News from the Ranger
It has been six months since I began working in Lynn Woods and I haven't had a bad day yet. I feel truly privileged to have the opportunity to work in such a beautiful park and meet so many wonderful people. Thanks to all of you who have made me feel so welcome.
Programs
An Owl Prowl was held on the evening of February 3rd. Volunteer owl expert Ian Lynch amazed a group if novice owlers by actually "calling in" a screech owl on Pennybrook Road. It was an educational and entertaining evening for all that attended. Thank you, Ian, for sharing your time and expertise.
A series of four snowshoe hikes are being held in conjunction with EMS. Upcoming dates include March 3rd and 17th. There are only a limited number of snowshoes available, so you must make reservations if you need to borrow a pair.
I am currently trying to organize two more programs for this season, one dealing with the "Big Night" salamander migration and another that would be an introduction to GPS navigation. If anybody has any experience or knowledge they would like to share on these or other topics, please call me at 781-477-7123.
Wildlife Sightings
Fisher tracks were seen in the snow in the vicinity of Meeting House Swamp and near Mount Moriah. Coyotes are frequenting the area between Birch Pond and Pennybrook Road. Three different hikers reported seeing a rattlesnake near Walden Pond this summer. Lots of people told me they saw deer and I personally saw a doe on three different occasions. There was a buck rub off Pennybrook Road near Tomlin's Swamp and one park user told me he saw a four pointer. Nobody has reported seeing any bears!
Nature Notes
If you are out hiking in the snow on a bright sunny day, you may see one of the more unusual insects that inhabit Lynn Woods, the snow flea. Snow fleas are tiny primitive insects that spend most of their time living in the leaf litter, feeding on algae, bacteria, mold, and pollen. On sunny winter days, they will congregate by the hundreds or thousands on top of the snow to feed and mate. They lack wings and move about by flinging themselves into the air with a spring-like mechanism on the end of their abdomens. This bouncing action earned them the name springtails or snow fleas. Although they are less than a half-inch long, they can bounce as high as four inches. To find snow fleas, take a long, close look at some of the black sooty-looking dirt around tree bases or in footprints and see if you detect any movement. I have found lots of snow fleas on the hiking trail that leads down from Steel Tower toward Ramsdell's Swamp.