Habitat Management at WMAs and State Forests

Habitat Management at Wildlife Management Areas and State Forests

The mission of the DEEP Wildlife Division is to advance the conservation, use, and appreciation of Connecticut’s wildlife resources. The Division’s Habitat Program supports this mission by managing for a diversity of habitats for Connecticut's wildlife species on our system of 109 state-owned wildlife management areas (WMAs), as well as state forests and other state lands. These lands also support wildlife-based recreation, including hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife viewing and the Habitat Program is responsible for managing and maintaining these areas to support those uses. A range of techniques are used to manage wildlife habitat, including forest harvests, mulching and mowing, prescribed burning, invasive plant control, and open marsh water management. The Program is also responsible for developing management plans that identify the natural resource values of WMAs and objectives for maintaining or enhancing those values.

Current Habitat Management Projects

Franklin Swamp WMA
Nathan Hale State Forest

State WMA Management Plans

Completed Habitat Management Projects

Forest Management on State Lands

Related Resources

What is a wildlife management area? WMAs are areas of land and water having unique or outstanding wildlife qualities that are managed primarily for the conservation and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat. Even though these areas provide opportunities for fish and wildlife-based recreation, such as fishing, hunting, trapping and wildlife observation, they are not state parks. Habitat and the wildlife that live at WMAs are the main priorities.
Over 7,500 acres of WMAs have been acquired through the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program, a federal program that collects an excise tax on sporting arms, handguns, ammunition and archery equipment and distributes the money to state wildlife agencies to support wildlife restoration (land acquisition, management and research) and hunter education programs. WMAs range in size from one acre to over 2,200 acres and include a variety of habitats, such as grasslands, old fields, forests, coastal salt marshes, freshwater marshes, and riparian zones.

Current Habitat Management Projects at WMAs and State Forests

Franklin Swamp Wildlife Management Area, North Franklin

Eastern Towhee

The Wildlife Division will implement forest habitat management at Franklin Swamp WMA starting in January 2022. The project will involve the removal of trees over a 24-acre area within the 772-acre WMA. The project site is being managed to create and enhance young forest habitat and conditions for associated young forest-dependent wildlife species. Historically, natural disturbances and agricultural abandonment helped sustain young forest habitat and its associated species. As our forests have matured, habitat for young forest-dependent wildlife has declined. In the absence of natural disturbances, like fires or flooding, natural resource managers use forest management techniques to initiate disturbance and facilitate vegetation changes which will be suitable for wildlife species that rely on young seedling and sapling-stage forest. The Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan identifies over 50-species of Greatest Conservation Need which require this successional stage of habitat. These species include the American woodcock, Eastern towhee (pictured), New England cottontail, prairie warbler, brown thrasher, and field sparrow. The Wildlife Division, in cooperation with other partners, has joined the Young Forest Habitat Initiative to help restore these important habitats.

More Information

Nathan Hale State Forest, Coventry

The Wildlife Division will implement a habitat management project at Nathan Hale State Forest in Coventry in January 2022. This project will involve mowing and mulching vegetation to enhance and maintain early successional habitat (fields and young forest) in a portion of the state forest. Management activities will provide suitable conditions for wildlife, such as American woodcock, Eastern towhee, and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need associated with early successional habitat. Certain native trees and shrubs, such as pitch pine, eastern red cedar, and highbush blueberry, will be retained when feasible. Historically, natural disturbances and agricultural abandonment helped sustain young forest habitat and shrublands. As our forests have matured, habitat for young forest-dependent wildlife has declined. In the absence of natural disturbances, like fires or flooding, natural resource managers use forest management and techniques to initiate disturbance and facilitate vegetation changes which will be suitable for wildlife species that rely on young seedling and sapling-stage forest.

State WMA Management Plans

Franklin Swamp Wildlife Management Area - North Franklin

Completed Habitat Management Projects

Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, Stonington

Culvert at a Barn Island Wildlife Management Area impoundment.

Wetland habitat enhancement and road improvement projects have been competed at Barn Island Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The first phase of the project involved repairing the top of the dam and service road that runs across the marsh, and the replacement of one crushed culvert that restricted tidal flow into one of the wetland impoundments (Impoundment 2). A lack of tidal exchange results in degradation of the salt marsh and a transition in vegetation cover and wildlife use. This enhancement of tidal flow aids in coastal resiliency. The second phase of the project involved the replacement and enhancement of 3 culverts that restricted tidal flow into the wetland impoundments.

