Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Connecticut’s Young Forest Habitat Initiative

Young forests and shrublands provide habitat for many wildlife species. In the past, natural disturbances such as fire, flooding, beaver activity, and storms created and maintained these habitats. They also were created and maintained through human disturbances like farming, burning, and timber harvesting.

Meadow and shrubland habitat.Today, Connecticut has become very developed. Human activity has halted opportunities for natural disturbance. Fire and flooding are controlled; agriculture is declining; and clearcut timber harvesting has decreased in size and frequency.

Most of Connecticut's young forest and shrubland habitats are within wildlife management areas (WMAs) owned by the State of Connecticut or private organizations, and forests where timber harvests have been conducted. WMAs are areas of land or water having unique or outstanding wildlife qualities which are managed primarily for the conservation and enhancement of fish and wildlife and provide opportunities for fish and wildlife-based recreation.

As the amount of young forest and shrubland habitat has declined in Connecticut, so have the wildlife species dependent on it. Connecticut's Wildlife Action Plan has identified over 50 wildlife species of Greatest Conservation Need (GCN) as being associated with young forests and in need of active management. 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. Learn more about the different ways we are working to study and restore young forest wildlife:

Wildlife Habitat Management on Private LandShrubland habitat
Habitat management on private lands is critical to advance the restoration of young forest wildlife. Find out more about technical and financial assistance available to non-industrial private forestland owners interested in implementing habitat management projects to create young forest habitat for wildlife.

New England Cottontail Restoration
Since 2009, state, federal, and non-governmental organizations have been working together to conserve Connecticut’s only native rabbit, the New England cottontail. Conservation efforts include a captive breeding program, research and monitoring, landowner outreach, and creating habitat on state and private lands.

Shrubland Bird Monitoring
Many species of shrubland-dependent songbirds are declining in Connecticut. DEEP staff and volunteers have conducted surveys on state lands with shrubland habitat to monitor songbird populations.

American Woodcock Habitat Use and Survival
The DEEP currently creates and maintains young forest habitat for woodcock. Wildlife Division biologists are studying woodcock habitat use and survival rates in different habitat conditions to better understand the needs of this declining species.

More Information

Young forest habitat

Managing Grasslands, Shrublands, and Young Forest Habitats for Wildlife: A Guide for the Northeast

Managing Forests for Trees and Birds in Connecticut ( A publication by Audubon Connecticut)

Benefits of Clearcuts Brochure

New England Cottontail (part of the Young Forest and Shrubland website)

American Woodcock (part of the Young Forest and Shrubland website)

Project Newsletters (Young Forest Initiative and New England Cottontail Project)

Content last updated in February 2024.