Download Section 5 WILDLIFE AND SIGNIFICANT WILDLIFE

Town of Hebron, NH
Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
5 WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITAT
The State of New Hampshire supports a rich diversity of plants and animals. Most are common
throughout the state but some are restricted to certain unique habitats, are at or near the edge of
their species distribution range, or may be threatened due to loss of habitat or other stressors.
The Town of Hebron hosts the general wildlife species found in the region and although it is not
recognized for any unique wildlife features, it does have important habitat features including
back marshes, riparian areas, old fields, and ridges important to wildlife in the Bear Mountain
area (Bordeaux, 2010). Perhaps the town is better known for its water bodies. Newfound Lake
is one of the deepest and largest lakes in New Hampshire and Spectacle Pond, a designated trout
pond, is considered “a relative gem for the area” (Viar, 2010). Stewardship of these resources
will ensure enjoyment of this rich and varied landscape for future generations. This section
discusses local wildlife resources in Hebron.
For a complete list of all wildlife species occurring throughout New Hampshire, see the New
Hampshire Fish and Game Department website at:
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nongame/species_list.htm.
5.1 SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION CONCERN
The NHWAP used the following criteria to identify New Hampshire species in greatest need of
conservation (See NHWAP for more details) (NHFG, 2005):
•
•
•
•
Distribution and abundance of species in New Hampshire and the Northeast;
The status and risk to the species or species’ habitat in New Hampshire;
Species vulnerability due to life-history traits;
Statewide, regional, or global population trends.
Table 5-1 lists species considered to be of conservation concern in the NHWAP that are known
to currently exist in Hebron, have had a historic presence, or are potentially existing (i.e. having
favorable habitat within the town). More information on the status of the following species can
be found in the NHWAP.
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Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
Table 5-1 Species of Greatest Conservation Concern in Hebron, NH
Common Name
Conservation
Scientific Name
Status*
Reptiles and Amphibians
Wood Turtle
Glyptemys
SC, RC
insculpta
Fish
Slimy Sculpin
Not listed
Cottus cognatus
Burbot
Lota lota
Not listed.
Native Lake Trout
Salvelinus
namaycush
Not listed.
Lake Whitefish
Coregonus
clupeaformis
Not listed
Freshwater
Rainbow Smelt
Osmerus mordax
Not listed
Round Whitefish
Prosopium
cylindraceum
RC
Birds
American Bittern
Botaurus
lentiginosus
Common
Moorhen
Gallinula
chloropus
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus
podiceps
RC
Not listed but
regionally
declining.
T, RC
Common Loon
Gavia immer
T
Whip-poor-will
Caprimulgus
vociferous
SC, RC
Presence, if known
Known: The carapace of the Wood Turtle is highly sculptured and keeled. In
fact, its scientific name means “sculptured turtle.” Wood turtles utilize a
mosaic of habitats for foraging all summer. They can live into their 80’s.
Known: Slimy sculpins are a water quality indicator of coldwater streams
Known: Burbot are one of a few self-sustaining native species targeted by
anglers in New Hampshire; due to the small size of individuals encountered
in lotic environments, the majority of harvest occurs in large lakes such as
Newfound Lake.
Known: A 2009 survey by NHFG has shown that all three subwatersheds in
the Newfound Lake watershed have intact populations of wild brook trout.
See section 5.3.1 for more information.
Historic: The lake whitefish is considered vulnerable in New Hampshire and
is believed to be limited to six water bodies in the state. Though Newfound
Lake once held whitefish via historic stocking programs, it is not presumed to
have a population now. The NHWAP calls for sampling of the lake,
however, to verify presence or absence of the fish.
Known: Though the NHWAP list Rainbow smelt populations as declining, it
is in reference to the anadromous population (spends portions of its life cycle
in both fresh and salt water). According to NHFG Fisheries Biologist, John
Viar, the freshwater only populations are currently flourishing in Newfound
Lake, as well as many of New Hampshire’s large lakes based on annual and
semi-annual surveys.
Known: The round whitefish is considered vulnerable because it is believed
to be limited to three waterbodies, including Newfound Lake. While a study
was done on the Newfound population in 1961/1962, further studies in New
Hampshire are warranted to develop a better knowledge of the population’s
health and status.
Known: Although bitterns are widespread across the state, there is anecdotal
evidence suggesting population decline. While unreported, a bittern was
sighted in Hebron Marsh in 2009.
Potential: Populations in New Hampshire are in decline possibly due to
habitat loss or degradation and increases predation. Common moorhens
frequent cattail marshes; they prefer robust, emergent, tall grass-like
vegetation interspersed with pools and channels containing leafy plants.
Potential: Pied-billed grebes have been reported in Hebron Marsh twice since
1980, the most recent report occurring in 1992. Nesting activity was not
reported.
Known: The common loon has been observed by Hebron residents in Hebron
Bay, Sanborn Bay, by Mayhew Island in Newfound Lake and in Spectacle
Pond. Because nesting and rearing activities generally occur close to the
water’s edge, shoreline development has increased pressure on these birds.
Despite an increase in nesting pairs, reproductive success had decreased from
2000-2005. However, The State of New Hampshire’s Birds report, indicates
increasing populations.
Potential: There are no recent records of whip-poor-wills in Hebron, although
they have occurred as near as Rumney, Ashland, and Canaan within the last
10 years. Hebron may have irregular inhabitants or migrants (Hunt, 2012).
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Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Not listed
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
T
Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus
leucophalus
T
Eastern Towhee
Pipilo
erythrophthalamus
Not listed
Purple Finch
Caprodacus
purpureus
Not Listed
Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus
Not Listed
Cooper’s Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Not Listed
Known: Great blue herons are the most common of New Hampshire’s herons
but are sensitive to habitat loss and disturbance, thus, populations provide an
indication of water quality and wetland health. Heron rookeries provide
habitat for great horned owls and are associated with potential nesting
location of the state threatened osprey. There is one heron rookery in Hebron,
north of the George’s Brook wetland complex.
Known: Peregrine Falcon populations are increasing in the state. In Hebron,
they have been observed on the Bear Mountain cliffs above Panorama Drive;
nesting activity has not been confirmed.