Coastal New England and Long Island Sound contain critical habitat for migratory birds. Barn Island WMA is designated as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society and contains the largest tract of saltmarsh adjacent to undeveloped coastal forest in New England. Restoration through re-establishment of tidal flow throughout 142 acres of saltmarsh at Barn Island WMA benefits over 20 Greatest Conservation Need bird species, including green-winged teal, American black duck, gadwall, mallard, clapper rail, saltmarsh sparrow, least bittern, glossy ibis, roseate tern, and least tern. Questions about this project may be directed to the DEEP Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011 or DEEP.Wildlife@ct.gov.

More Information on Barn Island WMA

Suffield WMA Prescribed Fire, Suffield

Prescribed fire was used on portions of the Suffield Wildlife Management Area, in Suffield, over a 1- to 2-day period in spring 2022. The aim of this project is to manage vegetation using prescribed fire within a 117-acre portion of Suffield WMA, a state-owned natural area managed for wildlife conservation and wildlife-based recreation. The overall goal of prescribed fire is to sustain and enhance sandplain grassland habitat, an under-represented natural community that many wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need rely on to survive and reproduce, including grassland nesting birds. Prescribed fire is an effective management tool to maintain and enhance grassland habitat. Following the prescribed burn and the resulting consumption of aboveground grasses and thatch, new vegetation grew soon afterwards and the entire site will be revegetated. Expected long-term changes to vegetation within burned areas is an increase in native warm season grasses and a decrease in woody invasive plants. The project site is divided into 6 burn units (Units A – F), and only a portion of the total area will be treated in a given year to maintain refugia habitat for wildlife. Depending on the post-fire response, portions of the WMA will be burned on a 2- to 10-year frequency to continue sustaining and enhancing grassland habitat conditions. The Wildlife Division accomplishes prescribed fire operations in cooperation with fire professionals and foresters from the DEEP Division of Forestry.

Map of Prescribed Burn Plan

Wyantenock State Forest, Woodville Block, Warren

Cerulean Warbler

A DEEP Forestry Division timber harvest was initiated in February 2022 in the Woodville Block of Wyantenock State Forest in Warren, off Route 341. A 27-acre area is being converted to uneven-aged management through single-tree and small group selection cutting, retaining the best quality trees of all species and sizes. The varied size openings will encourage new regeneration on the forest floor, as well as brushy habitat that includes berry-producing plants. Retained trees and new openings in the forest are intended to benefit the cerulean warbler, a Connecticut Species of Special Concern that is believed to occur in the vicinity.

Forest Management Plan for Wyantenock State Forest - Woodville Block

Kollar Wildlife Management Area, Tolland

The Wildlife Division implemented a habitat management project at Kollar Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Tolland in November 2021 and completed it in early December 2021. This project involved mowing and mulching vegetation to enhance and maintain early successional habitat (fields and young forest) over a 21-acre portion of the 929-acre WMA. Management activities provided suitable conditions for wildlife, such as American woodcock, Eastern towhee, and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need associated with early successional habitat. Certain native trees and shrubs, such as pitch pine, eastern red cedar, and highbush blueberry, were retained when feasible. Historically, natural disturbances and agricultural abandonment helped sustain young forest habitat and shrublands. As our forests have matured, habitat for young forest-dependent wildlife has declined. In the absence of natural disturbances, like fires or flooding, natural resource managers use forest management and techniques to initiate disturbance and facilitate vegetation changes which will be suitable for wildlife species that rely on young seedling and sapling-stage forest.

Zemko Pond Wildlife Management Area, Salem

Image of the sign at Zemko Pond Wildlife Management Area The Wildlife Division implemented forest habitat management activities at Zemko Pond Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Salem, CT starting in August 2020. The habitat management project involved the removal of selected trees over a 28-acre area in the interior of the 464-acre WMA. Roughly 22-acres of the project site is being managed to create and enhance young forest habitat and conditions for associated young forest-dependent wildlife species. Historically, natural disturbances and agricultural abandonment helped sustain young forest habitat and its associated species. As our forests have matured, habitat for young forest-dependent wildlife has declined. In the absence of natural disturbances, like fires or flooding, natural resource managers use forest management techniques to initiate disturbance and facilitate vegetation changes which will be suitable for wildlife species that rely on young seedling and sapling-stage forest. The Connecticut Wildlife Action Plan identifies over 50-species of Greatest Conservation Need which require this successional stage of habitat. These species include the American woodcock, eastern towhee, New England cottontail, prairie warbler, brown thrasher, and field sparrow. The Wildlife Division, in cooperation with other partners, has joined the Young Forest Habitat Initiative to help restore these important habitats.

The remaining 6-acres of project site are being managed to facilitate safety from hazard trees, long-term maintenance, and efficient growth adjacent to the DEEP Access Road, which also serves as a popular walking path.

Map of the Project