Commonwealth Conversations: The Great Outdoors

Weekly outdoor events - 2/6/12

Madeleine Barr
Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)
View Madeleine's Bio

Come hike with us on February 7, under the illumination of a Full Snow Moon.  Also called the Full Hunger Moon or Little Famine Moon, the full moon during the month of February acquired these names from the Northeastern Native American tribes so as to characterize the climate in February and some of the agricultural challenges that accompany the harsh weather.  The DCR is hosting several similar hikes in different regions in the state.  We challenge you to find the one nearest you and brave the cold for an hour and a half and truly enjoy the outdoors for its fresh winter air and of course the spectacular glow of a full moon in the night sky.  Hikes are scheduled in Dartmouth, Milton, the South Metro Region and the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Malden. 

If you’d prefer to spend time outdoors when it is a little bit lighter out, you can join us for WILD workshops, winter tracking lessons, or a story about ice harvesting at Walden Pond in Concord. 

PROFILE: Tom French -- Doing good for wildlife

Reginald Zimmerman

Assistant Press Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Reginald's Bio

Tom French truly is a cool guy. He’s collared black bears in the woods, inspected peregrine falcon nests from high above the Boston city skyline and has shooed away wild turkeys. He’s been up close to a bald eagle next and is able to tell the difference between a snapping turtle and an alligator from a distance (people commonly confuse the two).

But it’s not just Tom’s stories or his enthusiasm that amazes me; it’s also his passion for his work. 

Tom serves as the Assistant Director for the Department of Fish and Game’s (DFG) Natural Heritage Program. The program was created in 1983 with the goal of protecting and conserving the hundreds of rare and threatened species found in Massachusetts. Tom conducts regulatory reviews of construction and transportation projects to make sure animal habitats aren’t disrupted. But Tom’s favorite part of the job extends beyond regulation and law. 

Every day he works with multiple species that inhabit the state and helps identify what species are rare and need to be protected. The programs biggest success so far is bald eagles. When the program started in 1983, the state didn’t have any bald eagle nests, but there are now 40 protected pairs across the Commonwealth. And there were a record number of 107 birds spotted last year!

But some of the issues Tom deals with are troubling. Recently, a mysterious non-native disease called white nose syndrome has started to cause brown bats to fly and hunt outside their usual hibernation patterns, usually in extremely cold weather. Most bats that leave the cave never make it back. Tom said one example of the disease’s devastation is at a mining site in Chester.

“There were 8 to10, 000 bats in the cave during winter in previous years. In February 2011, there were only 14 bats left,” he said.  “The whole scenario is pathetically remarkable. The brown bat was so popular 10-15 years ago and now the species is almost 98 percent gone and there’s not a thing we can do about it. We can catch them, feed them, and hydrate them, but they are just as susceptible again next year. This has been unprecedented for biologists of this generation.”

When he isn’t working, Tom serves as chair of the Northeast Right Whale Recovery Team and spends his weekends searching beaches for whale skeletons that can be preserved and put on display. These skeletons teach scientists about what is killing whales and provide them with a good platform for research. Currently, a skeleton Tom helped excavate is on display at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. 

“I’ve got the best job around from my perspective,” he says. The publication A Complete Guide to Environmental Careers in the 21^st Century agrees. Tom was featured in the book in 1989, and was one of three people carried over to the new edition in ­­1999. “I get to work with an incredible variety of neat species, do good things for them, and do good things for the environment in general.”

Buying Sporting Licenses Using MassFishHunt

Marion Larson

Outreach Coordinator, MassWildlife

View Marion's Bio

You just found out your local town clerk or other favorite license vendor is no longer selling hunting, fishing, or trapping licenses. That’s because the Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) has eliminated handwritten licenses, permits, and stamps. Many town clerks and vendors chose not to participate in the new MassFishHunt system. No more depending on the mail for Division permits!

