By Dyanna Smith and Laura Dehler
The York Independent
November 20, 2007

Welcome to The Nature of York!

By Laura Dehler, Center for Wildlife and Dyanna Smith, York Land Trust

November 16, 2007

YORK - Each season, the York Land Trust and the Center for Wildlife will bring you a new feature to describe what is going on in the natural world around us.

The Center for Wildlife has a unique window into the wildlife species of our area and what is affecting them as they take in and treat local and migrating wildlife. The York Land Trust's dedication to conserving land protects valuable natural resources including wildlife habitat. Both groups, and many others, will be featured in upcoming articles to shed light on the important conservation issues of our region.

York is filled with an incredible diversity of wildlife, habitat and natural resources. So consider this our special invitation to explore the "wilds" of our community! Follow the tracks across the page to discover the ways you can connect with the Nature of York.

Features - The Nature of York

November 16, 2007

Signs of river otters like this one, photographed during the winter months in Vermont, have been found along the York River.
Photo by Sally Beckwith

YORK - Everyone knows that this is the time of year when plants, animals and people start doing what they do to get ready for winter.

All around us, animals are following family traditions, and doing what their ancestors have done successfully for hundreds or thousands of years! Let's look at some of the local species living here in York, and their strategies for the onset of winter: should they stay or should they go?

Is it the cold, or the dark?

Migration, hibernation and other winter adaptations that may seem to be triggered by winter's colder temperatures are also nature's response to the declining amount of daylight.

IF YOU STAY: HOW TO HIBERNATE
Near death experience: Hibernation is an amazing adaptation that allows animals to conserve energy when their food sources become scarce. It is a near-dead state of greatly slowed metabolism, very slow breathing and heart rate, and extremely low body temperature - near freezing!

Swim to the bottom: Frogs, turtles and many fish move to the bottom of lakes and ponds to hide under rocks, logs or fallen leaves, or bury themselves in the mud and become dormant.

Add layers: Hibernators store large amounts of fat to carry them over until food is obtainable.

Multitask: some mammals, like river otters, hibernate while gestating young which are born shortly after the mother comes out of hibernation.

Don't wake early! If hibernating animals are disturbed and awakened prematurely they may suffer severely or die during a food shortage.

IF YOU GO: MIGRATION BASICS
Why fly? Reasons to go South: what you eat goes South.

How far? Most migrant species travel south in the winter - some just for short distances and others for thousands of miles. Arctic terns migrate from the North Pole nesting grounds in summer to the Antarctic for winter!

Dig deep: Insects like the earthworm, termite and Japanese beetle travel down into the ground in winter. (Is this hibernation?)

Follow your food: Some bats, caribou, elk, whales and many fish migrate to follow the migration of their food sources.

OTHER OPTIONS
Denning: Bears and skunks don't hibernate - they den. They sleep in dens with only slightly lowered body temperatures and wake easily.

Pile up: Raccoons can den together in large communal "piles" - as many as 23 raccoons in a single den!

Change color: Weasels and snowshoe hares have fur that turns white and actually gets thicker, because they remain quite active in the winter. The white fur helps them blend in with the snow and trick their predators.

Change the menu: Many animals vary their diet from fruit and insects in summer to moss, twigs, bark, leaves, and fat-rich acorns in fall and winter, since that is what's readily available

Stockpile: We commonly see squirrels and mice gathering extra food for winter storage - but so do beavers!

Plump up: When storms are very harsh, chickadees and goldfinches (and other small birds) add on the layers by storing up more body fat reserves while feeding, and fluffing up their body feathers to trap warm air like a blanket.

NORTH AMERICAN RIVER OTTER
We do not see many river otter at CFW. The river otter does not hibernate and can tolerate a range of temperatures as long as it has a steady food supply and easy access to a body of water - either fresh or coastal marine. Otters den all year round. This year, the York Land Trust celebrated the "Year of the Otter," focusing on the river otter as a species of interest. The presence of river otter reflects the environmental health of a river, since they are very sensitive to toxins both in the water and absorbed by the fish they eat.

We are pleased to report finding signs of otter activity and denning on the banks during spring and fall outings along the York River. Look for otter tracks along the muddy river banks of the York River when the tide is low, to find evidence of these playful creatures.

November 16, 2007

The Virginia opossum does not hibernate, but will often hole up during very cold weather because it runs the risk of getting frostbite on its hairless ears, tail and toes. Pictured here is a mother opossum with her babies at the Center for Wildlife.
 


During the winter, look for porcupine tracks in the snow - they move in a side-to-side swishing pattern and their trail leaves dragging marks through their tracks.
 


Woodchucks are textbook hibernators, gaining 30 percent over their summer weight and entering the den as early as late October.
 


A whippoorwill is seen here while residing at the Center for Wildlife.
 