Known: Populations in New Hampshire are increasing. Bald eagles have
become more regular year-round visitors to Hebron and it is suspected that a
breeding pair inhabits Newfound Lake but a nest has not been located as of
2010.
Known: Although not rare enough to be listed, towhee populations are in
decline and absent from areas of seemingly suitable habitat. The mechanisms
behind the population decline is not well understood.
Known: Suspected causes of the population decline of the purple finch
include the loss of breeding spruce fir habitat from 1970 to 1983 due to
Eastern budworm outbreak and competition with the introduced European
house finch.
Known: Ruffed grouse populations are in decline but the species is a focus of
habitat work by local and regional organizations. Ruffed grouse are early
successional forest specialists and are more prevalent in large, unfragmented
forest blocks.
Known: Populations are recovering since the ban of DDT. While habitat loss
and fragmentation remain as threats, recent evidence indicates that Cooper’s
hawks may be more tolerant of human disturbance than previously thought.
Mammals
Known: Recent observations and incidental captures between 1990 and 2004
indicate that a large portion of the state is still occupied by bobcats and a
state-wide population study is currently under way by the University of New
Bobcat
Hampshire in cooperation with NHFG. In recent decades, bobcat populations
SC
Lynx rufus
in New Hampshire have declined due to the maturation of early-successional
forests that dominated New Hampshire during the first half of the twentieth
century. Tracks have been observed on Plymouth and Bear mountains by the
local tracking group, Newfound Trackers.
*Conservation Status: E = NH endangered (List revised 2001), T = NH threatened (List revised 2001), SC = NH
species of special concern (List revised 2000), RC = Regional conservation concern, FE = Federally endangered
(current October 2008), FT = Federally threatened (current October 2008).
Note: Species locations have not been completed for all species due to incomplete data; other locations have not
been released due to species sensitivity. Additional species not reported here may potentially exist in Hebron.
Source: NHFG, 2005 and Hunt, 2009 unless otherwise noted. Information supplemented to include local
knowledge of existing species.
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5.2 RARE, THREATENED AND
NATURAL COMMUNITIES
Rare wildlife in New Hampshire is under the
jurisdiction of the Nongame & Endangered
Wildlife Program in NHFG. A complete list
of rare species in the State can be found at:
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Wildlife/Nong
ame/endangered_list.htm. Rare plants fall
under the jurisdiction of the New Hampshire
Natural Heritage Bureau (NHB), which
maintains a complete list of both rare plants
and animals (in conjunction with NHFG). The
statewide list of rare species and natural
communities, by town, can be found on the
NHB website at:
http://www.nhdfl.org/about-forests-andlands/bureaus/natural-heritage-bureau/.
ENDANGERED
SPECIES
AND
THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
(ESA), first enacted by the United States
Congress in 1973, was put in place to
protect species that were threatened or
endangered on a national level. The
State of New Hampshire followed with
the Endangered Species Conservation
Act (RSA 212-A) in 1979 to provide the
necessary protections to maintain and
enhance those species found to be
threatened or endangered in the State.
In 1987, the New Hampshire state
legislature passed the Native Plant
Protection Act (RSA 217-A) recognizing
the need to protect rare plants as well.
Defined by both the New Hampshire
Endangered Species Conservation Act
and the New Hampshire Native Plant
Protection Act, "endangered" species are
those in danger of being extirpated from
the state while "threatened" species face
the possibility of becoming endangered.
NHB also tracks exemplary natural community
and system occurrences. Natural communities
are different types of forests, wetlands,
grasslands, etc. Natural community systems
occur where sets of natural communities cooccur in the landscape and are linked by a
common set of driving forces, such as
landforms, flooding, or soils. To qualify as exemplary, a natural community or system must be
of a rare type or be a very old occurrence of a common community in good condition.
Table 5-2 lists species and natural communities which NHB has documented records for in
Hebron. This list is not complete! Note that it does not include some threatened or endangered
species listed as “known” in Table 5-1. Many of these occurrences are from local knowledge of
wildlife in Hebron and have not been officially reported to NHB or NHFG. To report the
occurrence of a species of concern, one can visit the NH Wildlife Sightings website (see below).
For more information on rare, threatened or endangered species and natural communities, contact
the NHB at 603-271-2214 or the NHFG Nongame & Endangered Wildlife Program at 603-2712462.
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Table 5-2 Rare, Threatened and Endangered Species and Natural Communities Reported
in Hebron, NH
Number of
Number of
Scientific
Federal
State
occurrences
occurrences
Common Name
Name
Listing Listing
reported in
reported in
Hebron
State of NH
Natural Communities
Rich mesic forest
---1
50
Plants
Ginseng
Panax
-T
1
76
quinquefolius
Narrow leaved
Diplazium
E
1
6
Spleenwort
pycnocarpon
Birds
Common Loon
Gavia immer
-T
1
270
Falco
peregrines
Peregrine Falcon
M
T
1
11
anatum
Reptiles
Glyptemys
Wood Turtle
-SC
2
138
insculpta
State/Federal Listings: E=Endangered T=Threatened SC=Special Concern (Watch List) M=Monitored
Note: This table lists only those communities or species reported and does not imply a complete list. See text for
information on how to report occurrences.
Source: New Hampshire Natural Heritage Bureau, January 2011.
THE NH WILDLIFE SIGHTINGS website is a
tool created by NHFG in cooperation with the
University of New Hampshire Cooperative
Extension to gather more information on the
distribution of select wildlife species across
New Hampshire, a goal of the Wildlife Action
Plan. Data will be used for conservation
planning and implementation by NHFG and
partners. Verified reports will be used to
assess the distribution of wildlife species in
New Hampshire and evaluate changes in
distribution over time. Periodically, town level
distribution maps for wildlife species will be
generated and made available for public
viewing. Verified records of rare species will be
added to the Natural Heritage Bureau
database. Go to:
http://nhwildlifesightings.unh.edu/
for more information and to report your wildlife
sightings.
A comprehensive plant or animal survey has not
been done in Hebron. While a town-wide
inventory may not be a financially feasible
option, inventories of town-owned conservation
lands would provide a useful management tool
and may provide insight of the potential for
certain species to exist town-wide.
