FRIENDS OF THE BLUE HILLS PROTECT & PRESERVE

April – June 2012 Volume 37, Number 2

As Incidence of Lyme Disease Increases, More Blue Hills Visitors at Risk After contracting Lyme disease last fall, tell-tale bulls eye red mark Westwood resident Elaine worries about that surrounds the bite of getting sick if she returns to the Blue an infected tick bite and her Hills. While we all can still enjoy the Blue doctor prescribed antibiotics Hills, Elaine’s story will become ever more that healed her. common as the incidence of Lyme disease She is back to her regular continues to climb. A neighborhood that activities now but is reluc- borders the Reservation reports that 30 tant to return to the park households have 30 incidents of Lyme because she is concerned disease. We need to work together to make about getting so sick again. sure Elaine and everyone who loves the Knowing she couldn’t help Blue Hills can continue to enjoy it. control Lyme disease by herself, she contacted the This is not your grandparents’ Blue Hills. When many of us were growing up, most people had never heard of Lyme laine Kerrigan used to love Friends of the Blue Hills disease. Now almost everyone knows someone who’s had it. Ehiking in the Blue Hills. and discovered that she’s not Elaine Kerrigan is one of them. Though she has lived her whole alone. Many people who visit the Reservation want we can work together to reduce the risk life in Weymouth, just 10 minutes to protect themselves and their families of Lyme disease and protect the for- away from the park, she didn’t start from Lyme disease and its potentially ests so that all visitors feel comfortable exploring here until she was in her devastating effects. exploring the Blue Hills. thirties. We appreciate your thoughts on how She always enjoyed exercising out- doors, so when she discovered how much fun she found hiking and cross- What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? country skiing, the Blue Hills was a Massachusetts Representative a donut. Flu-like symptoms, such as natural fit. She loved exploring differ- David Linsky issued a report on Lyme fever, headache, stiff neck, sore and ent areas with her friends: starting at a disease that affirms that “the occur- aching muscles and joints, fatigue and different trailhead, exploring the Blue rence of Lyme disease has reached swollen glands may also occur. dot trail one day and Red dot the next. near epidemic proportions in Mas- Even though these symptoms may go That was before she contracted Lyme sachusetts.” Even so, many doctors away by themselves, treatment during disease from a tick last October despite do not recognize the symptoms and the early stage prevents later, more taking precautions. Elaine was always often misdiagnose. Although you can serious problems. still have Lyme disease without any careful to avoid tick bites by wearing Later stages (weeks to years): If of these symptoms, here are common long pants, covering her arms with long untreated, people with Lyme disease symptoms to look for. sleeves, donning a hat and checking can develop late-stage symptoms even herself after her many walks. Still, she Early stage (days to weeks): Rash if they never had a rash. The joints, found herself one day unable to get out where the tick was attached. It often, nervous system and heart are most of bed and suffering from excruciat- but not always, starts as a small red commonly affected. area that spreads outward, clear- ing headaches and joints too painful Source: Mass Department of Public ing up in the center so it looks like to move. Eventually she found the Health Lyme disease fact sheet.

1 Blue Hills Critters

What’s Yellow and Black and Parties once a Year?

