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Little Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area
Location: Ferrisburg, Addison
Bird Conservation Region: BCR 13
Size: 1097 Acres
Latitude: 44:13
Longitude: 73:17
IBA Criteria:
- Vermont Endangered and Threatened Species (Criteria 1)
- Vermont High Conservation Priority Species (Criteria 2)
- Rare, Unique or Representative Habitat (Criteria 3)
Land Ownership:State
Habitats:Marsh, Northern Hardwood Forest
Land Use: Wildlife conservation, hunting/fishing
Threats: Invasive species, pollution
Site Description
Located on more than 1000 acres of marsh and upland hardwood forest where the Little Otter Creek drains into Lake Champlain, Little Otter Creek WMA is an excellent example of a freshwater marsh ecosystem. Managed by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife this area supports a number of Vermont Natural Community types including Cattail and Deep Broadleaf Marsh, Buttonbush Swamp and Lakeside Floodplain forest.
Birds
Little Otter Creek WMA serves as critical habitat for a wide variety of birds including several threatened and endgangered species. A breeding site for state endangered Osprey, Little Otter Creek WMA also contains a substantial acerage of the full range of emergent, freshwater marshland habitats, which provide habitat for significant breeding populations of Pied-billed Grebe (S2), Common Moorhen (S2), Least Bittern (S2), Virginia Rail, Sora (S2), and American Bittern (S3). State threatened Black Terns have nested here in recent years and Barn Owl (S1), Black-crowned Night Heron (S1), American Coot, and Nothern Harrier (S2) occur here as well. The site has also produced sightings of species on the brink of extirpation, including the Sedge Wren in 1998 and Loggerhead Shrike in 1997.
Conservation
This site is protected and managed for wildlife by the state. Osprey platforms have been erected and annual marshbird surveys are conducted through the Vermont Marshbird Monitoring Program. Threats include invasive species such as reed canary grass and pollution primarily from agricultural runoff.
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