Mild Winter Leads to Early Wildlife Sightings in Town
In addition to a moose sighting last week, it seems many critters are coming out of the woodwork.
While the photo of the moose spotted in Crooked Spring Reservation last week is making headlines, it's not the only animal making its way out of the woodwork.
Town conservation agent Thaddeus J. Soulé said a moose, while not common, is certainly a normal animal to live in the New England area and can even live as far south as Connecticut.
"What usually keeps them in check is a large deer population, moose and deer tend not to share the same areas too well," he said.
In yesterday's police log, residents reported seeing a dead deer, two opposums, a beaver in the street and a bobcat.
Soule said it might have something to do with the mild winter.
"Last year, there were chipmunks everywhere," said Soule, who said with more oak trees and more acorns, there were more chipmunks. "Wildlife prevalence is determined by natural cycles and avialablity of food and seasonal temperatures."
Because last winter was warm and mild, Soule said, species could be emerging earlier. He also said many animals who may not normally survive the winter have survived this one.
"A lot of animals don't make it because there's not enough food but with a mild winter, more species are coming out and they're more competitive for the same space, so they'll push human boundaries," said Soule. " ... I wouldn't be surprised if we have more sightings throughout the summer."
In addition to the moose sighting, Soule said he has also heard of animals such as coyote,s possums, porcupines, beavers and woodchucks in the area. Turkeys have also been more prevalent due to the mild winter, he said.
"A mild winter is good for turkeys, they love nuts and berries, it makes for happy and healthy turkeys," he said.
Soule said residents shouldn't be concerned or fearful about the wildlife.
"People should celebrate that Chelmsford has enough conservation and open space land that it makes wildlife observable and it's part of our community's fabric," he said. "No need for fear. Get outside and check it out and enjoy it."
Tom Christiano
7:38 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
I just posted a photo above, of the eight Turkeys which were in my neighborhood last month. The turkeys are a very common sight in my neighborhood now. I was backing out of my driveway this week and there was one of these big male Turkeys right in the middle of the driveway, with his tail feathers all expanded. As I slowly backed up, he very coolly walked off of the driveway to let me get by. I said hello to him as I admired his beautiful feathers. He could care less. ;-)
Krista Perry
8:21 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Wow! So many turkeys!
Choward
7:45 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
I have seen a fox crossing Concord Rd near Trailside Drive and then another emerge from the woods in my backyard. Also noticed more rabbits than usual... not sure how long that will last with the fox in the neighborhood.
Krista Perry
8:22 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Interesting! Thad Soule also mentioned there are a lot more rabbits than usual this year.
Peggy Dunn
8:36 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Great picture of turkeys, Carmen. Thad is so right, we are lucky to know and to occasionally see the variety of wildlife around us; means the enviroment is healthy. I have several rabbit familys and the fattest squirrels in the world.....they spent the whole winter sitting by the dozen in my backyard eating the millions of maples seeds from all my maple trees. They spent hours every day grazing on the seeds. Also, they didn't bother much with my bird feeders.
Jane H.
8:38 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Yes, and those dang rabbits are eating my pea seedlings! =D
Peggy Dunn
8:54 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
And that's the bad news about living with wild life......hope they don't eat them all!
Peter Morin
8:56 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Had the bobcat run through my yard on old westford rd this morning at about 7:30
Krista Perry
11:01 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Wow! Thank you for uploading that photo, also!
DSullivan
9:37 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
My daughter was on her way to work one morning last week and she called to tell me she saw a moose near the high school, closer to Harrington, This was on Richardson Rd. Maybe the same one spotted in the Crooked Spring Reservation! A year or so ago, we observed a young female moose run through our neighbors' yard, cross the streey,and proceed to run down the street. Interesting to see around here. Also have had many wild turkeys; rabbits that love to eat our shrubs and poop everywhere, driving the dogs crazy; even saw a beaver-type critter in neighbor's yard once! One of the most exciting viewings for us was when we had a wooden swingset in our yard many years ago, a baby hawk landed on one of the posts! I enjoy this type of thing!!
Ginny Sargent
10:13 am on Friday, May 11, 2012
Wow a wildlife party! Can I say when I saw all those Turkeys, the only thing that came to mind was the song "turkey in the straw". Now if we could get them to dance to it...now that would be something! LOL
Townie
1:17 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
Two weeks ago in Westford Graniteville section at 7:30 am I saw a coyote cross the road on Nirth Main St. and lope up the driveway of a house. Tail was full and looked very healthy so my guess was it was not rabid. Probably headed up toward the quarry.
Peggy Dunn
2:12 pm on Friday, May 11, 2012
Glad to hear it looked healthy. I had one that hung around my area last summer that looked quite sickly....bad case of mange or something.....tail was practically bare. I also had a squirrel last fall that was missing fur on his left front limb and upper back....was always scratching it. Do animals "catch" mange or is it a condition caused by something else?
rick landino
11:05 pm on Thursday, December 27, 2012
Saw bobcat crossing rt. 40 christmas day at chelmsford westford line. Crossed road 10 ft. In front of my car. Auesome !
Ct
4:10 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2013
Very concerned about the large number of deer that come right up close to the house. Worried about lyme disease.