SOUTHWICK – A habitat renewal project is underway at the South Longyard Road Wildlife Management Area. The Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife acquired 83 acres of the wildlife management area in June 2017 for $1 million. The property was bought from the original landowner, Denise LeClair-Robbins.
The 83 acres is being used for a Wildlife Management Area. The work being done consists of tree clearing, harrowing, and planting on those acres of land in order to expand a grassland habitat for a certain amount of listed species by the state. The Grasshopper Sparrow is the most notable species that uses a grassland habitat, along with a number of other types of birds.
This photo shows the tree clearing in process (Mass Wildlife Photo by Dave Fuller).
There is a significant importance to expanding this habitat.
“Grassland is one of the most limited habitat types in the commonwealth,” said John Scanlon, the Habitat Program Supervisor for Fish and Wildlife.
Once the clearing of any invading trees is complete, little blue stem will be planted, which is the preferred plant species for rare grassland birds. Christina Peterson, a Realtor Agent for Mass Fish and Wildlife, noted that any mature hardwood trees will be preserved in order to have acorns and nuts available for animals like deer.
The contractor for Fish and Wildlife has already begun clearing out trees. The majority of the harrowing and planting will be done during the fall. When planting the seeds for grass species, it’s a lot more effective when it’s into the ground as the weather gets colder.
According to Scanlon, there should be a good influx of little blue stem plants in the habitat in about a year. The 83 acres is expected to be fully established as a habitat by the summer of 2020.
