“Do not wait to take down your birdfeeders and bearproof your yard until a bear comes to visit,” said Jaclyn Comeau, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s bear biologist.
Hide your bird feeders, here come the bears!
Sportsmen’s banquet Saturday night
The event helps support the organization’s efforts to promote Vermont’s outdoor traditions and provide youth education programs.
Environment committee members cry foul after chair shuts down vote on land conservation bill
According to members of the committee and available footage, a motion was seemingly made and the committee adjourned without addressing it. However, the Chair of the committee denies breaking any rules.
Vermont’s restoration of wild turkeys to be celebrated April 18 in Pawlet
The restoration of wild turkeys in Vermont is one of the Fish and Wildlife Department’s most notable wildlife restoration efforts. It began on February 28, 1969, when wild turkeys were live-trapped by the department’s former turkey biologist William Drake in southwestern New York and stocked in Pawlet, Vermont.
10-year-old catches record fish, nets $26K
In June, 10-year-old Grayson Carey of Colchester landed the record-setting fish while competing in the Lake Champlain International Father’s Day Derby with his father and grandfather. The Freshwater Drum, also known as “sheepshead,” weighed 28.5 pounds and measured 37 ½ inches long with a 29-inch girth. It beat the previous state record set in 2016 by three pounds.
Barre battles State over secret fishing tourneys on its reservoir
When the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife issued permits for fishing tournaments on the reservoir for the 2026 season—without notifying the city that relies on it for drinking water—Barre officials were caught off guard. When they protested, state officials reportedly offered a creative solution: tournament participants could technically “parachute in” to avoid trespassing on city land.
Medwid: Fish & Wildlife practices ‘domination’ of nature
It would be easy to label these debates as hunters and trappers versus those who oppose hunting and trapping. But that false assessment would trivialize and misdirect the debate as well as ignore the findings of a major values survey that shines a bright light as to just why these controversial wildlife practices are so protected by FWD.
Fitzko: Caring for Vermont’s state lands for the benefit of all Vermonters
Something for everyone
TNC in Vermont awards $500,000 to 7 new conservation projects
The Vermont Biodiversity Protection Fund will support the protection of 1,460 acres of critical habitat across the state
F&W: For the sake of the cats, pump the brakes on reintroduction
A campaign is underway to bring mountain lions to Vermont, led by the nonprofit Mighty Earth. As the state agency that would be responsible for these cats if Mighty Earth succeeds, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking mountain lion advocates to slow down.
Goose-farming internet personality testifies on hunting-posting bill
Sportsmen may soon have a new system of land posting to learn before deer season this fall.
Bring back the catamount, build housing off-site, create new State Wildlands, ban rodent poison, & more in House committees this week
H. 276, State Wildlands, is scheduled for testimony in the House Environment Committee on Wednesday afternoon at the Vermont Statehouse. Sponsored by committee chair Rep. Amy Sheldon, the bill would create a new Wildlands designation within Vermont’s Ecological Reserves, permanently protecting certain lands from conversion, promoting natural processes and old-growth forest conditions, and permanently designating many state parks as Wildlands.
State floats conservation plan for lemmings, orchids, sturgeon
The adorable Southern bog lemming, delicate small whorled pogonia orchid, mysterious lake sturgeon and humble wood turtle may not seem to have much in common. But, all four are classified as “Species of Greatest Conservation Need” (SGCN) in a newly-drafted update to Vermont’s Wildlife Action Plan, which is now available for public comment.
Despite a low count of broad-winged hawks, experts don’t raise concern for the overall population
Vermont hawkwatch counting sites saw fewer numbers for the broad-winged hawk population this year.
State Parks offering free guided hikes across Vermont on New Year’s Day
The First Day Hikes program includes 18 hikes ranging from easy family walks to challenging mountain ascents, led by volunteers from organizations including the Green Mountain Club, Otter Creek Audubon Society, and South Hero Land Trust, along with state parks staff.
New Vermont fishing regulations for 2026
Most notable are the updated regulations referring to panfish and the use of baitfish. Additional changes can be found in the 2026 Fishing Guide & Regulations booklet available free from license agents and on Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s website.
Could VT’s property tax crisis close the door on $2.1 billion in outdoor recreation?
While Vermont property owners who permit recreational use of their land are legally protected, they receive no compensation or tax relief for their generosity.
Presumptuous skiers in backcountry concerning for Stowe Mountain Rescue
If you leave the trail, even following another’s tracks, there is a real risk of no way back.
Wild turkey population up to 50K
The bird on your table is descended from the wild turkey.
Trappers and educators protect Vermont against invasive beetle
Asian longhorned beetle, found in Massachusetts, not spotted here yet.