Such
inventories would be especially useful to ensure
that any rare plants, animals, or exemplary
natural communities are protected from
recreational activities or other damage. Such an
inventory is currently being undertaken in the
Hebron Town Forest, expected to be completed
in 2011. The HCC contracted a bio-inventory to
be conducted to identify plant and animal species
in general but particularly exemplary natural
communities, rare, threatened or endangered
species, and superb or distinctive wildlife
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habitat. The HCC will use the information from the bio-inventory to make recommendations for
areas deserving special protection and will also reference the inventory when reviewing
management prescriptions and recommendations in the Hebron Town Forest Management Plan.
Loons
Given the size and presence of habitat on Newfound Lake, it may seem erroneous to have a
single occurrence in town (Table 5-2). However, loon nesting activity on the lake, as reported by
the Loon Preservation Committee (LPC) has been inconsistent; only in the last two years have
volunteers monitoring the lake reported consistent pair activity. LPC has recently increased its
focus on Newfound Lake; habitat conditions, especially around Hebron Marsh, are expected to
support more birds. One potential reason for low numbers is high human activity. Loons
generally avoid developed shorelines and high boat traffic although LPC is beginning to see a
trend of birds adjusting to busy human activity. Still, a negative correlation exists between
development within 150 feet of the shoreline and nesting activity and productivity. Exact
reasons are not clear but expected causes include increased predation from predators such as fox
and raccoon that are attracted to human activity, physical conflicts with boats (which will
sometimes run birds over) and increased pressure when feeding. (Cooley 2011)
There has been one pair of loons consistently nesting on Spectacle Pond but has been
inconsistent with nest success and productivity. LPC has provided the birds with a floating raft
to assist with nesting success but the nest is frequently left stranded in fluctuating water levels
due to the leaky dike. This lake has the potential to become reliable in thanks to the Spectacle
Pond Associations successful effort to repair the dams and control the water level.
5.3 FISHERIES
Rainbow and lake trout are pursued by anglers year-round in Newfound Lake. Landlocked
salmon and smallmouth bass are popular targets in summer while yellow perch is prized in
winter (Webb, Sundquist, and Stock, 2009). Table 5-3 lists fish species occurring in Newfound
Lake. Five species, burbot, lake trout, rainbow smelt, round whitefish, and slimy sculpin, are
listed as species of concern in the NHWAP. A sixth species of concern, the Eastern brook trout,
can be found in the Cockermouth River, Wise Brook, and other tributaries in town. Table 5-4
lists fish species found in 2009 during data collection for an ongoing brook trout study. The
details of this study and the condition of brook trout in Hebron are discussed below.
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Table 5-3 Fish Species Occurring in Newfound Lake
(Highlighted species are species of concern in the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan)
Common Name
brown bullhead
burbot (a.k.a. cusk)
chain pickerel
common shiner
common white sucker
fallfish
golden shiner
lake trout
landlocked salmon (stocked annually)
margined madtom
pumpkinseed
rainbow smelt
rainbow trout (stocked annually)
redbreast sunfish
round whitefish
slimy sculpin
smallmouth bass
yellow perch
Scientific Name
Ameiurus nebulosus
Lota lota
Esox niger
Luxilus cornutus
Catostomus commersoni
Semotilus corporalis
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Salvelinus namaycush
Salmo salar
Noturus insignis
Lepomis Gibbosus
Osmerus mordax
Oncorhynchus mykiss
Lepomis auritus
Prosopium cylindraceum
Cottus cognatus
Micropterus dolomieu
Perca flavescens
Source: Viar, 2009
Table 5-4 Fish Species Occurring in Streams of Hebron
(Highlighted species are species of concern in the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan)
Common Name
Scientific Name
Location
blacknose dace
Rhinichthys atratulus
brown bullhead
burbot
Ameiurus nebulosus
Lota lota
common shiner
Luxilus cornutus
common white sucker
Eastern brook trout
Catostomus commersoni
Salvelinus fontinalis
Eastern brook trout
(hatchery stocked)
fallfish
landlocked salmon
margined madtom
slimy sculpin
Salvelinus fontinalis
Cockermouth River; George’s
Brook; Tannery Brook
George’s Brook
Cockermouth River; Tannery
Brook
Cockermouth River; George’s
Brook
George’s Brook
Cockermouth River; Wise Brook
Whittemore Brook; Tannery
Brook
Cockermouth River; Tannery
Brook
Cockermouth River
Cockermouth River
George’s Brook
Cockermouth River; Tannery
Brook
Semotilus corporalis
Salmo salar
Noturus insignis
Cottus cognatus
Source: NHFG unpublished data. See Appendix B.
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Other species such as brook trout, rock bass, and several minnow species may also potentially be
found in Newfound Lake. These species are not lake species however, and if occurring, are
likely visitors from lake tributaries (Viar, 2009). The large abundance of juvenile landlocked
salmon in the Cockermouth River are believed to be the offspring of landlocked salmon that are
routinely stocked into Newfound Lake (Webb, Sundquist, and Stock, 2009).
Round whitefish is believed to occur in New Hampshire only in Newfound Lake, Lake
Winnipesaukee and upper portions of the Connecticut River (NHFG, 2005). Round whitefish
and lake trout populations are particularly susceptible to the current lake level management plan
for Newfound Lake. Both species are self-sustaining and the fall drawdown of the lake exposes
fertilized eggs deposited in the rocky shallows. Exposure to air or premature freezing of the lake
because of reduced depths can lead to direct mortality of the eggs. (Webb, Sundquist, and Stock,
2009)
Burbot are also a self-sustaining native species. Lake populations of burbot are restricted to a
small number of water bodies but, because lake populations tend to produce larger fish, fishing
pressure is greater. Rainbow smelt populations are important forage bases for several fish and
bird species. Slimy sculpin is a species of concern because it is one of three New Hampshire fish
species that serve as host to the federally and state endangered dwarf wedgemussel (NHFG,
2005). Dwarf wedgemussel populations in New Hampshire, however, occur only in the
Connecticut and Ashuelot Rivers; the value of the slimy sculpin in Newfound Lake is as an
indicator of the biological integrity of coldwater streams (NHFG, 2005).
