make the barn swallow a familiarfixture of Connecticut’s ever changinglandscape.

BreedersPurple martin

Progne subisTree swallow

Tachycineta bicolorNorthern rough-winged swallow

Stelgidopteryx serripennisBank swallow

Riparia ripariaCliff swallow

Hirundo pyrrhonotaBarn swallow

Hirundo rustica

Rare MigrantCave swallow

Hirundo fulva

Connecticut’s Swallows

Observers may have the opportunity to witness a spectacular sight as migrating swallows move throughConnecticut in the fall. This massive flock of tree swallows was photographed flying over a Natural AreaPreserve at Hammonasset Beach State Park last October.

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Large class and short of help ... notenough time to put educational hand-outs together ... need to arrange thechairs to view the video screen ... needhelp in setting up the range site. Thecertified Conservation Education/Firearms Safety (CE/FS) instructorneeds a qualified Junior Assistant tohelp out.

Four years ago, the Junior AssistantProgram was initiated to officiallyrecognize the valuable help that manyyoung people have been providing tothe CE/FS Program over the years.Education of our youth in the area ofnatural resources and the safe use offirearms is important. Although JuniorInstructors are not allowed to actuallyteach, their involvement in the programallows them to see firsthand theresponsibility that the certified instruc-tors have accepted in teaching ethicaland safe hunting behavior.

The young volunteers have theopportunity to be trained by attendingCE/FS-sponsored instructor workshopsin the safe use of firearms, bows andtrapping equipment. Because they willhave many years of exposure andtraining in the hunter education process,these young helpers are bound toacquire a solid background in theirdeveloping sportsman interests. Someof these young people may even turnout to be future instructors. Addition-ally, this valuable experience will servethem well in developing a sense ofvolunteering in the community, whichmany public and private high schools

are currently requiring of their graduates.Presently, there are 17 junior assistantsworking in the CE/FS Program.

In order to qualify, interestedcandidates must meet the followingcriteria:● The candidate must be between 12and 21 years of age.● The candidate must have a cleanrecord with no serious legal violations.● Candidates must have successfullycompleted the CE/FS course (firearms,bow, trapping) in which they wish toassist.● Each candidate must be sponsored bya certified CE/FS instructor.● The candidate must file an applicationwith the Wildlife Division within thedistrict in which they will help.● The application must be signed by aparent or legal guardian of the candi-date, giving the applicant permission toparticipate in the program of choice.● The assistant will work under thesupervision of a certified instructor.

Anyone interested in the WildlifeDivision’s CE/FS Junior AssistantProgram who meets the above qualifica-tions may call one of two district officesto obtain more information or anapplication. Those living on the westside of the Connecticut River should callthe Sessions Woods office, at (860) 675-8130. Those residing on the east side ofthe river should call the FranklinWildlife office at (860) 642-7239. Giveus a call, we’d be happy to have youaboard!

Junior Assistants Valuable to the CE/FS ProgramWritten by David Kubas, CE/FS Program Coordinator

Junior AssistantSal RenzuellaBorn and raised in Norwalk, Salis a Senior at Norwalk HighSchool, where he is also a cadetin the school’s ROTC program.Sal is college bound with plansto study aeronautical scienceand participate in the ROTCprogram. He aspires to be anofficer in the U.S. Air Force,flying the A-10. Hunting, fishingand sporting clays are Sal’sfavorite hobbies. When finallysettled, he hopes to become ahunter education instructor,following in his parent’sfootsteps. Sal is the son ofcertified CE/FS instructorsSimone and Tom Renzuella.

National Hunting and Fishing Day Celebrated Every YearSeptember 22, 2001, was designated

as National Hunting and Fishing Day inConnecticut by Governor John G.Rowland to recognize the state’ssportsmen for their contributions toconservation. National Hunting andFishing Day is celebrated nationwideevery year in September.

Governor Rowland called uponcitizens to join with sportsmen andconservationists in their efforts toensure the wise use and proper manage-ment of our natural resourcesto benefit

future generations. “Every year leisure-time activities become more varied andhunting and fishing continue to beinvigorating outdoor sports that provide alifetime of enjoyment and connect us withthe values of stewardship and naturalresource conservation,” said GovernorRowland.

