Julia Leonard
Special to the Express
The Halifax Beautification Committee organized a New Year’s Day hike at The Burrage Wildlife Management Area, a unique and ecologically diverse environment.
Winter offers a very different perspective of the land. Along the Snake River, several trees had signs of girdling, the chewing a beaver makes around a tree. Beavers are a keystone species due to their ability to shape freshwater habitats. Their dams filter water downstream and create pools and wetlands that become homes to many other species. Signs of beavers in the area are also a great indicator of a healthy and diverse aquatic ecosystem.
An ootheca was seen attached to a young cherry tree. Oothecae are the egg sacks of the praying mantis (this one is a Chinese Mantis). Laid in the Fall as a soft mass, which then hardens, these semi-solid capsules will keep the eggs safe throughout the winter. When the temperatures rise in the Spring and Summer, up to 100 young invertebrates will emerge. The Chinese Mantis is an invasive species, and although sold as pest control for gardens, it also preys on many pollinators and important native arthropods.
A few stump puffball mushrooms were also observed. This fungus grows from the stumps and roots of dead trees. White and solid when young, they dry and turn a dull brown when ready to release their spores. Small animal encounters, raindrops, and the feet of hikers all help to disperse spores. Fun fact: they belong to the genus Lycoperdon, which, in Latin, means “wolf fart’.
The Burrage Wildlife area can be accessed at 382 Pleasant Street in Hanson, 482 Elm Street in Hanson, and across from 140 Elm Street in Halifax. It is open from dawn to dusk and offers over 10 miles of trails and encompasses over 2,000 acres of land.
Winter can be the perfect time to enjoy the diverse woodlands of Halifax, Hanson, and Plympton. As naturalist Alfred Wainwright said, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”