RI DEM Begins Habitat Management at Beavertail State Park
GoLocalProv News Team
RI DEM Begins Habitat Management at Beavertail State Park
The work consists of brush cutting, mowing, and removing invasive plants at management areas and state lands across Rhode Island now through March.
Biologists from DEM's Division of Fish & Wildlife are directing the work as part of the DEM’s ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance wildlife habitats at upland sites including grasslands, shrublands, and old fields.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHabitat management is conducted every winter by the DEM.
Habitat Management at Beavertail State Park
At Beavertail State Park, a two-acre field in the northern, undeveloped section of the park that has become overgrown with woody, invasive shrubs will be mowed next month.
This area has typically been mowed every other year.
Grassland habitats support American woodcock, Eastern box turtle, Monarch butterfly, and many birds including the Northern harrier, as well as rare plants and invertebrates such as Sandplain gerardia and Tiger-beetles.
A walking path is located around the perimeter of the field.
Habitat Management Statewide
Habitat management activities also are being conducted this winter at several other management areas including Buck Hill, Carolina, and Great Swamp to maintain open upland sites as largely herbaceous fields.
According to the DEM, mechanical treatment by brush mowing is the primary method employed, but single-tree and single-shrub selection using hand tools is employed to limit woody encroachment along field edges.
DEM’s habitat restoration team mows about 200 acres annually.
Equipment used to carry out the restoration work includes skid steer machines with mowing implements, four-wheel drive tractors with side-mounted attachments, and conventional tractor-mounted brush mowers.
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