Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
>> this wildlife area is the
Second largest in the state,
10,800 acres, and since it is
Such a large area in a big
Contiguous block it encompasses
A lot of types.
There is a good diversity of the
Northern hardwood forests and
Sort of the spruce fir type of
Forest habitat.
>> steve mill brook wildlife
Management area is in the
Southwestern corner of the
Northeast kingdom.
Most of the wma is in the towns
Of waldon, and weelock in
Caledonia county with part of
The track spilling over into the
Adjoining town of danville.
>> at one time there was six
Lumber mills there, and it was
Sort of a thriving area.
Some evidence of those sights
Still remain.
And just in the form of
Foundation and old mill sites.
>> the small communities that
Developed around the mills have
Disappeared.
Almost all of it remains from
The old homesteads are a handful
Of openings in the forest.
These small fields now actively
Hayed thanks to lease agreements
With local farmers.
Delayed mowing practices are
Used so grassland birds can
Complete their nesting cycles.
>> the agricultural field in
This heavily forested landscape
Are a unique feature.
They provide openings for
Raptors to feed on mice and
Voles and allow fox to feed
There, and many predators will
Feed on the small mammals but
They provide forage in the form
Of clover and various grasses,
And so, it's a unique opening
Where you have, you know,
Thousands of acres of forest
Land and just, you know, 30 or
40 acres of grassland, almost
Everything sort of is drawn to
Those areas.
>> a lot of old wild apple trees
Are also found on steam mill
Brook.
Thanks to active management,
Many of these old apples have
Been freed from competing trees.
And they are now bearing plenty
Of fruit.
>> what we're looking at right
Here is one of my favorite
Habitat management techniques.
This is where we have grirdled
This tree which causes it to
Die, and as it does so, it
Allows more sunlight to filter
Through its branches, which
Allows there apple tree next to
It to live, and apples need
Spotlight, and they become
Sladed out and they die.
So, we are favoring, obviously,
The food provided by the apple
Trees for wildlife over this
Spraws tree.
But, this techniques works great
Because as the tree dies, it
Just sort of slowly
Disintegrates and provides a
Perch and for various species of
Wildlife at the same time, and
That it's decaying.
>> now this area will be
Attracted to black bear, and
Deer and wild turkey and rough
Grouse and porcupines, which
Love apples.
So, we have turned it from an
Unproductive area to a much more
Productive area from a wildlife
Standpoint.
>> other foods like
Chokecherries and raspberries
Attract all sorts of wildlife.
The wma provides an assortment
Of hunting opportunities,
Including deer, turkey, and
Upland birds.
Because of its large size and
Relative lack of roads, snowshoe
Heron and black bear hunting are
Popular among houndsmen.
Steam mill brook offers trout
Fishing and there are many other
Opportunities to enjoy wildlife
And community with nature on the
Wma.
To encourage multiple day use,
The area includes a small but
Easily accessible camp site.
>> this brook area is one of the
Wmas where camping is allowed
In hunting season, and if look
At our map on the fish and
Wildlife it shows where the
Designated area is, and it
Provides a unique experience as
Long as their unit is
Self-contained, they can use
That as a base camp for deer
Hunting or upland or bear
Hunting and that thing, and
There is only limited number of
Designated areas large enough to
Provide that.
>> among the tremendous
Diversity of wetlands and
Uplands, there is something for
Everyone.
Whether enjoy hunting, berry
Picking or wildlife viewing, if
You like to get off the beating
Path, the steam mill brook
Wildlife management area is a
Great place to visit.