Limited data exists for mussel species in Newfound Lake. Two species, the Eastern elliptio
(Elliptio complanata) and the Eastern floater (Pyganodon cataracta) were confirmed in 1995,
the only NHFG survey record. Other common species are possible but no rare species are
expected to inhabit the lake. (Marchand, 2011)
Spectacle Pond is a designated trout pond, with brook and rainbow trout stocked annually. A
Designated Trout Pond is one managed specifically for trout fishing with a closed season (no ice
fishing allowed) and other restrictions may apply. Other known species in Spectacle Pond
include rainbow smelt, common shiner, and brown bullhead (Viar, 2009).
In general, fish species are vulnerable to predation by, and competition with, introduced fish
species, decline in water quality, degradation of spawning habitat, barriers to stream continuity,
and poorly timed lake level fluctuations. The decline of water quality is the most studied threat
to Hebron’s fisheries. This topic is well addressed in Every Acre Counts: The Newfound
Watershed Master Plan and is discussed in Section 2.2.1.1 of this document. Newfound Lake
has an active lake steward program that has circumvented invasive plant species from
establishing populations in the lake. It is nevertheless important to remember, should invasive
plants find a foothold, there is no conclusive evidence that invasive aquatic plant species threaten
fish (Magee, 2008). There has been some evidence, however, that herbicides used to control
submersed aquatic vegetation, such as variable milfoil, are more harmful to fish than the plant
itself (Nugent, 2008). New Hampshire’s current climate has seemingly prevented aggressive
invasive animal species from taking hold. Climate change, however, may enable species such as
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Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
the snakehead to establish future populations in New Hampshire if vigilance to prohibit
introductions lapses (Magee, 2008).
Eastern Brook Trout
The only native stream dwelling trout
in New Hampshire, Eastern brook
trout
populations
have
been
supplemented with fish raised in
hatcheries for over 100 years (NHFG,
2005). Spectacle Pond, Cockermouth
River, and Newfound Lake are
Domestic “Rome” strain of the Eastern brook trout,
stocked annually with hatchery-raised
raised and stocked througho ut the state by NHFG.
fish.
During a recent survey,
however, wild brook trout were found more often than hatchery fish and were the most dominant
species found in the Cockermouth River (Appendix B and Webb, Sundquist, and Stock, 2009).
The brook trout is a coldwater species, requiring
no of
higher
than 66obrook
F (19otrout,
C) in
Domestictemperatures
“Rome” strain
the Eastern
summer. They seek the shelter of pools created
by
boulders
and
woody
debris
and
spawn
over
raised and stocked throughout the state by NHFG.
gravel substrate in spring-fed headwater tributaries and along lakeshores with upwelling
groundwater. Protecting habitat for these species includes headwater stream protection and
maintaining forested buffers. Headwater, or first order streams, occur higher up in the watershed
and are typically cooler than larger order streams. According to Matt Carpenter, the NHFG Fish
Conservation Program Leader, first order stream protection is “key” to protecting brook trout.
Overhanging trees in a forested buffer provide shade, keeping water temperatures lower, and
leaves and wood dropped into the water is the base of the food web in aquatic ecosystems. See
Section 2.2.2 for more information on riparian zones and the protection of lower order streams.
Impervious surfaces have a significant impact on brook trout. At 5-6% within a given
watershed, impervious surfaces begin to impact stream channel geometry, habitat, macro
invertebrates, and fish species. At 10% impervious, geomorphic responses are visually obvious
(i.e. increased erosion of stream bed and banks) and brook trout are severely jeopardized
(Magee, 2008). Stream connectivity is equally important. Where roads cross streams, culvert
design often impedes the passage of fish (and other aquatic organisms), preventing them from
reaching spawning habitat, forage, or even isolating populations.
Stocking of hatchery farmed fish have raised controversy regarding the survival of pure native
strains of brook trout in New Hampshire. Genetic studies in other regions of the state have
proved inconclusive but NHFG regards any potential interbreeding as negligible. Stocked trout,
which are considerably larger in size than wild populations, do not appear to survive in
significant populations over the winter. One hypothesis is that New Hampshire’s climate may
not support enough food to support the larger body size of farm-grown fish (Nugent and
Carpenter, 2010). Of 321 brook trout caught during a 2009 survey, only three were hatchery
bred (Appendix B).
The Eastern Brook Trout Joint Venture (EBTJV)—a partnership and joint effort among public
and private organizations created to improve and protect brook trout habitat in the Eastern United
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States—has mapped the presence of wild brook trout in watersheds throughout the Northeast
based on statistical analysis of factors such as land use, percent and type of forest cover, and road
density. Watersheds are categorized as either “predicted presence” or “predicted intact.”
Already three years into field data collection, New Hampshire has been chosen as a pilot state to
refine the EBTJV models. Field work in the Newfound watershed conducted during the summer
of 2009 by NHFG (Appendix B) has verified the model’s forecast that Hebron’s watersheds are
“predicted intact.” The presence of wild brook trout populations is based on the assumption that
trout lengths less than 90 mm are wild fish bred outside a hatchery (Nugent, 2008). The data
collected in the watershed was presented in Every Acre Counts: The Newfound Watershed
Master Plan. The following is an excerpt from the Native Brook Trout Study addendum to that
report:
The surveys show that all three watersheds within the Newfound Lake drainage have
intact populations of wild brook trout. Not only do these watersheds offer aquatic
habitat suitable for wild brook trout, the overall magnitude of brook trout abundance is
suspected to be unique for central New Hampshire and perhaps at the state level.
Currently, wild brook trout are not necessarily rare in central New Hampshire, but the
projected status of wild brook trout in this drainage is exceptionally good. Adjacent
watersheds have suitable habitat for wild brook trout but not to the extent shown by the
surveys in the Newfound Lake drainage.
The opportunity to protect intact populations of wild brook trout is uncommon, even in
New Hampshire. Land conservation and guidance on land use practices are essential to
protecting brook trout habitat. Wild brook trout populations and humans can coexist, but
concerted efforts must be made to limit impacts to their habitat. Land and water use
guidance should be given for streams of all sizes within a watershed as smaller streams
are often used for spawning and nursery areas. Presumably minor human impacts to
these streams can be additive throughout the watershed and create problems that are not
readily apparent until further downstream. Land use practices do not necessarily have to
be limited or halted in these areas; they may just have to occur in ways that minimize
their impacts on brook trout and their habitats. The cost to restore a population of any
species is always higher than the cost to protect them. Restoration actions require a
great deal of effort and may not always guarantee self-sustaining populations would
return.