MassFishHunt License search - click for larger image

It’s easy to buy a license, stamps, turkey or bear permits, take the Harvest Information Program (HIP) survey and apply for an antlerless deer permit. Here’s how:

• Go to www.mass.gov/dfwele/licensing/index.htm which explains the new MassFishHunt electronic license system. Follow the instructions, and print out your license, permits, and tags! You need a credit card and will pay a $1.50 MassFishHunt convenience fee per license plus a 3 percent credit card fee for the total transaction. 

• Visit your local MassWildlife office. MassWildlife District Offices are located in Ayer, Belchertown, Bourne, Dalton, and West Boylston; or visit the Westborough Field Headquarters or Boston office. Only checks, cash and money orders are accepted.
  

• Go to an official license vendor in your area to buy licenses, turkey and bear permits, and stamps. You can also apply for an antlerless deer permit and complete a HIP survey. Contact your local MassWildlife office for a list other license vendors. You can pay in cash, checks, or credit card at these locations.

• What if you don’t own a computer or printer, or you’re computer-phobic? Visit your local library where staff can help you in the process. A number of people use libraries to download tax forms and conduct e-commerce. You will need a credit card and be prepared to pay a small fee to the library for printing out your paperwork.

• Remember, minors ages 15-17 may not buy a hunting or sporting license through home or library computers, but must go through a license vendor or MassWildlife office. They (or their parents) need to provide a hunter education card and/or letters of consent.

• NEW for 2012: Antlerless Deer Permit Procedure. Antlerless deer applications are still due by July 16 and can only be applied for through MassFishHunt. Here’s what’s new:  between July 31 and December 31, applicants must go back online to MassFishHunt (at home or any license vendor) and go through a menu which will immediately notify the applicant if they were selected for a permit in the zone of their choice.

• NEW for 2012! Freshwater fishing Licenses for minors ages 15-17 are now free.  They still need a license to fish, but it’s free. Youths under age 15 can fish, but don’t need a license.

Need more information? Call the nearest MassWildlife office about the new system or go online. Click the link to the FAQ section and a detailed explanation on the new system. 

My final suggestion to the computer-savvy license buyer: Be a good sport by offering to help your computer–phobic friend or family member to purchase their license on line. That way you can ensure that you all will be ready to enjoy the great outdoors together throughout the year!

A healthy 2012: practicing what we preach

Edward M. Lambert Jr.

Commissioner, Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR)

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Commissioner Scott Soares

Commissioner, Department of Agriculture Resources (DAR)

View Commissioner Soares' Bio

 

On January 1st, 2012, the Departments of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Public Health (DPH), and Agricultural Resources (DAR) signed a joint resolution with the mutual goal of encouraging people to maintain a healthy lifestyle through year-round outdoor recreation and quiet enjoyment in our state parks and eating locally grown and produced agricultural products. The event was celebrated statewide at over nine locations from the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton to western Massachusetts' Mount Greylock State Reservation, where more than 1,700 visitors came out to enjoy nature and get some exercise on a beautiful winter day.

In 2012, our agencies will be promoting the physical, emotional, and nutritional health of our residents, visitors, and of course our own employees!  And one of those employees is DAR Commissioner Scott Soares. Commissioner Soares has committed to losing two pounds per month via a friendly inter-agency “Choose Two for You” challenge that will culminate with a celebration of our collective achievements at a 2K-thon challenge at a featured farm location and/or DCR state park in the fall of 2012. We look forward to seeing many of our colleagues -- including DPH Commissioner John Auerbach -- at the event!

In the meantime, we thought we’d share some of the great “Two for You” challenges we’ve sent out across the agencies:

• Visit at least two Massachusetts state parks each season and engage in a recreational activity such as hiking, biking or walking.

• Eat fruits and vegetables (preferably locally-grown) at least two times a day to reach the five or more daily recommended servings and include 2-3 servings of whole-grains (any food made from wheat, rice, barley, oats, or another cereal grain) each day. Go to www.choosemyplate.gov for more information.

• For those who exceed their healthy weight (Body Mass Index [BMI] greater than 25), lose at least two pounds a month until your healthy ideal weight is reached (Please consult your physician first). Calculate your BMI at www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator at least two times a week or check out other tips offered at www.mass.gov/massinmotion

• Integrate movement into your workday at least twice every two hours e.g. a walk to the water cooler, take a lap around the office, do some stretches at your work area.  Take a longer walk in a park, along a greenway or a sidewalk during lunch.

