by Andrea Southworth, Stewardship Committee co-chair
We’re so very fortunate that CELT’s Runaway Farm Preserve is home to the state endangered New England cottontail (NEC), Sylvilagus transitionalis. Known as the woods rabbit, NEC requires a landscape that is covered by young, regenerating forests, red maple swamps, dense thickets, or fallen evergreen trees. One of my favorite spots in town, the wet meadow at Runaway Farm is unique with relatively few invasive plants and a dreamy array of native shrubs. Multi-stemmed viburnum, dogwood, holly, and alder create safe travel corridors for rabbits, while keeping would-be predators at bay. These beautiful plants are also food and shelter resources for migratory and resident birds as well as hundreds of species of insects. It turns out that what’s good for NEC is good for us and a whole host of wildlife—hooray!
Since 2018, CELT has been working to protect, restore, and monitor the rabbit’s habitat. Thanks to thousands of volunteer hours and our partnerships with state agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we’re actively managing Runaway Farm so that NEC can thrive. In the past year, we’ve built brush piles for temporary shelter, cleared bittersweet, honeysuckle, and buckthorn, implemented a carefully timed mowing schedule, and opened patches of tree canopy to the magic of sunlight.
We’d love for you to be a part of the NEC success story at Runaway Farm. To find out more, contact Ardath Dixon at ardath@capelandtrust.org or (207)767-6054. Stay tuned for upcoming educational programs and volunteer workdays, and as always, thank you for your continued support.