Additionally, NHFG Fisheries Biologist, Benjamin Nugent (personal communication, 2010)
responded to an inquiry pertaining to Hebron data with the following:
The intactness of wild brook trout populations in Hebron should really be emphasized.
The people living in this area have an opportunity to protect the species rather than
restore them. I would focus on three main threats to these populations. 1) Maintain
riparian buffers to all streams, even very small 1st order streams (at a minimum of
100ft...the more the better). If a town can adopt this protective ordinance several other
threats will be alleviated. 2) Maintain stream connectivity...perched crossings limit brook
trout movement and dispersal. Improperly sized culverts can also increase flow rates (this
can increase erosion). Crossings can alter a stream's physical characteristics making the
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stream more appealing to more opportunistic species (i.e. fallfish). 3) Avoid road
maintenance practices that increase sedimentation (making dirt road drainage ditches that
flow directly into streams).
5.4 OTHER LOCAL WILDLIFE KNOWLEDGE
Local knowledge is among the most valuable to possess when planning for wildlife and wildlife
habitat. While the scope of this report could not assemble all of the valuable knowledge that
Hebron residents can offer, a few sources of information are included here.
Birds
Appendix C offers a partial list of bird species observed in Hebron by residents. Of the listed
species, twenty-two are in a general population decline, eighteen are increasing in population,
eleven are stable, and ten are uncertain or unknown. Of the twenty-two species in decline, all but
one—the ruffed grouse—are songbirds (Hunt, 2009). Ruffed grouse are a conservation target for
organized groups (the Ruffed Grouse Society) as well as state agencies such as NHFG because
of their importance to sportsmen. Few species of songbirds enjoy such attention though many
benefit from the conservation efforts of other target species.
Beaver
In
2010,
Kleinschmidt
Associates
completed an assessment of four beaver
dams on Georges Brook to determine
potential infrastructure and personal
property damage downstream if the dams
breached.
The study found that no
significant damage would occur in event of
dam failure. Instead, the study noted, the
Georges Brook wetland complex and
associated beaver habitat act as an
important flood storage area and provide
exemplary wildlife habitat. Beaver ponds
create habitat for many species of reptiles
and amphibians such as painted turtles, An active beaver pond in Hebron provides
snapping turtles, red-spotted newts and
important flood storage capacity and
green frogs as well as waterfowl species exemplary wildlife habitat.
such as wood ducks, black ducks and
Canada geese. Otter and mink are attracted by fish and other organisms while muskrat and
moose benefit from aquatic plant resources. Dead trees standing in the pond provide nesting
platforms for great blue heron such as the rookery in Hebron. Standing vegetation and shrubs
provide additional habitat for migratory birds. Bats and swallows may forage for insects over
open water.
Newfound Trackers and Other Wildlife Watchers
Hosted by NLRA, the Newfound Trackers are a group of local volunteers who meet to track
wildlife around the Newfound Watershed and study the behavior and habitat uses of specific
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species. An arm of Susan Morse’s Keeping Track program, the Newfound Trackers are
establishing several transects around the watershed to explore habitats in more detail and over
long periods of time, to monitor resident species movement and document mammals "just
passing through." Focal species include bear, bobcat, moose, mink, fisher and otter. Data
collected in the field by Newfound Trackers will help local landowners, community
organizations, cities, and towns identify and protect critical wildlife travel corridors and habitat.
Another group of volunteers have taken part in the New Hampshire Dragonfly Survey. The
Survey started in 2007 as a partnership of NH Audubon, NHFG, and UNH Cooperative
Extension to gain a better understanding of the distribution of dragonfly species in New
Hampshire. Volunteers in Hebron were trained in the fourth of the five year program and have,
so far, reported many species common to the state. The 2011 season is the last year of the
survey.
5.5 WILDLIFE HABITAT
Wildlife habitat is the environment that provides the food, water, cover, and space required to
meet the biological and life cycle needs of an animal. Although some species have adapted well
to urban environments, wildlife habitat is typically considered to be natural areas. Some species
may live out an entire life cycle within one habitat type while others require a variety of habitats
to meet seasonal or life cycle needs. Generally, areas with substantial habitat diversity will
support more wildlife species than areas with less habitat diversity.
Table 5-3 lists the acreage of each habitat type within Hebron and how much acreage of each
type is under conservation. Brief summaries of the status of each habitat in Hebron are discussed
below. See Appendix B of the NHWAP for detailed descriptions of these habitats, their
management status, threat assessment, and conservation actions within the state. Note that
matrix forest types do not necessarily reflect on-the-ground conditions but rather define the
potential of the location to support that habitat type based on land form, elevation, and soils. The
model used to define matrix forest types delineates a seamless heterogeneous mix of habitat
which may include but not depict small clearings, forested wetlands, cliffs, or other smaller
habitat types. On-the-ground conditions are dependent on natural disturbances and management
practices.
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Table 5-3—Total Acreage, Acreage in Conservation, and Percentage in Conservation of
Habitat Types in Hebron Predicted by the New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan
Percentage (%) of
Acres in
Total Habitat in
Habitat Type
Acres
Conservation
Conservation
Matrix Forests
Hemlock-Hardwood-Pine
8,647
661
8
Lowland Spruce-Fir
1,577
174
11
Northern Hardwood-Conifer
816
109
13
Other Habitat Types
Grassland
602
54
9
Rocky Ridge/Talus Slope
250
79
32
Marsh and Shrub Wetlands
129
15
12
Cliff
46
0
0
Peatlands
10
0
0
Source: New Hampshire Wildlife Action Plan Wildlife Habitat Maps and Data, 2010
Matrix Forests
Hemlock-hardwood-pine, lowland spruce-fir, and Northern hardwood-conifer are the most
numerous habitat types in the Town of Hebron (Table
5-3). They are also the most numerous habitat types
in the State. Combined, they total 11,040 acres, or
96% of the total land cover in Hebron and are well
represented with just over 95% of the total land
conserved in Hebron encompassing these habitat
types.