By John Walsh April), these critters temporarily vacate ave you ever been beautifully their underground quarters during the night and clandestinely make their way dressed up with nowhere to H to a nearby vernal pool. These pools go? Such is the life of the spotted typically form in depressions that fill salamander (Ambystoma macula- with water during the fall and winter, tum) which spends most of its life yet are shallow enough to fully dry out beneath ground emerging but for as the summer goes along. By drying a brief time to mate before return- out completely, these pools thus are not ing to its subterranean and solitary able to sustain populations of fishes that existence. might otherwise prey on tasty salaman- ders and their eggs. While this might be Unlike its more abundant and fully an effective mechanism to reduce fish terrestrial relative, the red-backed predation, it means that salamanders salamander ( Plethodon cinereus ), the are racing the clock. The race begins spotted is hard to overlook. A monster with the salamanders reaching these by comparison, stretching upwards pools where the males place packets of Photo by Jonathan Twining of seven inches or more, the spotted sperm (spermatophores) on submerged possesses a striking black background surfaces followed by females who take through much the sequence but during punctuated with large yellow dots. up the spermatophores. The activity can the fall, instead of the spring and The spotted has several notable close get frenzied with these breeding con- summer months. This strategy has its relatives all distinguished by a similar gresses, as they are known, sometimes advantages resulting in an advanced lifestyle. Commonly known as the mole involving hundreds of individuals. state of growth for marbled larvae that salamanders in recognition of their The female then deposits the fertilized overwinter in these pools allowing them below ground (or fossorial) existence, eggs in masses that can contain varying to prey on their newly hatched relatives members of the family Ambystomatidae numbers of individual eggs depend- in the spring. are unique to North America and are ing upon the species. These egg masses Like amphibians globally, our own represented by a single genus compris- can readily be distinguished from most populations are at risk. Although spot- ing some 32 currently recognized spe- other amphibian species as they have a ted salamander populations are rela- cies. However, only three of these are smooth appearance due to a gelatinous tively secure, the blue-spotted is listed known to inhabit the Blue Hills. Along cover. The masses may also take on a as a species of Special Concern by the with the aforementioned spotted sala- green coloration due to the growth of state of Massachusetts. The marbled mander, which is the most common of symbiotic algae that may both pro- is at even greater risk and is currently our local mole salamanders, the blue- vide oxygen and camouflage for the listed as Threatened by the state. This spotted (A. laterale ) and the marbled developing eggs. Incubation typically greater level of endangerment may, in (A. opacum ) may also be found in the lasts a month or so with the larvae part, reflect the fact that our state is at Reservation. The blue-spotted is distin- undergoing a rapid metamorphosis in the northern limit of its natural geo- guished by possessing small blue spots which the external gills of their aquatic graphic range. However, the range of or flecks on a dark background, an stage give rise to the features needed threats to all of these critters is daunt- appearance reminiscent of vintage blue for their terrestrial futures as mature ing. Leading the list is unquestionably speckled enamelware. The marbled, as salamanders. They then usually emerge habitat loss, degradation and fragmen- its name suggests is distinguished by from these drying pools during the tation. Pollution including road runoff having a stockier build with grey or summer months and then disperse to and acid precipitation, coupled with white bands on a black background. surrounding upland habitats. It should road kill as they migrate across roads However, it’s that party once a year be noted that while this scenario is true on their way to breeding pools, also that really sets these mole salamanders for both the blue-spotted and spotted apart. With the first warm rains of early salamanders, their marbled cousins go (continued on page 4) spring (typically late March through 2 Calendar of Events

Pull and post this section of the Friends of the Blue Hills Newsletter and join us for some exciting events in the Blue Hills Reservation!

Spring 2012 ▲ FBH sponsored event

Blue Hills Bird Walk FBH joint walk with Brookline Bird Club. Several short hikes, each about one mile, Sunday, April 1, 8:00 am the first of which is steep, to look for early spring migrants. Beginners are welcome. Bring binoculars and bird book. 4.5 hours. Meet at the small parking lot on Chicka- tawbut Road just off Randolph Ave. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585. ▲

DCR Trailwatch Mountain Here’s your chance to perfect your pedal power. Join the DCR Trailwatch volunteers Bike Rides on a series of introductory rides to acquaint you with the biking trails of the Blue Saturday, April 7, 9:00 am and Hills as we kick off the biking season. Bring your own bike. Helmet required. Eye Sunday, May 5, 9:00 am protection and gloves recommended. Meet at the Houghton’s Pond main lot. Regis- tration required: 617-698-1802. Space is limited.

Park Serve Day Lend a hand for DCR Park Serve Day. Join us to spruce up the trails. Includes a hike Saturday, April 21, 9:00 am – 1:00 pm to the work sites. Wear long pants and gloves. Tools, water, snacks and lunch provided. Email [email protected] for registration and meeting place. ▲

Blue Hill Section Hike FBH joint hike with AMC. 7 mile hike on a variety of trails, some steep, including Sunday, April 22, 10:00 am Skyline Trail with views. 5.5 hours. Meet at Houghton’s Pond lot. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585. ▲

Blue Hills Skyline Figure-Eight Join us for a rugged 5 mile figure-eight trek over the skyline trail to the top of Great Sunday, April 28, 1:00 pm Blue Hill and then to Buck Hill and back. Sturdy hiking boots required. Bring a snack and a water bottle. Ages 15 and up. 4 hours. Email Raymond.F.McKinnon@ state.ma.us for registration & meeting place. Space is limited.

Rockin’ in the Park Join Friends of the Blue Hills and Les Tyrala, a registered geologist, as we explore Saturday, May 5, 1:00 pm the bedrock and glacial features of Great Blue Hill. Learn the secrets of stone on this moderately strenuous hike over rocky terrain. Sturdy footgear required. Space is lim- ited. 1.5 hours. Email [email protected] for registration and meet- ing place. ▲

Blue Hill Observatory & Science Enjoy the amazing view, fascinating history and fun activities at the oldest continu- Center Open House & Kite Festival ally operating Weather Observatory in the country. Join us for an open house and fun Saturday, May 12, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm fest for all ages. Free admission to events. Donation for materials for some activities. For details and parking information, call (617) 696-0562. Rain or shine. Learn more at www.bluehill.org.

