Getting Hands on in the Hammond: Featured Species Highbush Cranberries The highbush cranberry is actually not a cranberry at all, though its fruit, or ‘drupes’ as they are known taxonomically, strongly resemble cranberries in both appearance and taste, and they also mature in the fall, as cranberries do. While native to North America, the highbush cranberry is a Viburnum, a member of the Honeysuckle family, while the ‘true,’ or lowbush cranberry, which is a Vaccinium, a membe

Getting Hands on in the Hammond: Featured Species Fireweed Fireweed has gone to seed! As you might have guessed from its name, fireweed thrives in areas that have been burned out in forest fires. This flower is often abundant in wet calcareous to slightly acidic soils in open fields, pastures, and wetlands. Its tendency to quickly colonize open areas with little competition, such as sites of forest fires and forest clearings, makes it a great example of a pioneer species. Th

Salmon are heading back into our river system from the ocean to spawn. This is a critical stage in the salmon lifecycle, and we can all play a part to help ensure spawning success! Keep your vehicles, including ATV's, out of the river. Not only does driving through the river disturb the sediment and alter the habitat, you could be driving over redds (salmon spawning nests) or over salmon themselves. There are plenty of trails for you to explore, but please- do not drive throu

Getting Hands on in the Hammond: Featured Species Chokecherries Chokecherries can be found throughout our watershed at this time of year! The berries are edible; however, the seeds contain cyanide (similar to apple seeds), and these seeds can be toxic if eaten in large quantities. Chokecherries are a favorite of many birds in our area, and we have used chokecherries in several planting projects, as they are great for combatting erosion, while providing food for wildlife!

Getting Hands on in the Hammond: Featured Species Gray Catbirds Ever been in the woods, and think you hear a kitty? That may just be the gray catbird tricking you! Gray Catbirds are relatives of mockingbirds and thrashers, and they share that group’s vocal abilities, copying the sounds of other species and stringing them together to make their own song. They are even known to mimic frogs, humans, and machinery sounds as well!

During our freshwater mussel survey in Fowler Brook, we came across a 'new' find- fingernail clams! Fingernail clams, also called pill clams or pea clams, are members of a family of small to tiny freshwater clams that are common but rarely noticed. Out of all the sites we've surveyed for freshwater mussels, this is the only site that we actually noticed these tiny clams! Like mussels, these clams are also filter feeders that remove suspended organic materials from the water,

Hammond River Angling Association's office will be closed today, September 30th. Observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a part of HRAA's commitment to continue on our pathway forward in the vital process of truth and reconciliation.

Getting Hands on in the Hammond: Featured Species British Soldier Lichen! This bright and whimsical lichen is a delight to spot throughout our watershed. Lichens are fascinating things and are the result of an intricate relationship between a fungus and an alga (or a cyanobacterium). Lichens are named for their fungal partner, so British soldiers are scientifically called Cladonia cristatella. This fungus has a symbiotic relationship with the alga called Trebouxia erici. Both

We are continuing to expand on our knowledge of the watershed by exploring a previously undocumented brook. This brook flows down Prospect Mountain, and as such, we have decided to name it "Prospect Brook". We have been collecting monthly water quality samples and performing fish habitat assessments in this tributary to help us understand the ecosystem services that this brook is providing to the watershed!

Getting Hands on in the Hammond: Featured Species Woodland Angelica Invasive plant alert! Woodland Angelica is not a native species to New Brunswick, and caution must be used when interacting with this plant. The robust plant has a thick stalk that can grow up to a meter tall, with roots spreading as deep as two and a half meters deep. It features umbrella-like flower heads and leaf sheaths. Plants can grow more than two meters tall and can commonly found along the side of th