Hemlock-hardwood-pine forests are considered to be
“transitional forests” occurring in latitude and
elevation, between hardwood conifer forests o the
north and Appalachian oak pine forests to the south.
The main forest community that defines these systems
is hemlock-beech-oak-pine forest.
Hemlockhardwood-pine forest supports 140 vertebrate species
in the state, including 15 amphibians, 13 reptiles, 73
birds, and 39 mammals including wood turtles, bald
eagles, and black bear. A full range of age classes
well distributed across the landscape is important to
support the diversity of wildlife species that depend
on this forest type.
Evidence of pileated woodpecker
foraging activity in a hemlockhardwood-pine forest.
Lowland spruce-fir forests range from well or
moderately well drained upland forests to poorly or
very poorly drained swamps. This forest type supports
101 vertebrate species in the state, including 9 amphibians, 2 reptiles, 53 birds, and 37 mammals
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including mink frogs, Cooper’s hawks, and moose. Of the bird species, 15 are essentially
restricted to or heavily dependent on spruce-fir forest, and 7 require mature age classes such as
the rusty blackbird and the three-toed woodpecker.
Northern hardwood forests are positioned between the high elevation spruce-fir forests to the
north and hemlock-hardwood-pine forest to the south. New Hampshire’s northern hardwood
forests are characterized by beech, sugar maple, and yellow birch. This forest type supports 137
vertebrate species in the state, including 42 mammals, 73 birds, 8 reptiles, and 14 amphibians
such as the purple finch, ruffed grouse and bobcat.
Grasslands
Human disturbance helped create and maintain grassland habitat, primarily through agriculture.
By the early 1800’s, grasslands were widespread throughout New Hampshire, allowing grassland
species to expand their range. Today, much of that farmland has reverted back to forest or been
lost to development. Grassland habitat has been identified as critical habitat in New Hampshire,
supporting wildlife species such as meadow voles, white-tailed deer, red fox, turkey, and
butterflies (e.g., swallowtails, monarchs, fritillaries, among others). Grassland bird species are of
primary concern due to loss of habitat in the Northeast. Potential species using grassland habitat
in Hebron include bobolink, savannah sparrow, and possibly even meadowlarks, bluebirds,
killdeer, and kestrels. The most considerable grassland habitat in Hebron is primarily active
agricultural fields and pasture and logically occur in correlation with prime agricultural soils.
The HCC is actively pursuing conservation efforts of the fields along Braley Road; working with
landowners to place easements on
remaining agricultural fields and
pastures would both protect habitat for
grassland wildlife species and protect
and maintain the prime agricultural
soils for local agriculture.
Although discussions of grasslands
tend to focus on habitats of 25 acres or
more, grassy areas in the form of
small wildlife openings, especially
adjacent to other early successional
habitats, are equally important.
Hebron has many openings less than
forty acres scattered throughout town.
Grassland habitat along Braley Road.
An opening as small as half an acre
nestled in the right habitat will provide a singing ground for the American woodcock. Wildlife
openings could be created or maintained through habitat management practices on conserved
lands where geology and soils are appropriate. Diversity of habitat attracts a greater diversity of
species.
Rocky Ridge/ Talus Slope
Rocky ridge/talus slope occurs along Bear Mountain, the Mount Crosby/Bald Knob ridgeline
extending south into Hebron, south of Spectacle Pond, and the slopes of Tenney Mountain. This
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habitat type is relatively rare in New Hampshire and provides important denning habitat for
species such as bobcat, porcupine, and black bear. South facing slopes are especially important
in winter for solar gain; the southern exposure provides sunning sites and reduced snow depth
which help winter-active animals to conserve energy.
Marsh and Shrub Wetlands
The NHWAP predicts marsh and shrub wetlands based on NWI maps. Stone (The Hebron
Wetland Evaluation Project, 1997) mapped wetlands based on NWI and hydric soils data, field
checked, and classified them according to standard classification methods. Hence, the NHWAP
map in this case, should not be referenced. See section 2.2.3 for discussion of wetlands in
Hebron. The wetlands that scored highest in the evaluation for wetland wildlife are the George’s
Brook wetland complex (wetland 2) and the Cockermouth River outflow (wetland 6), probably
due to their size. Small wetlands however, can be equally important, providing food, cover, and
travel corridors to a variety of species.
Cliffs
Cliffs are steep rocky outcrops greater than 65° in slope and 10 feet in height. They provide
primary nesting sites for the state endangered American peregrine falcon and golden eagle.
Other species that use cliffs include the common raven, rock vole, the state endangered eastern
small-footed bat, and the bobcat (NHFG, 2005). The WAP has identified 316 cliffs making up
5,808 acres in New Hampshire. Of those, only 104 cliffs making up 1,283 acres lie outside the
White Mountain National Forest. There are 18 cliffs greater than 45 acres in size statewide.
Bear Mountain in Hebron is one of only three of these 45+ acre cliffs that lie outside the White
Mountain National Forest boundaries. The Bear Mountain cliffs may be especially important
because the habitat integrity of the ledges a few miles away in Alexandria is likely compromised
due to the proximity of West Shore Road. The popularity of cliffs and cliff tops as recreational
Cliff and rocky ridge/talus slope habitat on Bear Mountain.
destinations for climbing and hiking is a common threat to species sensitive to human presence.
Cliffs are also a target for wind energy development. Cliffs in Hebron, including those on Bear
Mountain, should be a focus for conservation in Hebron to maintain roosting and nesting habitat
for raptors and other cliff dwelling wildlife.
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Peatlands
Peatlands in Hebron are likely temperate peat swamps dominated by red maple, red spruce,
eastern hemlock, and other hardwoods. Location data on peatlands are a predicted map layer
based on the NHWAP habitat land cover model. Four of the five predicted to occur in Hebron
have been confirmed and included in the Prime Wetlands (wetlands 2, 7, 15, and 17) but none
fall within conserved land boundaries.
Early Successional Habitats
Early successional habitats include grasslands, such as those mentioned but it also refers to
shrublands dominated by dogwood, viburnum, rose, blueberry and other shrub species. Other
early successional habit may refer to young forest of sapling/pole sized trees of birch, aspen,
beech, maple and other hardwoods. In short, early successional habitat refers to several stages of
vegetative growth prior to mature forest.
