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By GREG VINE

ATHOL – Between releasing its annual “Birds and Nature of the North Quabbin 2025” calendar and preparing for the yearly bird count, the Athol Bird & Nature Club has had a busy December.The cover of the calendar features a striking image of a barred...

A group of hooded mergansers float on Silver Lake in Athol, occasionally diving for fish, on Thursday. The males, with their distinct black and white crested head feathers, stand out from the females who have cinnamon-colored crests. They can be found...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — Toting buckets and nets, roughly 30 volunteers made the trek down into the muddy pit that is the drained power canal to rescue sea lampreys on Monday. This yearly rescue, conducted when the power canal is drained for yearly...

By Mike RocheAt the September meeting of the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, held at Field Headquarters in Westborough, the agenda included a review of the management of the black bear population.Dave Wattles, who serves as Black Bear and...

By Mike RocheHuman beings are generally not big fans of change.That trait plays itself out countless times in our personal lives and in the things that make up our society. Walk into a retail store and you are faced with a choice to follow the...

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — On a woody hillside in a 100-plus-acre private parcel, Phoebe Weinberg, her face blocked by a shield attached to her hard helmet, begins dismantling an autumn olive growing over a red oak sapling. The roar of the chainsaw covers the...

By ADA DENENFELD KELLY

ATHOL — In an effort to promote awareness of native plants, the Athol Bird and Nature Club [ABNC] has installed artwork identifying native plants to enhance the existing Join Up Trail at the New England Equestrian Center of Athol (NEECA).“Lifelong...

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – People from North Quabbin, Boston and around New England gathered at the Pleasant Street home of David Small for the annual Moth Ball Saturday night.The event was sponsored by the Athol Bird & Nature Club (ABNC). Small, who is president of the...

By GREG VINE

ATHOL – For some, moths are merely pesky critters that flit around your head as you try to enjoy a summer night on the deck.To others, they are a creature deserving of admiration, respect – and an entire week to celebrate their place in nature.David...

By CARLA CHARTER

ORANGE-For his many years of advocacy of sportsmen’s issues, Mike Roche has received the Words of Wisdom Award from the Worcester County League of Sportsmen’s Clubs.Roche received the award at the club’s annual banquet on March 23, held at the...

By Mike RocheAs you may have heard, a horse was killed by a bear in South Athol last week. This ultimate wildlife/livestock conflict was a great loss for the owners of the 24-year-old pony, who had been a great show horse in her day. It is easy to...

By DOMENIC POLI

It seems people from all over are anxious for spring to arrive as bookings at the three state camping locations in Franklin and Hampshire counties are filling up fast.The state Department of Conservation and Recreation reports that at least 756 total...

ATHOL — The Athol Bird and Nature Club (ABNC) calendar, full of nature notes, trivia questions and photos of local birds, animals and plants is now available.While many people may enjoy a calendar with pictures of exotic nature and scenery, the “Birds...

By BELLA LEVAVI

CHARLEMONT — With campsites at the Mohawk Trail State Forest closed due to water system and infrastructure repairs, park rangers have been enjoying the glory of this state gem with more solitude than in previous years.“I have been getting people to...

By DOMENIC POLI

Experts say that if you encounter a bear it is important to immediately make yourself look big, talk very calmly and slowly back away.But after that, if you saw the carnivoran mammal in Massachusetts, you can go to bit.ly/3raabc8 to report the...