“Sportsmen have been at the forefrontof the conservation movement for over100 years,” Governor Rowland added.“Not content with merely vocalizing theirsupport, hunters and anglers requested

special fees and taxes on their equipmentwhich help pay for wildlife managementand other conservation programs.” InConnecticut, sportsmen’s hunting andfishing licenses, permit fees and excisetaxes on equipment contribute $6.3million annually to the conservation andmanagement of the state’s fisheries andwildlife resources. Sportsmen-financedprograms have led to the dramaticcomeback of wood duck, wild turkey,American shad, striped bass and numer-ous other wildlife and fish populations.

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usually seen hanging head down in themiddle of their large web.

Most webs constructed by black andyellow garden spiders have a zigzagpattern, called the stabilimentum,somewhere in the web. There are manydifferent thoughts regarding the purposeof the stabilimentum. Originally, it wasbelieved to protect the spider (males areoften found here in mating season),stabilize the web or warn birds of itspresence, but more recently it has beendiscovered to reflect ultraviolet light, aprime insect attractant. Orb webs areused to snare insect prey and are usuallyconstructed nightly in about an hour.Most orb-web weavers actually eat theirold webs and many recycle the silk

Do you have a wildlife questionyou’d like to have answered?

Please send it to:

Your Questions AnsweredDEP - Wildlife DivisionP.O. Box 1550Burlington, CT 06013

Email:[email protected]

What is the big, black and yellowspider I find in my garden each fall?

The black and yellow spiders seen ingardens and fields during late summerand early fall are, coincidentally, blackand yellow garden spiders (Argiopeaurantia). Banded garden spiders (A.trifasciata) are also seen at this time butare slightly smaller, less common andhave thin, black, white and/or yellowbands on their abdomen rather than thestrong, yellow markings found on theblack and yellow garden spiders. Bothbanded and black and yellow gardenspiders have silver-colored carapaces(the top or front part of a spider). Thefemales of these orb-weavers havebodies about an inch long and are

� � �� almost immediately as they form a newweb. The adaptations of spiders are trulyremarkable and although some spidersare large and startling to see at firstglance, they should be appreciated fortheir innovative insect-catching abilities.

Early Successional Stage HabitatDuring the past field season, pre-

scribed burning, brush mowing, bronto-saurus mower/mulching and grasslandplantings were accomplished as part ofthe DEP Wildlife Division’s ongoingefforts to enhance early successionalstage habitat on state lands. Projectswere funded through the USDA’sWildlife Habitat Incentives Program andthe Conservation Reserve Program; statefunds also were used.

Projects were conducted atNaugatuck State Forest, Pachaug StateForest, Bloomfield Flood Control Area,Higganum Meadows Wildlife Manage-ment Area (WMA), Pequonnock ValleyWMA, Simsbury WMA, WopowogWMA, Bartlett Brook WMA, BarnIsland WMA, Spignesi WMA and theJohn E. Flaherty Field Trial Area. Over258 acres were enhanced through thesevarious management practices.

Woodcock/Early SuccessionalStage Habitat Workshop Held

This past summer, the WildlifeDivision participated in a cooperativeWoodcock/Early Successional StageWorkshop in cooperation with theUniversity of Connecticut’s WildlifeConservation Research Center, theWildlife Management Institute and the

Habitat Management Program Activities

Hammonasset Fishing Association. Over40 participants attended, includingrepresentatives from The Nature Conser-vancy, Connecticut Audubon, theNational Audubon Society, U.S. Fishand Wildlife Service, National Fish andWildlife Foundation and Regional WaterAuthority, as well as consultant foresters,private landowners, state legislators andmembers of sportsmen’s clubs and landtrusts. The group of participants repre-sented the very diverse conservationcommunity within Connecticut.

Written by Paul Rothbart, Supervising Wildlife Biologist

Topics included early successionspecies and their habitat trends, ecologyand needs; the status and research needsof the American woodcock; and thestructuring of visionary funding initia-tives. The workshop was an excellenteffort at developing a conservationcoalition that can educate the publicabout the decline of early successionalstage habitat and its associated speciesand can also promote the need for habitatmanagement throughout Connecticut.

Participants who attended the Woodcock/Early Successional Stage Habitat Workshop heldin summer 2001.

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Clearcut Planned for Sessions Woods WMAWritten by David S. Irvin, DEP Forestry Division

“A clearcut in Connecti-cut?” This is a commonreaction heard from stateresidents regarding the use ofthis forestry practice. Thisharvest alternative for“regenerating” or growing anew forest is not new noruncommon, but the term“clearcut” often conjures upnegative images of vastdenuded landscapes, erodingsoil and fields of stumpsseemingly devoid of life.