Fowl Meadow Bird Walk FBH joint hike with AMC. Beginner’s Bird Walk, 3 miles. Learn to bird. See Saturday, May 5, 7:00 am common & rare species at height of spring migration. Bring binoculars and bird book. 3.5 hours. Meet at Paul’s Bridge parking lot on Neponset Valley Pkwy. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585. ▲

Trailside Museum Snakes, bugs and worms, oh my! Hop, slither or slide your way to Trailside Museum Creepy Crawly Days to learn about some of nature’s most misunderstood animals. Live animal exhibits, Saturday May 12 & Sunday May 13 fun bug hunts, and crafts are just a few of the activities planned for the weekend. You 10:00 am to 4:00 pm may arrive saying, “Eeww or Yuck!”, but you’ll leave saying “Oh, that’s really cool!” Don’t miss Creepy Crawlies Day at Blue Hills Trailside Museum. Pre-registration is not required. Program admission: Child: $4 Adult: $4.

3 Calendar of Events (2)

Fowl Meadow Bird Walk FBH joint hike with AMC. Beginner’s Bird Walk, 3 miles. Learn to bird by listening Saturday, May 19, 8:00 am for and identifying late migrant and nesting species in the best birding area in the Blue Hills. Bring binoculars and bird book if you have one. 3.5 hours. Meet at Paul’s Bridge parking lot on Neponset Valley Pkwy. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585. ▲

Green Up the Blue Hills Join the Friends of the Blue Hills and the Appalachian Mountain Club to help keep Sunday, May 20, 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm the forests healthy for people, plants and animals. For more info visit www.Friendsoft- heBlueHills.org Meet at Temple Beth David at 1060 Randolph St. in Canton. Email [email protected] or call 781-828-1805 for registration. ▲

Wildflower Hike FBH joint hike with AMC. 8 mile hike in eastern section viewing wildflowers and Saturday, May 26, 10:00 am climbing scenic hills, some steep, including the new trail along the restored Blue Hill Reservoir. 6 hours. Meet at Shea Ice Rink. Leader: Steve Olanoff, 781-326-6585. ▲

Salamander (continued from page 3) habitat may require similar protective Give the Gift that Costs Nothing add significantly to the toll. Climate measures as well to change and mosquito control meth- be fully effective. During Your Lifetime. ods that act to reduce potential food In any case, if sources for the salamander may add this spring you are to the burden. Although vernal pools all dressed up and and associated wetlands do offer some ready for a night degree of legal protection with addi- on the town yet tional protection afforded species such find your plans as the blue-spotted or marbled under dampened by wet the Massachusetts Endangered Species weather, take heart Act, this may not be enough. Research, for in scattered for example, has indicated that while

vernal pools and Elibero Photo by Terilyn many of these salamanders spend most wetlands through- of their lives within a few hundred out the Blue Hills Thank you for remembering feet of their breeding pools, many the party is just the Friends of the Blue Hills in your will. others may travel from thousands of beginning. feet away. Thus, not only must such pools be recognized and protected, but YES! I want to protect the Blue Hills Reservation! significant swaths of adjoining upland ❏ I want to become a Friends of the Blue Hills member The Friends of the Blue Hills (Please choose one of the following:) newsletter is produced four Personal: ❏ Individual $25 ❏ Family $45 ❏ Senior $20 times a year. Business: ❏ Agency $50 ❏ Business $100 ❏ Corporate $500 # Editors: Sue Christensen, ❏ I would like to make an additional donation of: Judy Jacobs, ❏ $50 ❏ $75 ❏ $100 ❏ $500 ❏ Other: $ ______Layout: Owen Hartford Name ______Visit us on the web at Address ______www.FriendsoftheBlueHills.org City/State/Zip______or call 781-828-1805 Phone ______E-mail ______for membership, maps and Please make checks payable to Friends of the Blue Hills, and mail to: schedule information. P.O. Box 416, Milton, MA 02186 PO Box 416, Milton, MA 02186

