August 2025

Wildlife Highlights is published by the Connecticut DEEP Wildlife Division. Please share the newsletter with others to help spread awareness about Connecticut's wildlife!

Rattlesnakes can usually be identified by the distinctive, segmented rattle at the tip of the tail. Timber Rattlesnake photographed in Connecticut by CT DEEP Wildlife Division

Studying Connecticut's Endangered Rattlesnake

Of the 14 native species of snakes that occur in Connecticut, only two are venomous, the northern copperhead and timber rattlesnake.

The beautifully patterned timber rattlesnake is extremely rare in the state and is listed as an endangered species. It was once widespread in Connecticut during colonial times, but due to excessive human persecution and loss of habitat, only several small, isolated populations remain.

Last year, Wildlife Division staff and conservation collaborators initiated a radio telemetry project focused on timber rattlesnakes in Connecticut. Some of the main goals of the study are to gain a better understanding of rattlesnake movement patterns and habitat preferences, help better inform Forestry Division management practices, and assist law enforcement with monitoring efforts.

More on timber rattlesnake telemetry . . . 

Come August, black bears are feasting on wild berries.

What's on the Menu? The Seasonal Diet of a Black Bear

A black bear’s diet varies throughout the year and is mostly dependent on what natural foods are available at that time. For example, wetlands are particularly important in spring when emerging plants, like skunk cabbage, are some of the few foods available to bears. 

Come August, black bears are feasting on wild berries, often referred to as soft mast. Blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, serviceberries, and viburnum are examples of natural food items that make up part of a black bear's diet.

As omnivores, black bears eat a combination of plant and animal matter, with a majority of their diet (at least 60%) consisting of plant matter.

What isn’t part of a black bear’s natural diet? Birdseed and garbage. Roughly two thirds of reported human-bear conflicts involve bird seed and unsecured trash. More importantly, these types of conflicts are easily preventable. You can help keep black bears wild by denying them access to these calorie-rich attractants by removing bird feeders and properly securing garbage. The best approach to managing conflicts with wildlife is preventing them in the first place.

Black bear FAQs . . .

Electric fencing is a great way to prevent wildlife conflicts.

Shockingly Effective! Electric Fence Workshop Sunday, September 14

The Wildlife Division is offering a free workshop that will focus on proper electric fence installation, including tips on how to successfully deter bears and other wildlife from going after apiaries, livestock, and crops. This workshop will take place on Sunday, September 14, 2025, from 9:30 AM until 12:30 PM at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area (341 Milford Street, Burlington, Connecticut 06013). This workshop is a great place to start for those not only considering the use of electric fencing, but also for those who have experienced difficulty with their setup.

Registration is required to attend. Please contact DEEP.Wildlife@ct.gov to register. Include “Electric Fence Workshop” in the subject line.

Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine's underground tunnels are the winter home of several bat species, including the little brown bat pictured above.

Celebrate Bat Conservation and Connecticut History at Bat Appreciation Day

Looking for a wildlife-focused event the whole family will enjoy? Join the Wildlife Division and Department of Economic and the Community Development (DECD) for Bat Appreciation Day on Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM, at the Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine in East Granby. From bat-themed exhibits to a unique opportunity to tour the “bat cave," Bat Appreciation Day celebrates bat conservation and Connecticut history.

The bats of Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine are considered “cave bats”, in part because they hibernate underground in caves and mines. This annual celebration offers the perfect opportunity to experience the remarkable history of Old New-Gate Prison through the lens of the state-endangered bats who have claimed it as their winter home. Little brown, tri-colored, and northern long-eared bats have all used this site to hibernate during the winter months.

More on Bat Appreciation Day . . .

Wild turkeys frequently forage in fields that border forestland.

Final Gobble - Report Wild Turkey Sightings

Connecticut residents have through Sunday, August 31 to report their wild turkey sighting(s). 

The annual Wild Turkey Brood Survey helps Wildlife Division staff estimate the average number of turkey poults (young-of-the-year) per hen statewide to assess annual fluctuations in Connecticut’s turkey population. Factors such as weather, predation, and habitat conditions during the breeding and brood-rearing seasons can impact nest success, hen survival, and poult survival.

Participants can report their sighting(s) using the online form or download a Wild Turkey Observation Form to report their sightings.

Fun Fact: A wild turkey may range over several square miles in a single day.

Report wild turkey sightings . . .

Wood turtles can be found across the northeastern United States into parts of Canada. Photo courtesy of Kiley Briggs, the Orianne Society.

Wood Turtle Program at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area Thursday, September 25

The Wildlife Division will be hosting the Orianne Society and the Connecticut River Conservancy for a public program on wood turtles at Sessions Woods Wildlife Management Area (341 Milford Street, Burlington, Connecticut 06013) on Thursday, September 25, 2025, at 6:30 PM. This free program will cover wood turtle ecology, conservation concerns, and how you can help. Wood turtles may be found throughout Connecticut, but they have become increasingly rare due to their complex habitat needs, intense weather events, and illegal collection.

Registration is required to attend. Register by following the link HERE.

More on the wood turtle . . .

Upcoming Events:
The Wildlife Division will be participating in the following events in the near future:

• Saturday, September 20, 2025 - Bat Appreciation Day. Location: 115 Newgate Road, East Granby, CT 06026. Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM.
• September 25-28, 2025 - Durham Fair. Location: 24 Town House Road, Durham, CT 06422.

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.