• Include muscle-strengthening activities two times per week.

• Exercise for at least two days a week for 30 minutes (e.g. a brisk two-mile walk) towards achieving the recommended 2 hours and 20 minutes per week. Check out DCR’s Healthy Heart Trails in over 70 state parks across the state!

• Add at least two new exercise routines to your current workout.

• Try two new recreational activities this year such as canoeing, kayaking, snowshoeing, mountain biking or camping.

New Year’s resolution: buy an environmental license plate

Bill Hinkley

Program Director, Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET)

View Bill's Bio

Perhaps you were waiting at a traffic light or walking through a parking lot when you saw the Whale Tail license plate and thought to yourself, “I really ought to get one of those.” Then maybe you thought it would be a hassle, or too expensive, or that the funds wouldn’t go to a good cause.

Buying a speciality environmental license plate is an affordable, easy thing to do that supports many worthy environmental causes. It could top your resolution list. The best part is… you can check it off really fast. It is a whole lot easier and satisfying than going on a diet!

It is so easy to get a plate. The Right Whale, the Brook Trout, and the Blackstone Mill support the Massachusetts Environmental Trust (MET) and the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) website makes buying your new plate a snap. No RMV visit required!

Online Blackstone Valley license plate registration

Online Brook Trout license plate registration

Online Right Whale license plate registration

A specialty environmental plate costs less than you might think: $20 annually or $1.66 per month, which is an additional $40 to your standard registration fees every two years. Oh, and it is tax-deductible, too. It's an affordable way to dress up your ride and support great environmental projects.

Revenue from the plates supports projects statewide. The MET makes grants to nonprofit organizations and towns that are working hard to protect and improve our state’s water. Some of partners are rescuing entangled whales, restoring habitat for herring and eels, chasing down invasive species, improving trout fisheries, preventing pollution and much more. Over $1 million in grants will be paid out this year and most of that funding comes from these three license plates.

Slideshow of recent MET award recipients

This New Year, I hope you will resolve to join over 40,000 Massachusetts motorists who have chosen an environmental license plate. It is the easiest resolution you will make all year. Forget the diet. Now, where are those cookies?

Right Whales: Which Way the Wind Blows

Erin Burke

Protected Species Specialist, Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF)

View Erin's Bio

Since 1998, the Division Marine Fisheries and our partners at the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies have been monitoring right whales in Cape Cod Bay. Starting in 2007, the number of whales sighted each season took a big leap – with annual averages double what was seen in previous years. However nothing could prepare us for the bonanza of 2011. 

The aerial team documented 312 individual right whales in Cape Cod Bay and adjacent areas – that’s 65 percent of the known population!  It’s also astounding that 77 of those whales were “new” to the Bay, having never been seen there in all our years of study.  Massachusetts was the place to be in 2011.

Why? Well, the easy answer is…food.  But what influences the food supply?  There’s a lot of variability in the distribution and abundance of right whales and their food in Cape Cod Bay.  Some years the food supply is strong and the Bay is filled with whales, while other times, food supplies are low and we have few whale sightings.  The main star in this feeding frenzy is a small crustacean called Calanus finmarchicus, an oily delight much loved by right whales.  (I’ve tasted it and it’s pretty good).

However, the abundant supply of Calanus isn’t created in the Bay.  It’s renewed every year from sources in the Gulf of Maine via the Western Maine Coastal Current, a counterclockwise gyre of water that funnels right whale food into the Bay each season. This chain reaction – current, food, whales - is highly influenced by the direction of the wind. 

In Massachusetts during the spring, the prevailing surface winds are usually out of the northwest, which helps the coastal current surge food into Cape Cod Bay.  However, in some years a southwestern wind will dominate and that dampens the ability of the current to bring abundant Calanus supplies to the right whales’ door.  A southwest wind pushes the current away from the Bay, diminishing the food supply, and thus making it less attractive to right whales. Researchers have found a significant correlation between the coastal current, wind direction, Calanus supplies and the presence of right whales in Cape Cod Bay.

