Wildlife Habitat

Conservation Collaboratives’ forest in Victory is a wildlife mecca and part of the upland ecosystem of the biodiversity-rich “Victory Bog.”  The forestland is surrounded on three sides by  the 20,000 acre Victory State Forest and Wildlife Management Area; and is nearly contiguous with over 130,000 acres of conserved land spanning to the east and north. The property is a core of a larger wildlife corridor, provides habitat for a variety of species including the Lynx, Spotted Salamander, Snowshoe Hare, Black Bear, and Moose.

the spring and dry up by early summer, are critical breeding grounds for frogs and salamanders. This vernal pool has been registered on the Vernal Pool Mapping Project.

An extremely large vernal pool – approximately 50 fee

t long and 30 feet wide – sits on the property.   Vernal pools, which fill with the snow melt in

 Large vernal pool

Through the National Resource Conservation Service’s Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, we have created 20 acres of early successional habitat in the forest.  Species such as the American woodcock, Ruffed grouse, and New England Cottontail require this habitat for many of their annual life needs.  Songbirds such as the golden-winged warbler nest only in this type of habitat. However, according to the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, early successional habitat has drastically declined in recent years.

In addition, we have released from competition over 60 apple trees in this area to provide additional food for bear and other mammals.

We have also cleared out streams that were once “brushed in” during earlier logging operations.  These efforts not only improve the forest’s hydrology, but also enable aquatic species to travel freely and support the larger ecosystem.

For landowners interested in supporting wildlife (and that should be everyone), please take a look at Vermont Coverts:  Woodlands for Wildlife.