The truth is thatclearcutting can sometimesbe the best thing for ahealthy forest and for manyof our most treasured andcolorful migratory birds, aswell as many other wildlifespecies. It is important toremember that the forest willeventually grow back in aclearcut created for forestrypurposes, unlike the landcleared for new housing andcommercial development.

Clearcut at Sessions WoodsA 14-acre clearcut is planned for the

DEP Wildlife Division’s Sessions WoodsWildlife Management Area (WMA) inBurlington. The 453-acre area is the siteof the Division’s Conservation Education

Center and several interpretive trails thatdemonstrate wildlife habitat manage-ment practices for landowners andhomeowners. In 1997, the DEP Forestryand Wildlife Divisions worked coopera-tively to develop a 10-year managementplan for Sessions Woods. Goals of thiscomprehensive plan include improving

forest healthand productiv-ity, diversifyingwildlife habitatand expandingthe educationaldemonstrationareas along thetrails to includethe entireproperty.Different typesof management,includingprescribed fire,selectioncutting andclearcutting, aredemonstrated inclose proximityto the heavily-visited trails.

Therefore, in this instance, a clearcutclose to a hiking trail is considered anasset, not a liability, in light of theeducational objectives emphasized atSessions Woods.

This forestry operation will be thesecond under the 1997 managementplan. The first was a 33-acre harvestdirectly adjacent to Route 69 andcovering over a half-mile of the BeaverPond Trail. Its purpose was to encouragethe reproduction of white pine, thusmaintaining coniferous habitat (ever-green trees) on the property.

Why Clearcut?Why was clearcutting chosen to

manage a portion of the forest habitat atSessions Woods? It all started with theoriginal forest inventory of the stand todetermine overall tree health, treedensity, the presence of wildlife dentrees, hard mast availability (i.e., acorns,hickory nuts), vegetation present on theforest floor and other information. Thedata revealed an area that was “poorlystocked” and in overall poor health andquality. Many trees had small crownsand were growing slowly. Low quanti-ties of acorns were being produced.

This photograph of a fresh clearcut shows the mature forest edge and the coarse woody debris leftbehind. In just a few years, this opening will be thick with saplings.

A clearcut planned for Sessions Woods will benefit the resident whip-poor-will population. This species of special concern prefers openwoodlands and young tree growth for nesting.

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Numerous trees had disease or insectproblems, as well as forks and crooks,making them susceptible to winddamage. The forest inventory showedthat the forest stand had plenty of unusedgrowing space, a dominance of un-healthy or low vigor trees and a carpet ofnew seedlings on the ground, indicatingthat the time had arrived to grow a newstand, or “regenerate.”

How Is a Forest Regenerated?Options exist to use either even-aged

or uneven-aged systems. In uneven-agedmanagement, selection cutting is used tocreate a forest of several distinct agessimultaneously. This type of manage-ment works best on shade tolerant treeslike maple, birch and beech. The foreststand at Sessions Woods was mostlyoak, both in the understory (seedlings onthe ground) and overstory (mature forestcanopy). Even-aged managementdevelops a stand of one uniform ageclass. This includes both “shelterwood”cutting and clearcutting. In the former,the overstory is removed to release newregeneration in two to three gradualphases, allowing young seedlings todevelop under the “shelter” of the oldertrees. By the time of final harvest,regeneration is thick and well-estab-lished. A clearcut is accomplished in onecomplete removal rather than in multiplephases. This kind of operation is best forSessions Woods because:

1) Regeneration is already presentand ready for release, so mature trees arenot needed as a seed source.

2) Oak seedlings need full sunlight togrow adequately and will die if not fullyreleased in the near future.

3) Some wildlife species that preferopen habitats, such as the chestnut-sidedwarbler, will not use an area that was cutas shelterwood because of the presenceof the large trees that are left in thecanopy during the seedling phase.

4) A multiple harvest does not makesense economically as there is notenough timber per acre for more thanone cut. Biological needs and economicrealities must often be balanced in forestmanagement decisions.

Is Replanting Necessary?Should the clearcut be replanted?