UVM researchers find nitrogen feeds algae blooms
Nitrogen is a bit of a conundrum. In its gaseous form it’s the most abundant element in the atmosphere, but few organisms can readily use it. And while all living organisms contain nitrogen, a new University of Vermont study finds that even tiny amounts of nitrogen can fuel cyanobacterial blooms and disrupt lake ecosystems.
The wild turkey’s contribution to Thanksgiving
More than 140,000 servings of Vermont wild turkeys are harvested each year – that’s 140,000 servings of free-ranging, wild and sustainably harvested protein.
Fish & Wildlife asks deer hunters to report wildlife sightings
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is asking hunters to participate in its annual deer hunter effort and sighting survey.
Daylight Saving Time change brings far greater odds of hitting a deer — here’s why
The risk of a deer-vehicle collision is 14 times higher in the two hours after sunset than in the two hours before sunset, due to the dramatic reduction in driver visibility in darkness.
VTF&W reports acorns abundant in some areas
Beechnut production excellent in most of Vermont
Vermont’s regular Deer Season starts Saturday, Nov. 15
Hunters who get a deer on opening weekend of the Nov. 15-16 deer season can help Vermont’s deer management program by reporting their deer at a biological check station.
Vermont Rescue Squad’s secret hypothermia treatment: maple syrup
Hypothermia is a real thing. Carry plenty of clothing – not cotton – and a waterproof layer, top and bottom. Headlamps – not one but two! Cell phone battery bank. High calorie snacks and plenty of water.
Field to Fork: Processing your deer
VTF&W website helps with learning how to process
Homes for bats on Halloween
Holy wildlife housing,next week is Bat Week!
Backcountry bailouts
Whether it’s frozen boots or broken tibias, Waterbury Backcountry Rescue Team (WRBT) is prepared to respond to any kind of backcountry crisis.
Why a minor tremor is Vermont’s wake-up call
The true danger for Vermont lies not in the probability of an earthquake, but in the catastrophic consequences a moderate one could have on the state’s beloved historic brick buildings.
Wildlife Day draws visitors from around the state
Wildlife Day at the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area Visitor Center took place this year on Oct. 4 in Addison.
Drought on the heels of flooding in 2024 and 2023 complicates trail upkeep
How trail management is impacted by severe weather
Fishing restricted in part of Hatchery Cove to protect spawning salmon
The closure aims to provide a safe corridor for the landlocked Atlantic salmon that gather in Hatchery Cove before migrating up the nearby Hatchery Brook to spawn each fall.
‘Unofficial’ smallmouth bass catch smashes state record
If Andrew Oestringer of Barnet had brought his bass to a certified scale before filleting the fish, he would probably hold a new state record.
Support needed for Vermont’s $5 ski hill
Known for its incredibly low-priced $5 lift tickets, the Brattleboro Ski Hill provides an affordable entry point for new skiers and local families.
The poisonous Virginia Creeper: like most bad things, VT dogs don’t know to avoid it
This year, the prevalence of Virginia Creeper feels particularly pronounced, raising the need for public awareness about its hidden dangers for Vermont families and their unsuspecting dogs.
How Vermonters are tracking the state’s largest trees
“Everyone likes a big tree,” Arborist and Milton Tree Warden Kris Dulmer said.
Woman dies in e-bike collision
E-bikes have grown in popularity as older Vermonters seek help with pedaling and frugal and/or climate-conscious Vermonters seek practical alternatives to cars. The State of Vermont began an e-bike purchase rebate program in 2022.
Vermont’s bear population estimate is above goal for fourth consecutive year
New research will explore why.
U.S. Forest Service approves 72-miles for the Velomont Bike Trail in Vermont
Unlike a thru-hiking route, the Velomont is designed as a multi-use system with mountain biking as a central focus, weaving together public and private lands across the spine of the Green Mountains.
Does Mt. Mansfield look like its namesake, or more like another famous Vermonter?
Regardless of identity, the Mountain endures.
Salmon’s success bodes well for Winooski River health, but flooding and federal cuts stir fear
Scientists say the fish are a reliable measure of lake and basin ecological health.
Bobolink birds are in decline. Vermont’s fields are key to changing that
The Bobolink Project pays owners of fields, often farmers, to conduct bird-friendly practices. The birds get time and habitat to nest while the landowners get some compensation for letting them do so.
What that big thing in the sky was Monday night
Given the timing and novelty of the event, two primary explanations quickly gained traction online: a rocket launch and the Perseid meteor shower, which was expected to peak that same night.
