Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area is first and foremost a nature preserve and an essential refuge for wild species. Many people are unaware of how many different wild animals live there. The wildlife of FLCA is well-documented on the Broad Brook Coalition website (www.broadbrookcoalition.org/) via iNaturalist and videos from webcams (provided by volunteers Steve Harding, Michael Kesten, and Laurie Sanders). Camera “traps,” in particular, have captured amazing daytime and nocturnal footage of animals that are becoming more common at FLCA but are rarely seen — bobcats walking across beaver dams, mother bears with cubs splashing in a stream, otters on their way to their next plunge.
At least 16 mammal species have been seen at FLCA, including porcupines and the occasional moose. Local birders have identified scores of resident and migratory species that make use of diverse and insect-rich habitats, which also host at least eight species of amphibians and seven species of reptiles. FLCA has nearly 10 miles of popular trails that allow people to enjoy the wonders of nature up close. Children, seniors, and everyone in between delight in spotting dragonflies, frogs, turtles, herons, wood ducks, beavers, and pileated woodpeckers, to name but a few, along with enjoyment of the area’s rich flora. Youth and school groups often visit to learn about the local ecology.
FLCA trails are open to the general public year-round and visitors are allowed to bring dogs, but some people refuse to leash their dogs as required by law, even when they are asked to do so. Apparently, these dog owners consider FLCA to be a public park where dogs are welcome to run free, despite ubiquitous signage to the contrary. One dog owner even told us that exposure to off-leash dogs is beneficial for wildlife because they provide a “predator” experience. While smaller and older dogs may seldom stray from their owner’s side, others have the instinct to bark and chase potential prey deep into the woods. Even “friendly” dogs that run and chase each other off trail are a threat to wild animals that live within the preserve.
Off-leash dogs are not allowed in the preserve because their unpredictable and unwanted behavior can be a threat to wildlife, people, and other dogs. Research by wildlife biologists has shown that off-leash dogs harm wildlife directly by chasing, stressing, attacking, and mauling wild species. Off-leash dogs and the scent of their feces and urine also harm wildlife indirectly. When dogs are present, wild species spend more time hiding and less time foraging for food and tending their young, making them more vulnerable to disease and even death. Bobcats, bears, deer, coyotes, and small mammals are less common within several hundred feet of trails where off-leash dogs are present. Where dogs have roamed off trail, bobcats will shift to being more active at night. Some animals are able to habituate to the routine presence of people and leashed pets, but unleashed dogs frequently attack squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and ground-dwelling birds, with cascading effects on other species.
With the arrival of spring, birds that forage and nest on the ground are especially vulnerable to harm from off-leash dogs. Woodcocks that poke their super-long bills into the soil when feeding have started their mating rituals, calling “peent” at dusk. Ovenbirds are perky, ground-nesting warblers that will soon be calling “tea-cher, TEA-cher, TEA-CHER.” Chicks of wild turkey and ruffed grouse will be scuttling through the understory behind their mothers. These birds and other forest inhabitants should be allowed to flourish at FLCA, unmolested by off-leash dogs.
What can you do to help? A stronger common culture of caring for nature and the purpose of FLCA is needed. Already, many people respect and support the city law prohibiting off-leash dogs. In a recent FLCA survey with the open-ended question “What frustrates you about FLCA?”, almost half of the people who answered spontaneously cited off-leash dogs and dog waste. If you see people with off-leash dogs, you can report them to Northampton Animal Control (413-587-1100). If you like to walk your dog at FLCA, you can help change the culture by always keeping your pet on a leash. This simple step will make a huge difference in protecting sensitive wildlife, young children, and other people who come to enjoy this extensive and highly accessible nature preserve.
Allison Snow and Christina White live in Florence.