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May 2026
Wildlife Highlights is published by the Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division. Please share the newsletter with others to help spread awareness about Connecticut's wildlife!
Robin fledgling on a branch by Danielle Brigida/USFWS.
Young Wildlife: If You Care, Leave It There
May is the time of year when many species are raising their young, and there is a good chance of encountering young wildlife, especially as people and their pets are spending more time outside. While it may be tempting to intervene and “rescue” a young wild animal found alone, many species naturally leave their young alone for long periods of time. In other instances, an adult is likely out of sight close by, waiting for you to leave.
The best thing you can do for young wildlife is to leave them alone. Human interference often causes more harm, and in some cases, results in adult wildlife abandoning their young.
Always contact a DEEP wildlife biologist or licensed wildlife rehabilitator for guidance before taking any action. If an animal is obviously orphaned, injured, or in immediate danger, be sure to consult the DEEP website for a list of licensed volunteer wildlife rehabilitators before touching or moving the animal. In the unlikely event that you must pick up a wild animal, always wear gloves to help protect both you and the animal.
More on dealing with distressed wildlife . . .
Over 4,300 acres of habitat have been protected across the state through the Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program, benefitting many species, including the eastern kingbird.
How Stamps Help Conserve Wild Birds
Over 60% of our breeding birds in Connecticut are in decline. While Connecticut is the third smallest state in the country, roughly 3.5 million people live here and protecting and restoring our remaining natural areas is critical to the future of our wild birds.
Can you imagine a spring without the sounds of wild birds singing? Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring is now over 70 years old, and unfortunately, our natural world is experiencing new challenges with similarities to her call to action. It is critical to ensure a world full of nature’s wonders for future generations.
A simple way concerned residents can help is to become a member of the Connecticut Migratory Bird Stamp community. The Connecticut Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program is the only dedicated source of funding for wetland protection in our state. Since its creation in 1993, the program has contributed and leveraged over $4.5 million towards wetland protection and restoration. Over 4,300 acres of habitat have been protected across the state, and more recently, another 73 acres of pristine habitat were purchased using these funds (details to come).
Consider joining the flock and help conserve habitat for not only birds but for thousands of other species that inhabit our state.
More on the CT Migratory Bird Conservation Stamp Program . . .
The spotted turtle's habitat preference changes seasonally, often requiring it to cross roadways to access suitable habitat.
This Spring, Give Turtles a Break
Every spring and summer, egg-bearing female turtles venture out to find suitable nesting habitat to deposit (lay) their eggs. This often requires turtles to cross roadways along the way. Connecticut’s landscape is highly fragmented by busy roads, and unfortunately, many turtles are killed by moving vehicles while attempting to cross.
While you are driving, watch out for turtles. Helping a turtle across the road can be the difference between life and death for the animal, and for future generations. While turtles are long-lived, it often takes years before an individual is old enough to reproduce, with some individuals spending their first 15-20 years without reproducing.
Should you choose to stop and assist a turtle in the road, remember that your safety comes first, and do not attempt to stop traffic. When helping a turtle across the road, always move it in the direction it was heading, and do not attempt to relocate the turtle to a different area. Most turtles have a strong sense of home range and will likely attempt to return if relocated. This puts an individual at great risk.
More on the turtles of Connecticut . . .
Observe a livestream of a big brown bat colony at White Memorial Conservation Center through the Bats Count! live Bat Cams.
Bats Count! Educational Resources Available
Three years ago, the Wildlife Division and The White Memorial Foundation and Conservation Center in Litchfield established a live "Bat Cam" in a barn where female big brown bats give birth to and raise their young.
Bats Count! is a community science project that allows participants to observe bats throughout the day and as they enter and exit the barn each evening.
You can help staff with this long-term monitoring program by collecting data on the bats while viewing the livestream from your home. Participating is easy and fun. Simply review the user guide and enter your data into the datasheet while enjoying an up-close view of these remarkable mammals.
New for 2026! Staff from White Memorial, with contributions from the Wildlife Division, created Learning From Our Backyard Bats, a curriculum guide that focuses on Connecticut’s bat species and introduces students to the important role bats play in our ecosystems. The curriculum ties in the Bats Count! bat cameras as an interactive classroom tool. This resource is intended to help educators bring Connecticut’s bats into the classroom and inspire students to better understand and appreciate these remarkable animals.