Vermont tangled in red tape and knotweed
In the Netherlands, a design group called Why Knot turns knotweed into lightweight, formaldehyde-free building panels. Vermont’s regulatory system is too antiquated to see it as a win-win.
Forest Service passes controversial logging in Green Mountain National Forest
The Telephone Gap Integrated Resource project had a historic level of public engagement, according to advocates, before it passed in June.
Tracking a new forest pathogen
A new pathogen called beech leaf disease (BLD) is spreading across Vermont forests.
Bellows Falls woman rescued from Fall Mountain, NH after suffering from heat-related illness
Rebeka Arias, 33, of Bellows Falls, was hiking to a popular overlook on July 15 when she became lost. At approximately 5 p.m., a third party notified conservation officers that Arias was feeling faint and nauseous. Shortly after making a call to a family member for help, her phone battery died.
POW: “Traditions” may mask violation of wild animals’ rights
These outdated trapping and hunting policies do not reflect the majority of the people. Protect Our Wildlife focuses on securing stronger protections for individual wild animals, recognizing that they feel happiness, pain, fear, sadness, and so much more.
Orleans County Conservation District secures $600,000 for local projects
This year, over 40 community members and 11 partner organizations participated in Local Working Groups to identify the top three funding priorities. Each priority will receive $200,000 through separate Local Fund Pools.
BREAKING: Three children spent night lost on Camel’s Hump, found at dawn
Two boys, ages 14 and 11, and a 12-year-old girl were taking part in an organized camp and set out on a trail off Duxbury Road for what was expected to be a 30-minute hike.
Tallest tree in Vermont grows in Colchester
Situated next to railroad tracks (offering plenty of sunlight) and near the pond (offering plenty of water), the thirsty softwood dwarfs all other Vermont trees with a height of 127 feet.
Vermont State Police, Game Wardens urge Vermonters to boat safely this Fourth of July weekend
The Vermont Warden Service, Vermont State Police and other local law enforcement agencies will be partnering with the National Association of Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard by participating in the Operation Dry Water heightened awareness and enforcement weekend, which takes place July 4-6, 2025.
Rare bear pair and baby bunny pix shared by Vermont Fish & Wildlife
Leave the bunnies be – and the bears too, of course.
Youth sets fishing derby record
Grayson Carey reeled in a new LCI Derby record sheepshead the morning of Sunday, June 15. It weighed in at 28.51 pounds, beating the previous record of 24.97.
Vermonters of color are ‘taking up space’ in outdoor recreation
These Vermonters are trying to make the outdoor recreation industry safer and more joyful for people of color.
Fly infestation keeps Waterford families indoors
The outbreak appeared shortly after a foul, burning odor was reported on May 16. Resident Priscilla Foster likened the smell to “rotting flesh” and said flies filled the area two days later.
Study: Wildlife underpasses save amphibians
Amphibian road mortality drops by over 80% with wildlife underpasses, study shows.
Trump timber order spurs debate about Vermont’s woods
A supporter says the timber industry feels encouraged by order; a critic says it’s just red meat for Trump’s base.
Lamprey controlled, lake trout stocking to end
The effort has been greatly helped be targeting sea lamprey which were attacking the trout.
Willoughby Steelhead Rainbow Trout will be jumping
Steelhead can be spotted moving up the falls during warmer days in mid-to-late April and sometimes into early May.
Young wildlife belong in the wild
Picking up young wildlife can do more harm than good, according to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and it is also against the law.
Beware the waking bears
Bear incidents have been on the rise over the past several years.
Stake on Mt. Mansfield logs near-record snow levels
It was the third-highest snowpack reading for that date since 1954, when the stake was installed, making this winter one of the snowiest on record.
Fish and Wildlife Board seeks public comment on doe season, expanded archery season
Deer is Vermont’s most popular game species with about 60,000 resident hunters and 7,500 out-of-state hunters heading into the autumn woods.
Covey: In hunting predators, what is ‘fair’?
Bill supporters have consistently stated their opinion that all the tools we use to hunt predators are “unfair”, and we shouldn’t be allowed to hunt them at all. Activism-driven bills like this are a waste of the legislature’s time, a waste of the taxpayers money, and a disservice to the people.
Sugarbush snow report criticizing Trump admin sparks controversy before removal
The resort’s snow report quickly pivoted to a sharp rebuke of what she described as the administration’s “attack” on National Forest lands, climate science agencies, and public funding programs that support adaptive skiers, veterans, and international workers.
Fish & Wildlife Board proposes doe season in November
Hunters who obtain antlerless permits would be allowed to harvest antlerless deer during the regular November season, which is currently limited to antlered (buck) deer.
Some cliff tops and overlooks are closed to protect nesting Peregrines
Hikers and climbers can help nesting peregrine falcons by avoiding several Vermont cliff areas this spring and early summer.
