Syracuse.com - Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge seeking comment on periodic public haying within the refuge

[HuntingNY-News]

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The public comment period is open until June 8.

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<p><strong>The following is a press release:</strong></p>

<p>The Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge released today for public comment a Compatibility Determination for periodic haying within the refuge's grassland areas.</p>

<p>The public comment period is open until June 8; a copy of the Compatibility Determination can be viewed upon request at the refuge visitor center (3395 U.S. Route 20 East, Seneca Falls, NY) or by calling the refuge office at 315/568-5987.</p>

<p>The proposed haying--harvest and removal of hay from designated refuge grasslands--by private parties would be permitted through the issue of a Special Use Permit.</p>

<p>Hay sources on the refuge consist of native and naturalized grasslands currently maintained to provide habitat for migratory birds. Periodic management of grasslands is essential to maintaining them in a grass-dominated state and to providing the best possible habitat for grassland dependent wildlife.</p>

<p>Haying on the refuge is strictly a tool used to maintain refuge grasslands in an early successional condition and no attempt is made to improve the hay crop (e.g., fertilizing, planting additional hay species) for the permittees. </p>

<p>For more information about haying on the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge, contact Refuge Biologist Linda Ziemba (<a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>, 315/568-5987, extension 225).</p>

<p>For more information about the refuge, in general, please call the refuge office at 315/568-5987. <br /></p>

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog