When we lived in Hinsdale, NH we used to joke that we lived in the dead woods. Our small lot was bordered on three sides with seventy five acres dominated by massive White pine and Eastern hemlock all of which were anchored deep in beach sand. Though we had an open compost pile and an unfenced garden, we rarely saw more than the occasional squirrel, bird, bat or stray dog. It wasn't until our neighbor logged the back line that we began noticing wildlife moving in. I used to casually observe that the difference between VT and NH was the dirt; but in truth, there is an abundance of wildlife in NH, we were only missing an invitation for diversity. That invitation came in the form of a man made disturbance.*
I had secretly been procrastinating about a hike that I had publicly feigned enthusiasm for in late January. That was before I came down with a nasty respiratory infection that lead to a double ear infection and before our Luna was operated on to remove a stage 2 tumor. Sometime between our hike to the Brattleboro Retreat land in Vernon and Luna's diagnosis, I began to contemplate our disjointed treks along Vernon's southern and western boundaries. Deciding that it would be a good bragging point, I set our sights on filling in the lines.
Typically, Wayne and I are much more spontaneous about hitting the trail; but wasn't the temperature too bitter, the trail too icy, and didn't another project require our attention?
I asked Cheryl to see if her pastor would allow us to park in the church lot and cross the property. Once I received permission, I promptly set the idea aside. It wasn't until Luna had healed and I ran into Bob, that I revisited the idea. Bob gave us permission to hike on his land with the advice that we start on the west side and not the east. And so we set the date to get it done. I'm still not completely sure what the hesitation was, only that on the day, Wayne wasn't in any more of a rush than I to head out.
Not long ago a 29 acre lot near the top of Scott Rd was put on the market across from the Class place. I remember thinking what a great spot for an ATV trail; but a subdivision of property began soon after. The first clearing and foundation went in at the lower end of the land. Next, a driveway was cut into the woods at the top where Scott Rd meets Satan's Kingdom Wildlife Management Area in Mass. Then a for sale sign was posted immediately below that driveway for another lot. I recall reading an advertisement claiming that Vernon was one of the few communities left with open land, great proximity, school choice...perfect for building ones dream home. It reminded me of those advertisements urging customers to hurry in before they are all gone. On the day of our hike we noticed that several more clearings had been cut into the woods.
When Wayne and I hike the VT / MA border, we prefer to hike on the WMA side to avoid conflict with land owners.
Bob advised us to find the road and follow it; but he also warned to be careful because you never know what made the trail. He elaborated saying that animals make trails and even if it is a logging road it's easy to get turned around. I think that it's fair to say, that judging by the amount of backtracking Wayne and I do, we are too impatient to follow trails.
We weren't very far in when we came across what looked to be two kill sites. I checked with my resources who confirmed that the feathers belonged to chickens. I followed up with Cheryl who contacted John, the owner of the new home on the border; but he said that they weren't missing any birds. Cheryl mentioned that there had been a lot of coyotes in the area.
At first, the mixed woods appeared to be what we had come to expect when hiking throughout Vernon.
It wasn't long before the woods began hinting that we were in for something special.
Rose Quartz
This tree fascinated me as we seldom come across trees in such an active state of decomposition while still upright.
Piliated Woodpecker is one species that takes advantage of old growth; and in addition to insect infestations, is part of the decomposition process. This woodpecker's work in a White pine near the same stand as the above hardwood trees, is fairly easy to identify due to its rectangular shaped holes.
There is a thought that we have become a place of isolated fractured lands. Our woods are no longer deep and interconnected enough to support diversity and the species and economics that rely on them. Our state is currently seeking public input for preserving forests of 50 acres and greater for this purpose.
It's hard to imagine that our national system of conservation lands and parks have fallen short in this respect. Think about Central Park in NYC for an easier visual. No one would argue that the park isn't a gem and celebrate the forward thinking of carving out a park in the middle of a major city. But think again, Central park lacks wildlife corridors to other natural areas necessary to sustain wildlife diversity. So to speak, this park in its isolation, is a genetic island with little options for wildlife to find a mate outside of it's immediate genetic pool.** Please read further about this issue in the citations at the end of this post.
On these hikes, I often wonder where the wildlife corridors are that connect Roaring Brook and Satan's Kingdom to the Connecticut River. Where is the corridor that bridges the interstate separating Guilford from Vernon (the west)? That moose, the one that left the track that I began this article with, has become a rare site in our region for more reasons than I am discussing here, yet this discussion is an important piece of the puzzle. Successional growth and corridors sustain the diversity that conserves and promotes a healthy wildlife population.
This 2018 map depicts the plan for "Future Land Use Town of Vernon, VT" .
Last year when we had a sick moose make its way down towards the CT River side of Vernon the excitement was electric. I saw more pictures of that moose on social medial than I did of my own family. How did that sole moose make its way to the east side of Vernon? How has seeing a moose in Vernon become such an anomaly? Vernon's moose should serve as a reminder to us all that we should be planning for ways to help improve the vitality of our region's wildlife in the same way that we plan for other growth.
Well folks, I seem to have done it again. Against Bob's advice I have ventured from the trail. Wayne just asked me if I was blogging or campaigning and so with your indulgence, I will tell you how I became like a kid in a candy store in part two of our hike from Scott Road to 142. - Norma Manning
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No Room to Roam, NRDC
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