Simply, it is not necessary. Treesnaturally grow back and do so quickly.Planting to reestablish a forest inConnecticut is not usually successful. It

means years of laborintensive weeding andherbicide treatments tocontrol naturalcompetition. Damagefrom deer browsing isalso a serious problem.Instead, different typesof harvests aredesigned to regeneratea variety of forests andfavor native speciesthat can best use thegrowing site.

What About theMess?

What about all ofthe debris left behindafter a clearcut? Woody debris fromtreetops and from trees too small to use(called “slash”) are not pleasing to theeye following a fresh clearcut. But it canalso serve a purpose in ecology. Thematerial will eventually decay, addingnutrients back to the soil. Meanwhile,short-term benefits may include protec-tion of seedlings from deer browse,cover for small animals and mulchingprotection of the soil until the new forestcanopy closes.

What About the Wildlife?What happens to the wildlife after the

clearcut? There will be significantbenefits to many different kinds ofwildlife. Although Connecticut iscurrently over 60 percent forested, withmuch of this forest near maturity, therehas been a steady decline in onceplentiful open field and pasture land, aswell as young forests in the seedling/sapling phase. The result is lowerpopulations of birds and mammals thatuse these areas. Regeneration cuttingscan help restore this sort of habitat.

Many migratory songbirds havedeclined due to the loss of grasslandsand seedling/sapling forests. A long listof our most cherished birds, includingcedar waxwing, white-eyed vireo, blue-winged warbler, chestnut-sided warbler,cardinal, bluebird, flicker, goldfinch androse-breasted grosbeak, all require earlysuccessional stage vegetation for nesting.The whip-poor-will, a bird that resides atSessions Woods, is a Connecticutspecies of special concern. It prefersopen woodlands and young growth fornesting and should benefit from theclearcut. Raptors are expected to use the

new clearcut. Broad-winged hawks nestclose to forest openings and red-tailedhawks, a frequent sight at SessionsWoods, commonly hunt in clearcuts.

Other animals are considered “edgespecies,” and tend to use the fringesbetween openings and forested canopies.Deer, turkey and grouse are well-knownmembers of this group. The 14-acreharvest will create an estimated 3,500feet of new “edge” around the perimeterof the clearcut, benefiting these animals.

Researching Chestnut TreesThe Sessions Woods clearcut is

expected to become part of a statewideforestry research project of the Connecti-cut Agricultural Experiment Station.Researchers have been interested inconquering the chestnut blight fungusfor many years. American chestnut, aonce dominant forest tree, was virtuallywiped out by accidental introduction ofthe blight early in the 20th century. Allthat remains are vigorous sprouts thatrepeatedly surface but rarely make itbeyond sapling size before succumbingto the blight. Chestnuts require fullsunlight exposure for growth and,therefore, a clearcut is very good for thisspecies. The Experiment Station hopes touse chestnuts that naturally sprout in theclearcut at Sessions Woods in experi-mental efforts to develop strains resistantto the blight.

The Sessions Woods timber harvest willtake place during late summer or fall 2001by a local contractor. The harvested woodis expected to be used at local mills. Formore information, call the ForestryDivision’s Pleasant Valley office, at (860)379-7085, or the Wildlife Division’sSessions Woods office, at (860) 675-8130.

The chestnut-sided warbler requires early successional stagehabitat for nesting. A clearcut planned for Sessions Woods WMAwill provide this important habitat for a bird often observed onthe property.

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A golden-winged warbler wasobserved recently during surveysconducted by DEP staff in northwesternConnecticut. The golden-winged warbler(Vermivora chrysoptera), a species listedas threatened in Connecticut, wasthought by many to be extirpated fromthe state, making this a very encouragingobservation. Breeding Bird Survey datacollected since 1966 show the populationin southern New England declining at arate of over 20 percent per year.

Although research is needed to betterunderstand the population trends, thereare some factors that are currentlythought to be the main contributors tothe decline. The loss of shrubland habitatis one of these factors. Habitat require-ments and the changes that make habitatunsuitable for breeding are not yet fullyunderstood. Golden-winged warblersprefer shrubby, open areas that are oftencreated by the natural succession ofabandoned farmland. As farms havedisappeared from the Connecticutlandscape, much of the land has eithermatured into forest or been used fordevelopment, displacing the golden-winged warbler from the state. Withoutdisturbances such as farming, fire orflooding to create early successionalstage habitat, the golden-winged warbleris left with few suitable breeding areas inthe state.

