Are you seeing more wildlife in Vermont? It's probably because you're home, says game warden

The coronavirus pandemic is keeping more people at home and that means more wildlife sightings, says a longtime game warden with the Vermont Department of Fish & Wildlife.

"I saw a male turkey and a hen turkey on my lawn in April," said Maj. George Scribner, who lives in Elmore. "I'm never at home because I'm always working. I've seen a lot of different critters since I've been home, consistently around the house."

That might also explain Jan Leja's striking photo of a bobcat, captured just off a successful hunt in a photo taken Sunday morning near Shelburne Community School.

Scribner said it's rare to see a bobcat because they're secretive, and they hunt mostly at night. This time of year, however, they have to provide for their kittens and are more likely to extend their hunting into the daylight hours, according to Scribner.

Unlike large metropolitan areas, where the lockdown required by the pandemic has led to improved air quality and a resurgence of nature in some cases, Scribner said Vermont's rural character means the state is already a pretty good place for wildlife.

"Vermonters appreciate the natural resources we have," he said. "I really think it's more a matter of people being home and being more aware of what's going on right in their back yards."

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. Sign up today for a digital subscription.