This wild baby turkey is just one of the countless birds that has been cared for by the Center for Wildlife following injury or illness.
 


A flying squirrel tries to keep warm.
Photo by Kevin Byron


An Eastern Screech Owl is seen here at the CFW.
 
CAPE NEDDICK - While many of our local mammals, turtles and birds either hibernate, den or migrate south for the winter, a good number stick around and are quite active here in southern Maine.

Here's what we tend to see most during the late fall and winter months at our center. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you may see some of these animals, too. And if you think they might be having trouble due to accident, injury, or illness, or if you have any questions about what they may be going through, please call us at the center before you intervene or you assume that everything's O.K.
Keep our phone number handy: 361-1400.

WATERBIRDS
CFW admitted 68 waterbirds of a variety of species over the fall and winter last year, and 24 so far this fall. We see a number of gulls with wing fractures, and fresh and saltwater ducks found on the ground in the woods unable to fly, caught in the ice or in fishing line, trapped, shot or with lead poisoning. We also receive calls about unfamiliar birds found on shore that should normally be way out to sea (pelagic) but have been injured or become sick and found their way onto land. Many of these birds are not flying, have had trouble finding food and are emaciated (very thin).

BIRDS OF PREY
CFW admitted 14 birds of prey over the fall and winter last year and have admitted nine so far this fall. Species include Red-Tailed, Sharp-Shinned, and Cooper's Hawks as well as Barred, Great-horned, Saw-whet and Eastern Screech Owls - which spend winter in our area woods. Many of the birds we see are juveniles going into their first winter. Inexperienced hunters out in search of a dwindling food supply, these birds can often be seen either perched in trees along roadsides or flying over roads. Unfortunately, bent on catching their prey, raptors occasionally fly into paths of cars, suffering head and eye trauma and fractures to their wings. Accidents can be avoided if drivers stay alert - both during the day and at night.

SONGBIRDS
Last year at the center, we admitted 61 songbirds over the fall and winter, including six juveniles and two late fledglings. This October, we admitted 28 songbirds of diverse species. Many of these birds had flown into windows and then were caught by cats as they sat on the ground recovering from the hit.

## What kinds of problems do we see for songbirds and what can you do?
Unfortunately, birds including goldfinches, house finches and purple finches can contract infections from bird feeders. You can help by spacing out feeders to avoid overcrowding; cleaning and disinfecting weekly with an antiseptic (try Soluguard - it's safe for the birds and the environment), discarding any moldy food and keeping rodents out of stored food.

Feeders can also pose a problem if removed abruptly when natural foods have become scarce. If you need to remove your feeder, cut back on the feeding gradually over a period of several weeks to help with the transition. 

If you have cats in your yard, putting birdfeeders out just attracts the birds to an unnatural danger zone and provides a fast-food restaurant for the felines. Being caught by a cat is the third most common injury seen at the Center for Wildlife and can pose mortal injury to birds. Even the more "gentle" cat attacks usually leave little bites behind, and cat saliva is so full of infection that - without antibiotics - the victim is almost certain to die within a few days. Our sweet and lovable domestic friends can and do turn into ruthless killers when out on the prowl. Keeping your cat indoors is the safest solution for your pet as well as for the wildlife around you. Please do your best to keep cats inside or supervise them carefully when they go out. If your cat must go out, try a "Safe Kitty" outdoor cat enclosure.

Window reflections often confuse birds, who may think your window is an extension of the forest from the trees reflected in it. Sometimes they even see their own reflection and think it is an intruder, so they attack it repeatedly! Closing curtains, placing silhouette decals of large birds in the window or hanging brightly colored objects in front of windows can all help prevent or at least cut down on these incidences.

BATS
Last fall and winter CFW admitted nine bats. Some of Maine's bat species, including the Red Bat, Hoary Bat and Silver-haired Bat, head to warmer areas in winter. Big Brown and Little Brown Bats stay locally and hibernate, finding shelter in caves, mines and sometimes in buildings. Bats often hibernate in cracks or crevices in the walls or roof of a building or even in an attic without anyone even being aware they are there. As long as they are not in the living areas of the home, bats can sleep peacefully through the winter without disturbing anyone. 

## What kinds of problems do we see for bats and what can you do?
Occasionally, a warm spell in mid-winter or during the early spring may cause bats to come out of hibernation too soon, and they may find their way into our living quarters. People often think these accidental visitors can safely be released outside, but in winter and early spring, this is a death sentence for the bats.