4 The Blue Hills Reservation: We’re In It Together...

Why not explore the Blue Hills on Wheels? By Steve Cobble warm-up up Wolcott Path always introduce new riders to will determine who can hang and is always more the park with, “Nothing flat I fun in a group. But if you about the Blue Hills”…. hang in there, you’ll enjoy That’s what I love about it. Lots another four miles that of ups and downs. Climbing builds will get your blood flowing strength and tenacity, and descents nicely. Each loop will take keep me focused on what’s down the you from 35 minutes to 1 trail. Ascending to the top of Buck Hill hour, depending on your gives me that great sense of accomplish- fitness level. Neither is very ment and a worldwide view. Riding technical, and the terrain down that same trail, and having lived is mostly loose gravel and through it has made me a better rider. hardpack. There are many miles of trail in the Keep in mind a few Blue Hills open to bikes with fast dou- things on this loop. This bletrack, a selection of fun singletrack, trail is a very popular trail and a few quite rocky trails to practice for hikers, dog walkers, your technique and session with friends. and school field trips, so Grab a map the Blue Hills Headquarters look WAY ahead before on Hillside Street, Milton to negotiate letting go of the brakes the many intersections you will encoun- The arrowed loops are ter. There is a small free one for bikers only signed in one direc- and larger color/topo map that shows tion but once you get to the entire reservation for a $2.00 dona- to know them, try them tion to the Trailside Museum. Every backwards. If you decide to major intersection has a number on a exit down Wolcott Path at tree that coincides with the map. Keep the end of a ride, there are Photo by Philip Keyes in mind that when you’re looking at the a few overly-enthusiastic waterbars number sign, you’re looking north. that will take you out at speed, so be while beginners and families will enjoy An easy way to get to know the Blue careful. If you stay on the yellow, take a loop is relatively flat and wide. Hills is to follow the arrows along two a hard left just after the last yellow Blue Hills is open to mountain loops which both start at the main lot arrow pointing right(you’ll see the street biking all year with the exception of at Houghton’s Pond on Hillside street. below), to follow that side-hill trail all March which is mud season. Check the Look for the ‘Welcome Mountain the way back to the street. You’ll end dedicated DCR mountain biking map Bikers’ kiosk in the front row of the lot. up right across from the lot, and it’s a for other trails that are open to bikes. White arrows take you on about five much nicer finish than riding the road There are some trails which are off- miles along the south side of Hillside back. The last little technical, downhill, limits to riding and would be impos- street. You will not encounter any huge rocky ‘groove’ section dumps you out sible for most mortal riders, but there hills here, but the loop is challenging onto the side of the road in the oppo- are plenty of places to explore here. Oh, nonetheless. The loose gravelly old car- site direction of traffic, so again, use did I mention that you’ll be climbing riage paths will keep you honest and caution! some hills? encourage you to stay upright. Another fun area to ride in the park Steve Cobble is an FBH member and Yellow arrows cross the street at is the Ponkapoag section where the president of the Southeast Mass Chap- Blue Hills Headquarters and send you green dot loop is now open to bikes. ter of the New England Mountain Bike immediately on a half mile climb to Experienced riders will appreciate the Association. You can reach him at stevec@ BreakNeck Ledge. This ‘eliminator’ time to ‘spin’ on the dirt road sections, semassnemba.org.

5 Join FBH and a geologist for Rockin’ in the Park May 5, 1:00 pm (see calendar for details.) Every little bit helps... join us to Green-up the Blue Hills, Every James Green, Canton; Peter Jeffries, Milton; Joe Sloane, Trails Committee Co-Chairs: Caleb Blankenship, Bob Flagg; Sunday, May 20. (See calendar for details.) Advocacy Chairs: Denny Swenson and James Green Hilary Blocker,Hilary Canton; Ryan Carpenter, Canton; Denny Swenson, Milton; John Walsh, Westwood Officers of the Friends of the Blue Hills: Staff Program Committee Chair: Ryan Carpenter Board Development Chair: Garrett Owen Vice President: Garrett Owen, Franklin Treasurer: Mazairz, Weymouth Robert Membership Coordinator: Ken Jones : Executive Director: Judy Lehrer Jacobs; Milton Conservation Commission Milton Conservation President: John Sheehan, Dover; AAA of Southern New England AAA of Southern Middlesex Bank Savings Bank Secretary: Jake Daly,Secretary: Milton Thacher Montessori School Reebok International, Ltd. Reebok International, YMCA of Greater Boston HarborOne Credit Union Park Planning Associates AMC Ponkapoag Camp Corporate Members Colonial Road Runners Business Members Harmony Hills Stables Harmony Trustees at Large: Galatea Fine Jewelry Galatea Fine Jewelry Agency Members Rivkind Associates Dedham Savings Hyde Park Bank Patagonia

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage Friends of the Blue Hills. PAID P.O. Box 416, Milton, MA 02186 Boston, MA Permit No. 56571 Address Service Requested

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