This year was one for the record books, with the most individual right whales sighted in a single day off the Massachusetts coast, 123, and 312 over the course of the whole season.  But will the winds of change blow in 2012, dampening the allure of the Bay?  Or will we continue to see extraordinary numbers of right whales flocking to our waters to gorge on their favorite prey?  Our partners at the Center for Coastal Studies will begin their aerial surveys again in mid-January.  Stay tuned for updates about the 2012 season!  

 

Ringing up the 12 Days of Christmas

Commissioner Scott Soares

Commissioner, Department of Agriculture Resources (DAR)

View Commissioner Soares' Bio

The holiday season is upon us with just 12 days to go before Christmas Day! It’s the perfect time to  to reflect on the classic Twelve Days of Christmas carol. In the spirit of the season, each year we calculate how much it would cost to make those purchases today in Massachusetts. 

Thanks to DAR staff and our friends at the Department of Fish and Game we had some fun estimating the prices of the agricultural and wildlife products and services mentioned in the song. 

Eight maids a-milking? At $8 to $10 an hour, eight maids (or lads) a’ milking would cost around $50. It takes less than half an hour to milk a cow. But of course that doesn't account for the total cost of producing the milk. 

Seven swans a-swimming could cost you in fines up to $375 to $20 to $50 per bird plus an additional $25 for illegal possession of mute swans. Illegal possession of the birds also carries the possible penalty of 30 days in jail. If you hold a grandfathered permit for mute swans, it will cost you $30 for the lot, no new permits are issued.

Six geese a-laying? Goslings cost about $8 a piece, but, if you sought the instant gratification of laying geese, you'd need a mating pair at $40 to $100 each or $240 to $600 for the lot. 

As to five golden rings, this does not actually refer to jewelry but rather golden-ringed pheasants at a cost of $60 for five. Or, you could hunt the birds at a cost of $325 plus $10 for a hunting license. 

Buyer beware on the four calling birds part (a.k.a. Colly birds or blackbirds). There are 65 species of blackbirds and most, like the red-winged blackbird or the common grackle, are protected by both federal and state laws. Any romantic ideas of procuring these birds will carry stiff fines and possible jail time (up to six months). It is illegal to hunt blackbirds in Massachusetts – taking these birds would cost between $50 and $300 in state fines – at $10 to $50 per bird plus an additional fine up to $100, with up to 30 days in jail and a revoked hunting license for three years. 

Door-to-door delivery of three hens from France could cost as much as $2,800 in airfare and paperwork. The cost rises to $4,000 for the additional cost of quarantining the birds for 30 days (a state requirement for livestock imported to Massachusetts) and incidental veterinary fees. Don't forget to check if your intended recipient lives in a community that allows back-yard poultry!

Two turtle doves cost about $40 a piece from a pet store licensed by DAR. A partridge (a.k.a. a ruffed grouse) is a native game bird which can be hunted in Massachusetts only in October and November.

A Massachusetts resident adult hunting license is $27.50 –other costs include shotgun ammunition, shotgun, and a ($100) Massachusetts gun license.Finally, a 9-foot, fruit-bearing pear tree costs about $100 (not including installation)!

Sound too expensive and complicated? May we suggest a Massachusetts Grown & Fresher and MassWildlife holiday buying season guides with lots of affordable, scrumptious and fun ideas. 

Happy holidays!

Weekly outdoor events 12/12

Jessica Macfarlane

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Jessica's Bio

On Wednesday, December 14, Mad Science will be taking over DCR’s Fall River Heritage State Park for Mad Science Presents: Lab Night! Come join the fun – there will be exciting experiments and activities for all ages, including a live stage show.  The fun begins at 5:30 p.m. and admission is free!

On Saturday evening, December 17, drop everything and head to DCR’s Borderland State Park for a Movie at the Mansion.  The ornate, two-story library of the Ames Mansion transforms into a classic movie theater, complete with refreshments and snacks.  Just in time for the holiday season, the feature movie will be “It’s a Wonderful Life” (one of my favorite personal favorites).  Admission is free, however, a small donation is requested for refreshments and snacks.  RSVP is required, so call early to reserve your seats!