Early successional habitats are among the most diverse; characterized by high productivity, they
provide habitat for many wildlife species: fifty-six of the sixty mammal species commonly found
in the Northeastern United States use early successional habitat for all or a part of their life stage
(NRCS, 2007); several species of birds, many of which are in population decline, are grassland
or shrubland habitat specialist. The diversity of vegetation provides for an equally diverse and
abundant list of insects, including many butterflies and moths. This habitat type reached its peak
in New Hampshire during the laet 1800s and early 1900s, when farmland was largely abandoned
for more fertile land in the western United States. Since then, as old field habitat has matured
into forest, several species, most notably songbirds but also species such as the black racer or
New England cottontail, have declined and now inhabit only a fraction of their former range.
Maintaining a portion of the landscape in early successional habitat will help maintain the full
spectrum of potential wildlife in a given area. This can be achieved through a variety of
management techniques that may include maintaining an area in a continuous state, such as
mowing grassland annually or semi-annually or managing on a rotational basis to ensure a
portion of the forested landscape always has a variety of age classes.
Deer Wintering Areas
In 1988 NHFG mapped nine small deeryards in Hebron ranging in size from 10 to 64 acres.
Only one yard is partially protected as part of the J. Tyson Stokes Memorial Forest.
More
recent data on existing deer yards is unavailable. However, NHFG has developed a model to
map potential deer yards based on forest cover type, impact (road proximity and housing
density), elevation, and other attributes. The potential deer yard model has not been field
checked but the NHFG deer biologist expects monies in the next few years will allow biologists
to update current maps.
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Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
While moose wintering areas have likely suffered some habitat loss, they are not as easily
differentiated from the overall habitat as are deer yards. Moose may yard in areas that are devoid
of softwood, and yards used one year may not be used again the next year. Vegetation preferred
by moose develop phenolic compounds, a
chemical defense against predation that makes the
plant unpalatable and results in moose moving to
new habitat. And finally, not all moose yard.
Yarding is dependent on maternal behavior, snow
conditions and browse availability. (Rines, 2010)
Vernal Pools
Vernal pools provide a unique habitat that some
species depend on for their entire life cycle. Other
wetland dependant species use groups of pools as
stepping stones as they travel over the landscape.
Vernal pools also provide watering holes or
feeding grounds for birds, snakes, turtles and some
mammals. See Section 2.2.4 for more detailed
discussion of vernal pools.
Riparian Corridors
Most wetland dependant wildlife species including
reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals depend
upon upland area for a part of their life cycle or
general habitat needs. Wetland wildlife may A vernal pool in the Hebron Town
require upland habitat for nesting, feeding, Forest provides habitat for some
movement to breeding ponds or new habitat, species that rely exclusively on this
hibernation, or other needs. One study found that habitat type.
52% of these species will utilize upland areas that
extend beyond 200 feet of the wetland edge. Spotted salamanders, for example, will travel up to
2,700 feet to over-winter! A mink may travel up to 600 feet and buffers of 656 feet are
recommended for nesting Osprey. (Boyd, 2001) Compare these to the 50 foot protective buffer
required by the CSPA for great ponds and fourth order streams and by the Hebron zoning
ordinance for designated streams and wetlands. See Section 2.2.2, for more discussion of
riparian zone habitat.
5.5.1 HIGHEST RANKED WILDLIFE HABITAT (NHWAP)
The NHWAP analyzed the condition of wildlife habitats by ranking the biological, landscape and
human impact factors affecting each habitat type. Biological factors include rare plant and
animal species and overall biodiversity. Landscape factors include size and proximity of habitat
to other patches of the same type of habitat. Human impact factors include road density,
developed areas, presence of dams, recreation impact, and potential pollution sources.
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Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
The highest ranked habitat in New Hampshire represents the top 10-15% of wildlife habitat in
the state. These are the habitats where the biological and landscape ranks are highest, and the
human impacts are lowest. Highest ranked habitat in the ecoregion are areas of highest ranking
condition as compared to all areas of the same habitat within an ecoregion. An ecoregion is
defined by common climatic, geological, land use, and vegetation characteristics. New
Hampshire consists of twelve ecoregions. The Sunapee Uplands, for example, is characterized
by a humid climate; low mountains, sandy loam till-outwash, and sand-gravel bedrock; forestry,
agriculture, and recreation; and sugar maple-birch-beech forest and other forest types. Hebron is
included in the Sunapee Uplands (Figure 5-1). The NHWAP also mapped supporting
landscapes. Supporting landscapes are areas that are important to the integrity of the highest
ranking habitats because of their interactions with those habitats. Loss of the supporting
landscape could detrimentally impact the quality of the high ranking habitats.
Of the roughly 989.5 acres currently conserved in Hebron, the NHWAP identified 38% as
highest ranking or supporting landscapes (Table 5-4). If the town were to focus on conservation
areas based on the NHWAP data alone, the areas from Hebron Marsh south to Bear Mountain
and north and west along the Cockermouth River and Wise Brook corridors would be of top
priority. Other focus areas would include the landscape around the Gemmill Forest and the west
slope of Tenney Mountain toward the George Brook wetland complex. See the Highest Ranked
Wildlife Habitat by Ecological Condition map for an illustration of these locations.
Figure 5-1: Ecoregions of New Hampshire
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Table 5-4—Total Acreage, Acreage in Conservation, and Percentage in Conservation of
High-Ranked Habitat in Hebron
Percentage (%) of
Acres in
Rank
Acres
Total Habitat in
Conservation
Conservation
Highest Ranked Habitat in NH
6,031
615
10
Highest Ranked Habitat in Ecoregion
288
68
24
Supporting Landscapes
3,305
124
4
Source: NHFG, 2010
5.5.2 NATURAL SERVICES NETWORK
In partnership with numerous state and non-governmental organizations, the Audubon Society of
New Hampshire and the Jordan Institute created the New Hampshire Natural Services Network
(NSN) as a tool to help communities identify lands that provide important ecological services
that are difficult and/or expensive to replicate. The NSN was developed to help towns and land
trusts understand their natural assets on a regional scale. It is intended to foster collaboration
across political boundaries to protect essential ecological services.