There is no food for a bat in winter, and without shelter, it will either freeze or starve to death as it tries to stay warm with no energy reserves. It takes a huge amount of energy for a bat to warm its body from near-freezing temperatures back up to normal - 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Many bats only have enough energy reserves to warm up in this way once, so if they are disturbed during hibernation and then have to go back into torpor, they may not be able to wake up again. If you find a bat in your house at any time of the year, please call the Center for Wildlife for advice before you attempt to move it.  If necessary during the coming colder months, a bat whose hibernation has been disturbed can be admitted and cared for until spring when leaves have reappeared, and the insects with them. Remember, a single bat can eat hundreds of disease-carrying mosquitoes per hour - it's nice to think that in return for this service we can let them safely pass the winter months unnoticed in a quiet attic corner.

FLYING SQUIRRELS
Last winter CFW admitted 81 flying squirrels! Like other squirrels, the flying squirrel will seek winter shelter in attics, walls, outbuildings and other places that humans often feel are a bit intrusive. Because of their small size and social nature, flying squirrels nest in groups ranging from four to 50. Flying squirrels are not true hibernators; however, they do slow down and can remain in their nest for several days during severe weather. As winter approaches, they gather their winter food supply and either bury or cache their food in nest cavities.

## What kinds of problems do we see for flying squirrels and what can you do?
People discovering (mostly hearing!) flying squirrels in their attic are often tempted to live trap and relocate these fragile flyers far from where they have decided to make their winter home. A squirrel that is trapped and relocated will be unable to find a nest community or a stash of food, and is almost certain to freeze or starve to death. Flying squirrels have their young as early as February, so the most harmless thing for folks with flyers in their homes to do is to be patient and allow the mother time to raise her young and leave with them when they are old enough. This will probably take until early May. When summer comes and all squirrels are gone, it is important to seal up all gaps to prevent the problem from repeating the following winter!
When they discover flying squirrels in their homes, ideally, we would ask people to call us first before doing anything. We always hope to convince homeowners to allow these little squirrels to nest peacefully in their winter homes. But if the homeowner cannot wait out the winter, we recommend live trapping them and bringing the captured squirrels to the center. It is important to check the trap first thing in the morning so the squirrel does not sit in there for long with no water or food. Although it gets expensive and labor-intensive for the center to keep these trapped squirrels all winter (and we often end up with quite a few!), we certainly prefer they come to us than be killed or relocated.

Feature York Land Trust Property: The Hilton-Winn King’s Grant Conservation Area

November 16, 2007

The Hilton-Winn King's Grant Conservation Area is managed by the York Land Trust.
 
YORK - The York Land Trust currently owns and manages over 770 acres of land in the greater York area, representing a wide variety of landscapes and habitats and providing public access.

One of these properties is the Hilton-Winn King's Grant Conservation Area that combines 185 acres of forest, fields, wetland and 1,000 feet of river frontage on the Ogunquit River. The preserve was given by Ethel Hilton and Pike Industries to be forever preserved as conservation land. It is the site of several farmsteads over 200 years old, and Hilton-Winn Farm's Youth Enrichment Center.
The site of an old mill dam on a tributary of the Ogunquit River provides a perfect place to search for signs of river otter, mink, beaver and other wildlife using the river. The property also provides habitat for snowshoe hare, coyote, grouse and Blanding's turtles, a threatened species in Maine.

The forest, predominantly white pine and red oak, is home to a variety of wildlife including porcupine and flying squirrels. Shagbark hickory trees (at the Northern limit of their range in Maine) and chestnut oak (found only in the Mount Agamenticus region of Maine) can also be found here.

From the center of Ogunquit go west for 3.5 miles on Berwick/North Berwick/Ogunquit roads. The parking lot is just after you cross the Ogunquit River on the right. Trail maps are available at the trailhead.

WEBSITES OF INTEREST
Center For Wildlife: www.yorkcenterforwildlife.org; York Land Trust: www.yorklandtrust.org; Youth Enrichment Center at Hilton-Winn Farm: www.hilton-winnfarm.org; White Pine Programs: www.whitepineprograms.org.

EVENTS OF INTEREST
The Winter Otter Trek: Wildlife Tracking on the Cape Neddick Golf Course Easement with York Land Trust and White Pine Programs on Saturday, Jan. 26. See the YLT website for details.
Monitoring Walks to explore York Land Trust easements on Saturday, Nov. 17; Wednesday, Dec. 5, and Wednesday, Jan. 5. See the YLT website for details.

BOOKS OF INTEREST
"A Birder's Guide to Maine," Elizabeth C. Pierson, Jan Erik Pierson, and Peter D. Vickery, 1996
"Living on the Wind: Across the Hemisphere With Migratory Birds" by Scott Weidensaul, 2000
"Birds of Two Worlds: The Ecology and Evolution of Migration" by Russell Greenberg and Peter P. Marra, 2005
"Winter World: The Ingenuity of Animal Survival" by Bernd Heinrich, 2003
"The Year of the Turtle: A Natural History" by David M. Carroll, 1996
"A Field Guide to Animal Tracks: Peterson Field Guide Series," Olaus J. Murie, 1954

Article Copyright © 2007 York Independent.