Another factor leading to thepopulation decline is the expansion ofthe blue-winged warbler (V. pinus) intothe range of the golden-winged. Thisexpansion has led to increased competi-tion between the two species andinterbreeding which has resulted inhybrids known as “Brewster’s” and“Lawrence’s” warblers. Researchsuggests that the blue-winged may beout-competing and replacing the golden-winged in its range, but the reasons forthis are unclear. Finally, cowbird nestparasitism has been recognized as apossible factor in the golden-wingedwarbler’s decline. Recent research has

found up to 30 percent of golden-wingednests being parasitized by cowbirds,which can lead to lower nest success.

In order for management plans to besuccessful, much more research needs tobe conducted concerning habitatrequirements, hybridization and cowbirdparasitism in golden-winged warblerpopulations. If we can better understandthese factors and how they relate to oneanother, we will have a much betterchance of creating effective managementplans. -- J. T. Stokowski, ResearchAssistant

Golden-wingedWarbler ObservedDuring Survey

Sandy JacobsonRetires

Sandy Jacob-son, a ProgramAssistant at theWildlifeDivision’sSessions WoodsWildlife Manage-ment Area office,retired from stateservice at the endof July. A memberof the Sessions Woods staff since 1996,Sandy worked with the ConservationEducation/Firearms Safety (CE/FS)Program, processing student certificatesand assisting the volunteer instructorswith course scheduling. Anyone who hascalled the Sessions Woods office, eitherabout CE/FS courses or with questionsabout wildlife, probably has spoken withSandy. Sandy’s organizational skills, aswell as her infectious smile and laugh,will be missed by all, especially theWildlife Division staff and the CE/FSvolunteer instructors. We wish her wellin her retirement.

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Educators in the eastern half of thestate no longer need to travel to Burling-ton to borrow the Wildlife Division’s“Woodland Wildlife” and “Wildlife inYour Connecticut Backyard” outreachkits. The two kits are now also availablefrom the Wildlife Division’s FranklinWMA office (Wildlife in Your Con-necticut Backyard) and the DEP’sEastern District Headquarters in Marl-borough (Woodland Wildlife). Both kitsare filled with various wildlife props(skulls, track replicas, feathers, etc.), inaddition to a slide show and script.

The “White-tailed Deer” outreach kitis also available; however, at this time, itcan only be obtained from the Division’sSessions Woods office in Burlington. Toborrow any of the kits, contact thenearest Wildlife Division office for moreinformation.

This past summer, the DEP WildlifeDivision, with the help of severalvolunteers, conducted surveys at twowildlife management areas (WMA),Babcock Pond and Goshen, to determinethe diversity of butterfly species found atthe sites. Babcock Pond WMA inColchester consists primarily of wetlandhabitat, but also has forest, field and oldfield habitats. Goshen WMA, which isalmost entirely field and old fieldhabitat, proved especially challenging tosurvey due to the large size of the fields.

Both sites were surveyed at leastonce during each major butterfly flightseason, beginning in early June. Transectsurveys were also conducted at GoshenWMA and involved walking along anestablished path, noting any butterfliesseen within 2.5 meters of the observer.During this limited field season, close to40 butterfly species were observed ateach WMA.

Determining the presence or absenceof butterflies and their flight periods canhelp provide guidance for managementdecisions (such as mowing or burning)and be used to evaluate managementactions. Surveys will be conducted againnext year, beginning in April to addsome of the early spring fliers. Butterflywatchers interested in assisting withthese efforts can contact Laura Rogers-Castro at the Division’s Sessions Woodsoffice (860-675-8130).

Butterfly SurveysConducted at WMAs

Outreach Kits forEastern CTEducators


The Wildlife Division has beenmonitoring moose sightings in the statesince 1992. During the months of Mayand June 2001, the Division received atleast 16 moose sightings of at least fivedifferent moose. Both young and maturecows and bulls were sighted. Mostmoose sightings were received from thetowns of Tolland, Ashford, Torrington,Norfolk and Goshen. Connecticut nowhas an expanding resident moosepopulation. In 2000, a cow with twocalves was observed in the Hartlandarea. Please call the Wildlife Division’sFranklin office (860-642-7239) to reportany moose sightings.

Moose Sightings onthe Rise

Rehabilitators Care for Thousands ofAnimals Each Year

Having completed a series of state requirements and complying with local, stateand federal laws, wildlife rehabilitators are authorized to care for sick, injured andorphaned wildlife with the intention of returning healthy animals back to the wild.

