CT DEEP Fisheries Northern Pike Management

Northern Pike have been a integral sport fish in Bantam Lake for many years.  The success of this introduction effort is largely due to using the local herbaceous inland wetlands on the White Memorial Foundation property as spawning areas for adult fish every spring.  Once the adults have spawned, the adults are captured so they can be returned to the Bantam Lake where they are important predator and game fish. 

Jason and Abby (CT DEEP Fisheries Division) deploy a gill net to capture adult Northern Pike. 

Several of White Memorial's herbaceous inland wetlands are used for spawning areas for
Northern Pike that are released into other lakes throughout the state.  

Abby removed the fish from the gill net and
Jason waits with a net to quickly transport the fish to a holding tank. 

Northern Pike in net and about to be released into Bantam Lake.  

Once the juvenile fish grow and develop into a size class referred to as fingerlings, they will try to swim into Bantam Lake.  A weir has been installed at a culvert under the road to capture the fingerlings so that they can be measured and released into other lakes in CT.

This gate traps fingerlings that try to disperse from the spawning area.  

Waterfowl Nest Box Monitoring Continues

James Fischer, WMCC Research Director, checks the waterfowl nest box
at Beaver Pond to monitor the waterfowl breeding season productivity.
Notice the mink tracks that travel in front of the nest box from left to right.
Photo by Abby Conroy

We continue to take advantage of the short window of adequate ice covering the water under our waterfowl nest boxes on the property.  We want to thank our volunteers who are supporting us with this effort during the brief window of opportunity.  Abby Conroy, Marie Kennedy, Nick Miofsky (CT DEEP EnCon Police Officer), and Susan Spencer have made special efforts this winter season.  Marcus Johansson helped us with several boxes that can be approached via land in the autumn.

Amphibian Cover-board Monthly Check -- November 2011

Redback Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Winter is here or at least the amphibian's behavior suggests it has arrived.  We encountered only 7 Redback Salamanders during Friday's visit to the grid.  Faye Curran and Abby Conroy helped with today's check and we were all thrilled to see the few salamanders that we observed.  The temperature was about 35 degrees Fahrenheit with a clear sky and only a slight breeze.  All of the salamanders were observed under cover-board stations under deciduous tree cover.  I think this is due in large part to the lack of leaves in the trees to shade the ground which exposes the ground to more solar radiation.  The cover-boards under the conifer canopy were very shaded and would have been cooler.  Thanks to Faye and Abby for a solid day's work, especially since we observed so few salamanders and it was rather chilly.  This will likely be our last check for the 2011 calendar year.  Check back to see when we return to the grid.

Introducing Our Graduate Student Intern -- Abby Conroy

Abby Conroy, MS Graduate Candidate at Green Mountain College checking amphibian cover-boards.

Abby is pursuing a Master of Science degree in Environmental Science while concentrating on Conservation Biology from Green Mountain College.  Abby grew up in Bantam, CT right down the road from White Memorial.  She was raised hiking the trails and rowing across Bantam Lake while attending Taft School.  Abby graduated Allegheny College with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies.  Currently, she is examining potential thesis topics that she can explore in the Shepaug/Bantam River Watersheds.  Abby has traveled to Costa Rica to perform research, as well as working with CT DEEP Fisheries Division as a seasonal technician. We are looking forward to learning from Abby during her intellectual development at Green Mountain College.