The NSN is made up of four components: water supply lands, productive soils, flood storage
lands, and high ranking wildlife habitat. Water supply lands are composed of favorable gravel
well areas and aquifers. Flood storage lands include floodplains and wetlands. Productive soils
(Section 3.1) bring together prime agricultural soils and soils of statewide importance. Important
wildlife habitat is the highest condition wildlife habitat in New Hampshire and the highest
ranked habitat in the ecoregion as identified in the original NHWAP Data release in 2007.
Natural service network lands cover almost half of the Town of Hebron (Table 5-5). Important
wildlife habitat covers the most acreage of the four categories.
Table 5-5—Natural Services Network in Hebron
Natural Services
Acres
Network (NSN) Type
Water Supply Lands
551
Flood Storage Lands
1,833
Productive Soils
273
Important Wildlife Habitat
5,767
Total NSN
5,996
Percentage (%) of
Total Town Acreage
4
14
2
45
46.5
Note: Lands may include more than one category and services may overlap. Thus, total acreage and total
percentage of NSN in Hebron is not the sum of each component.
It is important to remember that, in addition to the NHWAP data having been updated since the
NSN was first released, new soils data and floodplain data have been produced in some parts of
the state and NH DES’s favorable gravel well analysis is based on groundwater hazard inventory
data that are continually changing. However, the NSN may still provide a quick overview of
where Hebron’s important ecological services are.
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5.6 CONNECTIVITY
There are two general categories of connectivity: aquatic and landscape (Forman et al. 2003).
Aquatic connectivity may be broken down into upstream-downstream connections; connections
between wetlands or floodplains with streams; and connections between forests and streams.
Streams require continuity to support the movement of aquatic organisms. Many species require
different habitats for feeding, breeding, and shelter, and access to new habitats is required for the
natural dispersal of individuals. Disruption of stream continuity can result in the loss and
degradation of habitat, block wildlife movement, and disrupt the ecological processes that occur
in streams over time (Jackson, 2003). For example, woody debris that would have naturally been
distributed throughout the stream corridor, providing nutrients and habitat for plants and animals
downstream may be blocked by a barrier such as a dam, bridge, or culvert.
Hebron’s upstream-downstream connections, as is the case virtually nationwide, have fallen
victim to the impacts of road and stream intersections. Hebron has twenty four miles of streams
and twenty-seven stream crossings! As part of the implementation phase of Every Acre Counts,
the NLRA performed a watershed-scale reconnaissance of culverts and stream crossings of
public roads to assess and rank impairments to hydraulic function and habitat, and to provide
local road agents and decision makers with a useful tool to prioritize mitigation and capital
improvement project planning. Eleven sites were assessed in Hebron, which had the highest
(poorest) average value for both hydraulic and habitat functionality among the 71 culverts
assessed within the Newfound Watershed. See the Newfound Watershed Preliminary Culvert
Assessment report for greater detail. Recommendations from the report include the following:
• When replacing culverts apply best practices for both hydraulic and habitat functionality,
considering both short- and long-term benefit.
• Additional analysis of habitat functionality should be considered, with additional
monitoring and analysis of crossings known and suspected to be prone to failure.
• Due to the cost of replacing crossings, Town and State agencies should develop Capital
Improvement Plans that prioritize and fund the critical infrastructure improvements.
Hebron should complete the culvert assessment on the remaining 16 culverts that were not
included in the preliminary assessment. These culverts were not included in the initial
assessment because they scored lower (better) in hydraulic functionality. Many of them,
however, still have moderate to high scores in habitat functionality which should be considered
when prioritizing culvert repair or improvement projects. An important resource not suggested
in the culvert report which should be (and in some cases, must be by law) referenced for any
culvert project is the NH Stream Crossings Guidelines, released in 2008. Other potential funding
sources for culvert repairs and replacements include federal and state emergency management or
mitigation funds.
“Landscape connectivity is the degree to which the landscape facilitates animal movement and
other ecological flows” (Forman et al. 2003). Connectivity allows animals to move between
habitats for foraging, establishing new populations or territories, and for seasonal migration.
Animals move freely about the forest but may also move along a linear path—oftentimes
following a prominent landscape feature such as a ridgeline or riparian zone—with the sole
objective being to get from one habitat to another. These trails are commonly called wildlife
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Wildlife and Wildlife Habitat
travel corridors and their effectiveness depends upon the length and width of the corridor as well
as the habitat (food and cover) in the corridor itself. It’s important to recognize that a long, thin
swath of forest passing through a landscape of houses and roads will probably not be effective in
moving some wildlife species.
In June, 2009, NHFG in cooperation with the Audubon Society of New Hampshire completed a
statewide wildlife connectivity model for New Hampshire. A least cost analysis, applied through
GIS, creates an index of resistance to wildlife mobility where the least amount of resistance has
the lowest cost. In other words, the model estimates the most likely route an individual animal
of a given species may travel to get from one location to another, thus identifying areas of
permeability between habitats. Landscape factors included in the model include land use/land
cover, distance to roads by road class, distance to a riparian area, slope, and traffic volume. A
2010 update to the model incorporated ridgelines.
Sixteen focal species were chosen, each with varying degrees of sensitivity to the landscape
factors, to serve as umbrella species to model wildlife travel corridors. Focal species include
Blanding’s turtle, spotted turtle, wood turtle, eastern hognose snake, black racer, mink, otter,
long-tailed weasel, bobcat, fisher, American marten, snowshoe hare, New England cottontail,
Canada lynx, porcupine, and black bear. These species are habitat generalists, habitat specialists,
area sensitive, or barrier sensitive.
As an example, Figure 5-2 represents the corridor analysis for all sixteen species. The least cost
analysis identifies the most likely routes wildlife may travel between the Cockermouth Forest in
Groton, The Green Acres Woodlands in Plymouth, and Cardigan Mountain in Alexandria (noted
in dark green). Note that Newfound Lake acts as a barrier and that corridors with the greatest
potential are north of the lake where there is little development. This data may aid in
determining conservation focus areas but would require more detailed analysis. Some of the
focal species included in this example, such as black racer, hognose snake, and New England
cottontail, will not be found in Hebron. Eliminating certain focal species or running analyses for
individual species could be a useful tool.
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