During 2000, approximately 220 wildlife rehabilitators cared for 4,824 birds,3,730 mammals and 111 reptiles and amphibians. Of that total, 105 animals wereConnecticut threatened, endangered or special concern species and nearly 4,332animals were successfully released back to the wild.

Wetland Bird Callback Survey Numbers DownFor the second year

in a row, the number ofvolunteers who con-ducted wetland birdcallback surveys de-creased. Only seven siteswere surveyed in 2001by a total of eightvolunteers. Fortunately,the number of birdsrecorded was relativelyhigh, despite having sofew areas surveyed.However, more help stillis needed to make nextyear’s survey successful.Those interested inhelping to conductwetland bird callbacksurveys next year shouldcontact Geoff Krukar, at(860) 675-8130.

The annual wetlandbird callback survey is conducted byvolunteers who search wetlands forpossible breeding wetland birds. Volun-teers have the opportunity to find fivespecies of rails, two species of bitterns,the common moorhen and pied-billedgrebe. Survey results are tabulated andentered into a database to help theWildlife Division better monitor popula-tions of these secretive birds.

2001 Wetland Bird Callback Survey Results

# of sitesSpecies where heard Status in CT

American bittern 0 EndangeredLeast bittern 1 ThreatenedVirginia rail 1 Not listedSora 1 Not listedClapper rail 2 Not listedKing rail 0 Endangered*Black rail 0 Endangered*Common moorhen 0 EndangeredPied-billed grebe 1 EndangeredCoot 0 Not listedWillet 2 Special concern

7 sites were surveyed* nesting populations only

Sora rail

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Hundreds of sick and injured songbirds are cared for by wildlife rehabilitators every year.This young robin is undergoing treatment for foot injuries.



Sept. 1 ................... 2001 pheasant tags available from town clerks’ offices ($10.00 for 10 tags).

............................... Opening day of the September squirrel season.

Sept. 1-Nov. 4 ........ Rail hunting season.

Sept. 4-25 .............. September goose hunting season in the north zone.

Sept. 15-Nov. 13 .... First portion of archery deer and turkey hunting seasons.

Sept. 17-25 ............ September goose hunting season in the south zone.

Sept. 22 ................. National Hunting and Fishing Day (see page 12 for more information).

Sept. 30 ................. Deadline for returning Bat House Survey Cards.

October .................. Most adult mosquitoes disappear after the first hard frost.

............................... Bats begin to travel to winter hibernaculas early this month.

Oct. 6 & 8 ............... Youth Waterfowl Hunter Training Days

October 10 ............. Early duck seasons begin (Consult the 2001-2002 Migratory Bird Hunting Guide, available at DEP offices, town clerks’ officesand at the DEP website: http://dep.state.ct.us).

October 20 ............. Small game hunting season opens.

Oct. 20-Nov. 3 ....... Fall firearms turkey hunting season.

Oct. 27-Nov. 24 ..... Woodcock and snipe hunting season.

November 4 ........... Trapping season begins (except for the beaver trapping season which begins December 1).

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�� At the beginning of the twentiethcentury, this large bird came close toextinction due to excessive markethunting. Its plumes were in greatdemand for use in women’s apparel.Although populations recoveredsomewhat after market hunting wasoutlawed and legal protection wasestablished, the degradation and lossof wetland habitats and thedevelopment of coastal areas haveprevented populations from returningto their previous levels. It is athreatened species in Connecticutand can be found in freshwater andsaltwater marshes, streams, ponds,lakes or mudflats.

Guess which animal is described in the challenge and enter into a drawing to wina free wildlife poster. Clearly print your answer on a postcard, along with your name,address and phone number and send it to: CT Wildlife Division, P.O. Box 1550,Burlington, CT 06013, Attn: Wildlife Challenge. The answer and winner will beprinted in the next issue of Connecticut Wildlife. Official Rules: Only one postcardwill be accepted per household, per challenge. Postcards for this issue’s contest mustbe postmarked by October 12, 2001. Only one winner will be chosen for eachchallenge. Each winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received bythe postmarked deadline.

Congratulations go to John Slanski who was chosen as the winner of the July/August challenge. John gave the correct answer of “river otter” and his name wasrandomly picked from all correct answers submitted by readers. John will be sentthe wildlife poster of his choice. Thanks to all readers who sent in postcards withanswers to the Challenge. Please keep trying!