Cold weather safety tips

Reginald Zimmerman

Assistant Press Secretary, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Reginald's Bio

Soon, winter jackets and snow boots will begin to reappear and it’s important to remember that your clothing is not the only thing that needs to be adjusted with a change of season.  Here are a few cold weather safety tips to keep you safe, warm, and healthy heading into the New Year.

Whether you’re hiking, kayaking, ice fishing, or bird watching, always tell someone where you are going and what you are doing. Everyone needs a little alone time, but don’t forget to mention the details of your planned excursion  so that your friends and family know when to expect you back or where to look for you in the event of an accident.

As always, be prepared with plenty of water and first aid items to prevent any small incidents from becoming an emergency. Flashlights, maps, and snacks are also good additions to the safety pack. As with any activity outdoors, know what you are and are not capable of before heading out.

If operating recreational vehicles, such as snow mobiles or dirt bikes (Note: DCR trails are closed for the season to dirt bikes and other off-highway vehicles, other than snow mobiles), remember to wear a U.S. Department of Transportation-approved helmet. Also, take caution during bad weather and at night, making sure to stay aware of your speed and surroundings. For ice fishers, check that ponds and rivers are completely frozen before venturing out onto the ice.  Exercise more caution when the temperatures are reaching 32 degrees F.

Be prepared for anything. Don’t let New England’s unpredictable weather patterns leave you cold and wet in the middle of the woods. Get updated weather information before you set off and plan accordingly. Be ready to respond to unexpected weather with extra clothing, gloves, and hats. If planning to be outside for a long period of time, bring extra layers to add as the temperature drops. It’s all about layers: rather than wearing one heavy coat, use thermal underwear and undershirts to layer light-weight, warm clothing, and always wear a waterproof outer layer.

For hunters and hikers and everyone in between, wear bright clothing to maintain visibility past 5 pm. The fall and winter seasons bring a lot of activity into the great outdoors, so always be aware and respectful of others. 

As always, officers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police are prepared for the upcoming cold weather months. They'll be patrolling off-road areas, as well as coastal and inland waters, and doing everything they can to protect the state’s residents and visitors. Enjoy all that Massachusetts has to offer with these cold weather safety tips and always use your best judgment.

Weekly outdoor events 12/5

Jessica Macfarlane

Multimedia intern, Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA)

View Jessica's Bio

On Friday, December 9, come listen to some live holiday tunes at DCR’s Mount Greylock State Reservation from 6:30 to 8 p.m.   A free, fun and interactive holiday performance will be given by Richard Fabozzi, a Berkshire-based entertainer, who features impressions of Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Jimmy Durante, Bing Crosby and others.  This show is entertaining for all ages and generations, and participation is optional.  Refreshments will be available for purchase. 

On Saturday, December 10 from 2 to 3 p.m., join a DCR park ranger for a tour of the Charles River Dam, the facility that protects the neighborhoods of Cambridge and Boston’s Back Bay from flooding by the Charles River. The tour will be meeting at Paul Revere Park, at the flagpoles, just below the Charlestown Bridge and City Square.

On Sunday, December 12, head down to Massasoit State Park at 4 p.m. for the Full Moon Hike.  This full moon is known by many names, such as: Oak Moon, Cold Moon, Frost Moon, Winter Moon and Long Night’s Moon.  This full moon is special, as is the only night of the month in which the moon remains in the sky from sunset to sunrise.  While you enjoy the changes in landscape that night brings, don’t forget to take in the inspiring views of Lake Rico, as the sun sets over the white pine trees. Absorb the peace, tranquility and beauty of the forested trails after sunset.

Bring water and flashlight, wear good hiking shoes, and dress for the weather. Hike is about 3 miles long and appropriate for adults and children 10+. Meet at the main parking lot at 1361 Middleboro Avenue, East Taunton. Rain, snow, or icy trails will cancel. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. Please call (508) 866-2580 x162 to pre-register or for more information.