Soulia: Setting the record straight on trapping and the VT Constitution
It’s time to respect the constitutional rights of Vermonters, the cultural significance of trapping, and the practical realities of rural life.
Ice fishing prospects abound in the Green Mountain State
VT Fish & Wildlife at the Yankee Show, Jan. 17-19; Hunters took more than 17,000 deer in 2024
Vermont’s outdoor recreation economy grew to $2.1 billion in 2023
Green Mountain State maintains #2 ranking for outdoor recreation as part of GDP.
Sugarbush to open new chair to summit of Lincoln Peak
On Saturday, December 21, Sugarbush Resort will debut its newest upgrade, the Heaven’s Gate Quad, providing a more spacious ride to the summit of Lincoln Peak.
Dread your commute? These folks suggest trying a trail instead
“Our whole mission is trails that go somewhere,” one org director said. “The whole point is that you could use it to commute.”
Gov. Phil Scott announces 16 projects received Transformational Tourism Grants
Also, Vermont 2025 hunting and fishing licenses and lawbooks available
Feds propose ‘threatened’ status for monarch
Wakeboard sports ban meeting today.
McLeod: Thoughts on Deer Season
At dusk in November, lights will flicker on and in the hills, dales, and deep woods throughout VT as hunters gather for our 16-day unofficial holiday.
Bird Feeding Season and F&W gift licenses
“Winter bird feeding is a great way to observe and learn about our year-round bird residents such as black capped chickadees, nuthatches and blue jays. “
Welch seeks more fed $$ to add 24,000 acres to Conte refuge
“This unmet need underscores our call for robust funding to support critical projects in this region,” Welch and other senators wrote.
Deer season off to strong start
While western Vermont valleys offer more deer, the mountains and the Northeast Kingdom have fewer but bigger game, state biologists say.
VT Fish and Wildlife: Bald eagle shot in Bridport, reward offered
Metal pellets and recent wounds consistent with shotgun fire were found in the eagle’s body.
State issues no-burn order
With the continued dry weather outlook and the abundance of dry leaves and dry fuels in Vermont’s forests, wildfires have the potential to spread rapidly, officials said.
Drivers, leave four feet to pass non-drivers – it’s the law now
A new state law requires drivers to give most non-drivers a wide, four-foot berth. Critics suggest rules for bicyclists.
Unbe-leaf-able!
Peak foliage – enjoy it while it lasts!
Chittenden County man dies of mosquito-borne virus
The victim was a man in his 70’s who had been hospitalized since August and died in September.
Lynx sightings continue
Reports indicate that the lynx has moved about 60 miles north of where it was first sighted in Rutland County into Addison County, traveling around a dozen miles at a time and then staying in the same general area for several days before moving on.
New outdoors show airs on VT radio/ Bag limit four for archery season
The show aims to educate, entertain, and inform outdoor enthusiasts of all experience levels.
Take up to four deer during archery season
A hunter may take up to four deer in Vermont’s two-part archery season if they do not shoot any deer in the other deer seasons.
State-certified leashed tracking dogs help hunters recover game
The leashed tracking dog owners, who provide their services free of charge, must pass an extensive exam in order to be certified and licensed to provide their services.
Squirrel hunting season opens September 1
The daily bag limit is four gray squirrels, and the possession limit is eight.
Rare big cat caught on camera
Most VT lynx sightings – although still rare – are in the Northeast Kingdom.
New bear population estimate based on 2023 data available
Bear population down some but still high.
Get State Park and Historic Site passes at your local library
Get out and see the wonders of the State we call home this year!
Vermonters planting native gardens to help pollinators prosper
The mission is to reduce the distance pollinators like bees and butterflies must go to get nectar and pollen. The gardens, in effect, form a highway.
How do turkeys fare in extreme weather? Fish & Wildlife wants your help!
Every summer the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department puts out a call for citizen scientists to count young turkeys, or “poults,” between the start of July and the end of August.
Fish and Wildlife needs volunteers for wild goose chase, banding
Volunteers needed to help in rounding up, placing id. bands on the legs of Canada geese at the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in Addison.
In Groton, volunteers fight back against Japanese knotweed
In stifling, almost oppressive heat and humidity, a small troop of aged, sweaty volunteers waged war against an invasive pest proliferating across the landscape.
Living with wildlife: bats in your house?
Homeowners should follow the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department’s recommendations on when and how to protect the living space and do a bat eviction.
July 31 is deadline for Muzzleloader Antlerless Deer Permit applications
Landowners who post their land may not apply for a landowner priority muzzleloader antlerless deer permit.