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It’s time to start thinking about the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program and Scholarship Competition. The program is anintegrated art and science curriculum developed to teach environmental science and habitat conservation. The curriculumdemonstrates that wetlands are not only nature’s filter system, but serve as a barometer of environmental health. Free curriculumguides can be requested by calling 1-877-887-5508. For information on the Junior Duck Stamp Program, visit the website athttp://duckstamps.fws.gov. Entries for the scholarship competition must be postmarked by March 15, 2002, and addressed toyour state’s receiving site: Paul Rothbart, CT Waterfowl Association, 177 Romulus Road, Cheshire, CT 06410.

Attention Teachers: Learn About ...The Federal Jr. Duck Stamp Program and Scholarship Competition

The DEP’s Office of Licensing and Revenue, located at the DEP Headquarters at 79 Elm Street in Hartford, will extend itshours of operation on selected dates in October and November to accomodate the large number of hunters who wish to obtainpermits for the fall hunting seasons. The office will be open from 9:00 am to 7:30 pm on: October 18, November 1, November 8and November 15. Normal hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Attention Sportsmen:


SpidersThere are over 30,000 different kinds of spiders. Close to 500 are found inConnecticut. Many are web weavers, although others ambush their prey.Almost all are harmless to people and most help us by eating insects.

Try this at home:Go out at night to look for spider eyes. Take a flashlight,hold it on your forehead and shine it 10 feet from you onthe ground. Look for sparkling green eyes among theplants. These are the emerald eyes of wolf spiders.

What makes a spider a spider?Spiders are not insects!

Spiders have 2 body parts and 8 legs.Insects have 3 body parts and 6 legs.

Spiders usually have 8 eyes. Scientistscan identify many spiders from the sizeand arrangement of their eyes.

Spiders also have fangs, which they useto inject venom into their prey.

Paralyzed PreyA spider’s venom is used to paralyze or kill itsprey. Most spiders’ fangs are not strong enoughto break through human skin. The black widow’svenom could make you very sick, but this spideris uncommon in Connecticut. Sensational Silk!

Spiders make liquid silk from special glands in their abdomen.The silk leaves the spider’s body from spinnerets located at thetip of the abdomen. Different types of silk help spiders makewebs, egg cases, protective “retreats” and more. Pound forpound, silk is stronger that steel. Researchers are studying silkfor use in bullet-proof vests. Now that’s strong!!

Did you know.........Wolf spiders carry their young (spiderlings) on theirbacks.It only takes an orbweb weaver 45 minutes to spin itsweb.Spiderlings can “balloon” (float in the air on lines ofsilk) to move from one place to another.Many birds depend on spider silk to “glue” their neststogether.Not all spiders have venom glands.Tarantulas are not found in Connecticut.Harvestmen (daddy-long-legs) are not spiders and do notmake silk.

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Bureau of Natural Resources / Wildlife DivisionConnecticut Department of Environmental Protection79 Elm StreetHartford, CT 06106-5127

Don't miss out . . . Get Connecticut Wildlife for yourself or for afriend! Mail this form, along with a check or money order for aminimum contribution (payable to Gift to Wildlife) to: Gift toWildlife, P.O. Box 1550, Burlington, CT 06013-1550.

3 Years ($16.00)2 Years ($11.00)1 Year ($6.00)

Help fund critical programs for the state's nonharvested andendangered species by contributing to the Gift to Wildlife fund,which is supported solely by voluntary contributions. Please includea tax-deductible donation with your order for Connecticut Wildlife.Connecticut's Nonharvested Wildlife Program needs your help!

Other $$25.00$10.00$5.00

My additional contribution for Connecticut's Nonharvested Wildlife:

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Change of Address: Advance notice of an address change will assure allissues are delivered correctly.

The official bimonthly publication of theDEP Wildlife Division

PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER

Mail completed coupon with a check or money order ($10.00per copy) to CT DEP Nonharvested Wildlife Fund, P.O. Box1550, Burlington, CT 06013-1550.

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Woodworking for WildlifeThe Wildlife Division’s Nonharvested Wildlife Programis offering a revised second edition of this popular bookfor $10.00. Now published with color photographs andan easy-to-use spiral binding, it is the perfect resourcefor anyone wishing to build homes for wildlife.

Homes for Birds & Mammals

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connecticut wildlife sept/oct 2001 / october 2001 connecticut wildlife 1 ... jr. ... same segment of...

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