Eversource Access Road/Trail

Trail Construction to begin this week!

With the installation of erosion controls, caution signs, and the conclusion of multiple pre-construction meetings, Eversource has received approval from the Weston Conservation Commission to begin removing the rails and ties from the Weston/Wayland town line to Gun Club Lane. While construction is taking place, people are being asked to avoid the railroad right-of-way; however abutting Town Conservation Land trails will remain open during construction.

Avoid Decorating with Invasive Plants

from MassWildlife

During holiday seasons, many people use plants to decorate their homes or businesses. Avoid using exotic, invasive plants such as Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) and Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora) in holiday decorations. Though these plants are attractive, using invasive plants in decorations can impact native species and habitat. Birds eat and carry away the fruits from wreaths and garlands and the digested, but still-viable seeds, sprout where deposited.

Exotic, invasive plants create severe environmental damage by invading open fields, forests, wetlands, meadows, and backyards, and crowding out native plants. Bittersweet can even kill mature trees through strangling. Both plants are extremely difficult to control; when cut off, the remaining plant segment in the ground will re-sprout.

It is illegal to import or sell bittersweet and Multiflora rose in any form (plants or cuttings) in Massachusetts. Learn more about invasive plants in Massachusetts and how they threaten our native species and natural communities in this article from MassWildlife.

The Benefits of Beavers

by Rachel Hoffman, Weston's new Animal Control Officer
Beavers are considered by biologists to be a keystone species. This means that their presence and role within an ecosystem has a disproportionately beneficial effect on other organisms within the system.

Although they are sometimes regarded as a pest, there are few species that better benefit a watershed than a beaver. Not only are they good for the environment but beaver ponds even recharge our drinking water aquifers! They stabilize the water table, help to remove pollutants and better maintain stream flows during droughts. Beavers are even being reintroduced around the country to improve arid lands.

There are many ways to employ beaver management in order to better co-exist with beavers and continue to enjoy the many benefits or their presence. We are lucky to have these creatures here! To learn more about cohabitating with beavers, check out this article from MassWildlife.

Animal Control Corner: Blog posts from Weston's Animal Control Officer

Rachel Hoffman has started a blog where she will post helpful tips, FAQs, and other items of interest regarding Weston's wildlife, farm animals, and house pets. Subscribe today to receive notification of when her next post is available. Residents can also comment or ask questions for each post!

Chewed trees near the water are a tell-tale sign that beavers live close by. You may see signs of beavers around College Pond off Concord Road, Duck Pond on Sears Conservation Land, and Melone Homestead off Crescent Street. (Photo by Michele Grzenda)

Great Horned Owls Breed in January

How's This?

Residents have been reporting an increase of owl hooting in Weston Forests this time of year. Weston has at least three species of owls but the bird that is most vocal in December is the Great Horned Owl.

These large owls can be found in a variety of habitats throughout most of the state. They are commonly heard in winter (anytime from December through February) as they seek mates. To learn more about Weston’s owls and to hear their calls, check out this information from Mass Audubon.

The male and female of a breeding pair of Great Horned Owls may perform a duet of alternating calls, with the female’s voice recognizably higher in pitch than the male’s.