Helen Carlson Wildlife Sanctuary

From MAS Member Joanne Luppi
Carlson Sanctuary Sightings
Late spring sightings at the Helen Carlson Sanctuary have included a Great Blue Heron, a Little Green Heron, and a pair of Canada Geese with two goslings. The water continues very high thanks to the diligent beavers

Boardwalk/Beavers at the Bog
The beavers have taken over and the boardwalk is flooded out. A new overland trail now skirts the old main boardwalk. Picking cranberries may be difficult or not be possible because of continued high water.

Tours may be available to groups who call in advance to make arrangements.

On Friday, 6 October 2006, 15 students from Rocky Hill High School and MAS volunteers spent over 4 hours working on the boardwalk and the beaver dam. Their effort was part of Rocky Hill High’s annual “Lend a Paw Day”, where students are sent out to surrounding towns to offer hard work and support in a variety of ways. MAS was the lucky beneficiary of 15 incredibly hard workers. Under the direction of Tech-Ed teacher Donald Brown, they were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 dismantled the first 2 sections of boardwalk at the beginning of the trail and then rebuilt it with a recycled composite material, generously discounted and cut by Shagbark Lumber and Feed Supply in East Haddam. The work was difficult and dirty (from all the rain) and required drilling, hammering and carrying heavy pieces. The second group spent the morning removing the debris pile from the beaver dam area and then enjoyed dismantling 3 sections of the beavers’ dams (all was rebuilt by the next day) allowing the water to flow out for a few hours at least!! MAS is deeply grateful for all of their hard work–they even chose to work right through their lunch break fortified by donuts and apple cider! MAS Board member and Rocky Hill Science teacher, Kimberly Antol, is the program coordinator for “Lend A Paw,” and we also express our sincere thanks to her for choosing our sanctuary as one of the day’s projects. Thanks also to Bill Guinness, who pre-drilled all the holes and transported all the material to the sanctuary for the event. It was an extremely rewarding and fruitful day for all involved!
Marci Klattenberg

Activities
Spring Salamander Prowl,
Summer Wildflower Walk,
Fall Cranberry Picking,
Winter Ice Skating

South Road,
Portland, Connecticut

Open free to the public all year round.

Owned by and maintained by volunteers from the Mattabeseck Audubon Society.

Please visit our 19-acre Carlson Sanctuary to observe the natural diversity of this unique site and sign the register in the booth at the head of the trail.

Contributions toward the maintenance of the Helen Carlson Wildlife Sancutary can be made to the Mattabeseck Audubon Society Sanctuary Fund, deKoven House, 27 Washington Street, Middletown, CT 06457.

For Guided Tours
860-347-8464 | 860-342-1326 | 860-873-9304
For group tours, call Marcy Klattenberg 860-347-8464.

For winter skating conditions
call Joanne Luppi
860-342-1326 or John LeShane 860-342-0658.

Description and History

Paths and boardwalks lead into and around the Helen Carlson Wildlife Sanctuary and Cranberry Bog. The property was a commercial cranberry bog until 1950. In 1966, Helen Carlson purchased it to prevent its being developed. Ten years later she gave it to the Mattabeseck Audubon Society with the understanding that it would remain a sanctuary for wildlife. MAS members and other volunteers put lots of love, time, and money into maintaining the property and keeping it accessible to the public.Many insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals live here. In June, two species of orchid bloom among the cranberries, as well as two types of sundew, a carnivorous plant that catches its prey in sticky, spatula-like leaves.

At the beginning of the trail is a fern field containing huge specimens of cinnamon fern. Many kinds of trees are found on the site, including witch hazel, which produces a whispy yellow flower around Halloween. Along wetter portions of the trail, fragrant swamp azalea and mats of sphagnum moss (used by Native Americans for diapers because of its ability to absorb sixteen times its weight in water) may be found. You may also see wood ducks, painted turtles, wood turtles, or deer. In the spring, spotted salamanders come out of the woods to lay their eggs in the still waters.