The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will host a public information session to provide information and answer questions about a recently completed habitat management plan for the Little John Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The meeting will be held Wednesday, June 26, from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the Pulaski Village Offices, 4917 Jefferson Street, Pulaski NY, 13142.

Active habitat management to benefit wildlife populations is fundamental to wildlife management and has been an important component of New York’s efforts for decades. To further support these efforts, DEC launched the Young Forest Initiative in 2015. The initiative was the catalyst for an in-depth planning process for wildlife habitat management projects. Young forests are an important part of the forest landscape, but have declined over the past 50 years along with the wildlife that depend on this habitat type.

Little John WMA is located in the towns of Boylston and Redfield in Oswego County and the towns of Lorraine and Worth in Jefferson County, and was established in 1928 on abandoned farmland that was transferred to the State. The 7,918-acre property is approximately 60 percent mature forest with a mixture of hard- and softwoods and less than three percent open space, including water and grass- and shrubland areas. As part of DEC’s Young Forest Initiative, Little John WMA will be managed to provide habitat for species such as snowshoe hare, American woodcock, and ruffed grouse.

The meeting will include a presentation about Little John, with specific activities and locations for the management actions planned for the WMA, a brief overview of the Young Forest Initiative, and a question and answer period. The meeting location is wheelchair accessible. Please contact Adam Perry at 607-753-3095 ext. 240 with any specific requests for accommodations.

DEC will continue active management on Little John WMA to benefit wildlife abundance and diversity, promote best management practices for targeted wildlife and habitats, and provide opportunities for wildlife-dependent recreation, such as hunting and birdwatching. The Little John habitat management plan and more information about the WMA can be found on DEC's website.