Key Wildlife Habitat Features

For our analysis of wildlife habitat contained within plot 10, we divided the site into the three dominant cover types (SSMB, NSMB, and EWP) and proceeded to inventory major habitat features each contained, as seen in the charts below. These habitat features were then compared to the Habitat Suitability Index (HSI) of several species that have the potential of inhabiting plot 10 at some point during the year. As such will show, plot 10 has the potential to serve as optimal habitat for some species and totally inadequate to others based on one or several modeling parameters laid out by each species HSI
.

Southern Sugar Maple/Basswood (SSMB)

Habitat Feature	Class
High exposed perches	Minimal
Low exposed perches	minimal
Percent canopy closure	31-70%
Tree cavities (DBH)	6-12”
Midstory	Deciduous
Shrub layer	Deciduous
Percent ground vegetation	<30%
Vernal pools/wetland vegetation	Very apparent
Dead and Downed material	Very apparent
Overstory inclusion	Deciduous
Water Body	Seep, vernal pool
Proximity to water	>20 m
Miscellaneous features	Soft fruit, slash, hard mast

Eastern White Pine Stand (EWP)

Habitat Feature	Class
High exposed perches	Very apparent
Low exposed perches	Very apparent
Percent canopy closure	31-70%
Tree cavities (DBH)	<6”
Midstory	Deciduous
Shrub layer	Deciduous
Percent ground vegetation	<30
Vernal pools/wetland vegetation	Very apparent
Dead and Downed material	Very apparent
Overstory inclusion	Coniferous
Water Body	Seep, vernal pool
Proximity to water	<15 m
Miscellaneous features	Slash, soft fruit, hollow logs

Northern Sugar Maple/Basswood (NSMB)

Habitat Feature	Class Class
High exposed perches	Minimal
Low exposed perches	minimal
Percent canopy closure	31-70%
Tree cavities (DBH)	6-12”
Midstory	Deciduous
Shrub layer	Deciduous
Percent ground vegetation	<30%
Vernal pools/wetland vegetation	Very apparent
Dead and Downed material	Very apparent
Overstory inclusion	Deciduous
Water Body	Seep, vernal pool
Proximity to water	>20 m
Miscellaneous features	Soft fruit, slash, hard mast

Barred Owl (Strix varia)

Given the species’ preference to older, mixed forest stands with ample perches and snags as indicated by the barred owl’s HSI, it would appear that our plot would serve as ample habitat. However, our site lacked large enough trees with cavities, which the species requires in order for a forest stand to support a viable nesting population. Another issue that may arise with our site and whether or not it would one would likely find barred owl in it is the fact that the species requires a substantial swath of land given its rather large and variable home range requirements, which vary anywhere from 565 to 2,524 ha (Duncan 1995). The area of Niquette Bay State Park is substantially smaller, with a total area of less than 224 ha.

Fisher (Martes pennanti)

According to the HSI for fishers, the habitat characteristics of plot 10 equate to less-than-ideal for the species. Fishers prefer forest stands dominated by coniferous trees, and in the northeast, show an avoidance to stands with less than comprised of >75% deciduous trees. Our site also lacks adequate canopy closure given the species preferences, as well as adequate habitat for the fisher’s primary food source—snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus). Although fishers are known to inhabit Niquette Bay State Park, it is unlikely that individuals utilize plot 10 as core habitat, but rather as corridor habitat as they move between areas better suited to the species preferences.

photo by: Tom Murray

Pileated Woodpecker (dryocopus pileatus)

The critical habitat components for pileated woodpeckers include mature, dense forest stands with high densities of large, decayed snags and fallen trees. According to the HSI for the species, stands containing less than three trees with a DBH of at least 20 inches per 0.4 ha are said to have no suitability for the species. Although plot 10 contains mature, dense forest stands with ample densities of snags and fallen trees, the site lacked enough trees with a DBH >20 inches and therefore would not serve the role as adequate core habitat for pileated woodpeckers. There is however the possibility that individuals would use some of the larger trees as places to forage, however the species would not use the stand for much else.

Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Of all the wildlife species witnessed within plot 10, red-backed salamanders were by far the most frequently viewed. This should be of no surprise, seeing as the species is considered to be the most numerous vertebrate in New England. The species is an upland forest generalist that shows preference to areas with a moist leaf litter and plentiful downed, moss-covered logs. Plot 10 had plenty of both characteristics and provides great habitat for the species, which was apparent with the densities witnessed while exploring the site.

photo by: Kevin Osantowski

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)This species inhabits mixed deciduous/coniferous forest stands and show preference to contiguous forest patches with little disturbance. One of the primary requirements the species has for habitat suitability is the forest stand must have a closed canopy structure. This species spends the majority of its time in the forest canopy, where it forages for insects and constructs its nests in the safety of the enclosed canopy. Given the vast majority of our site does not have a closed canopy, it would not be considered prime scarlet tanager habitat, however it could provide ample habitat for the species should densities of scarlet tanager over-burden the choice habitat structures.

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo sylvestris)

As a species, wild turkeys preferred habitat characteristics include mature deciduous forest stands with plentiful mast-producing trees, close access to fresh water, and sparse understory growth. As for plot 10, all such characteristics are present in both the northern and southern basswood/sugar maple stands. These stands contained large amounts of acorns, a key fall and winter food item for wild turkeys. Given the ample habitat characteristics, as well as turkey scat found in the northern stand, we can say with a degree of certainty that wild turkeys do in fact utilize plot 10 as habitat.

Common Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum)

This nocturnal species shows a strong preference to coniferous stands with some hardwoods (primarily oak) mixed in. Prime porcupine habitat will also have a dense herbaceous layer to browse upon in the spring and summer months, as well as both soft and hard mast such as acorns, seeds, fruits, and nuts for the fall months. Winter habitat must have readily accessible sources of twigs, buds, bark and cambium of coniferous trees. Optimum habitat will also have large downed logs and rock outcrops to serve as denning sites. Although plot 10 lacked rocky outcroppings and a dense herbaceous layer, it does contain ample fall winter forage for the species, providing adequate feeding habitat during fall and winter months for the common porcupine.

White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

This species frequents forest edge habitat, spending most of the day in forest stands and venturing into fields and pastures at low-light periods to feed. One primary requirement of the species during winter months is large stands of coniferous trees, also known as "deer yards", which provide both protection from harsh elements and browse to sustain them through the months other food resources are less readily available. Although plot 10 does contain a coniferous stand, it is not large enough to be classified as a deer yard and as a result is not likely to be utilized much during the winter months. It is apparent though that deer do in fact inhabit the site, given substantial deer trails and fresh scat. Plot 10 likely serves as foraging habitat, given the large supply of hard mast such as acorns on the forest floor, which provide important food resources to white tailed deer in the fall months as they try to put on as much weight as possible before the long winter months.