ITHACA, N.Y. (WHCU) – State officials say a recent local project “is well on its way to helping improve wildlife habitat.”

The DEC conducted timber harvests at the Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area (WMA) last summer to remove low-quality trees and help create young forests and shrubland for multiple species, including grouse, American woodcock, and wild turkey. The work could affect populations this year.

Projects included seed tree harvests, thinning forested areas, three patch cuts, and a seed tree cut that will become future shrubland. The DEC tree seed harvests leave some trees behind to produce seeds in the regeneration process.

Connecticut Hill WMA, located in Tompkins and Schuyler Counties, is the DEC’s largest WMA in the state, encompassing more than 11,000 acres.