More on how you can eavesdrop on bats . . .
Habitat areas for American Oyster Catchers and other Species of Greatest Conservation Need were included in the development of Conservation Opportunity Areas. Photo courtesy of Darrell Bumbala.
Maps of Conservation Opportunity Areas in Connecticut Available to View and Download
Connecticut’s 2025-2035 Wildlife Action Plan identifies various conservation actions that will safeguard our state’s wildlife resources into the future. Some of these actions, like protecting land or informing the public, are needed more in some parts of the state than in others. Conservation Opportunity Areas have been identified to guide conservation groups on where various actions will be most impactful.
Maps of Conservation Opportunity Areas were created using ecological, municipal, and social data to prioritize areas for seven types of conservation actions: protect, connect, restore, manage, partner, inform, and research and monitor. These priority areas were included in the Wildlife Action Plan as static maps, and are now available to download or browse as interactive maps through DEEP’s GIS Open Data website.
The maps were developed by Katy Bischoff as part of her PhD project at the University of Connecticut and have been made available through the hard work of Katy, Chad Rittenhouse (UConn), Stuart DeLand (CT DEEP), and Emily Wilson (UConn).
Learn more about Conservation Opportunity Areas . . .
The New England cottontail relies on young forests and shrublands for its survival. Wildlife Division staff have been conducting research and monitoring New England cottontail for almost two decades throughout Connecticut.
Young Forest Habitat and the New England Cottontail
The recent spring edition of the "New England Cottontail Newsletter" contains two articles specific to Connecticut concerning our native rabbit species and its young forest habitat! The newsletter is produced twice a year by the New England Cottontail Conservation Initiative of which the Wildlife Division is a member.
Young forests and shrublands provide habitat for many wildlife species. In the past, natural disturbances, such as fire, flooding, beaver activity, and storms, created and maintained these habitats. Human disturbances, like farming, burning, and timber harvesting, also created and maintained those habitats.
The Wildlife Division, in cooperation with other partners, has been part of the Young Forest Habitat Initiative to help restore these important habitats. Learn more about the different ways we are working to study and restore young forest wildlife.
Piping plover nests can be incredibly difficult to spot in the sand. Be sure to give nesting shorebirds plenty of space to incubate their eggs.
Connecticut's Shorebirds Are Nesting!
Weeks before most beachgoers travel to Connecticut’s shoreline for recreation, shorebirds, especially piping plovers and American oystercatchers, are already incubating eggs on their nests. In fact, nesting took place about a week earlier than normal this season. Plover nests are notoriously cryptic, consisting of only a small depression along a beach above the high tide line. The eggs are a pale buff color with brownish black splotches, making them nearly impossible to spot in the
sand.
With cooler temperatures this spring, it is even more important to limit disturbance to incubating birds. Eggs that are exposed to the elements, including cooler or hotter than normal temperatures, will not survive if an incubating parent is flushed off the nest too many times. When visiting the shoreline, please give these birds plenty of space and respect the shorebird exclosure fencing and signage.
More on nesting shorebirds . . .
Upcoming Events:
The Wildlife Division will be participating in the following events in the near future:
Who We Are
The Wildlife Division is part of the Bureau of Natural Resources within the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The Bureau is charged with managing the state’s natural resources (particularly fish, wildlife, and forests) through a program of research, management, public education, and regulation. The Wildlife Division is
comprised of several programs that work together to conserve and manage Connecticut's wildlife.
Contact Us
Email: deep.ctwildlife@ct.gov
Phone: 860-424-3011
Wildlife Website: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEPWildlife
Hunting Information: https://portal.ct.gov/DEEPHunting
Office Directory: https://portal.ct.gov/deep/wildlife/wildlife-division-office-directory
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to complying with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are seeking a communication aid or service, have limited proficiency in English, wish to file an ADA or Title VI discrimination complaint, or require some other accommodation, including equipment to facilitate virtual participation, please contact the DEEP Office of Diversity and Equity at 860-418-5910 or by email at deep.accommodations@ct.gov. Any person needing an accommodation for hearing impairment may call the State of Connecticut relay number - 711. In order to facilitate efforts to provide an accommodation, please request all accommodations as soon as possible following notice of any agency hearing, meeting, program or event.
