Wildlife Habitat
On the southwest shore of Isle La Motte is an abundant and diverse wildlife
habitat. According to a wildlife biologist this is because the area
consists of contiguous mini-habitats of which the old Fisk Quarry
is a central feature. The mini-habitats include Lake Champlain, the
adjacent quarry wetlands including ponds, emergent marsh, wet woodlands and
meadow, old fields and rocky ledge.
An intact food chain functions here as evidenced by such predators as the
Great Horned Owl and the River Otter. Mammals inhabiting the area include
beaver, muskrat, otter, foxes, coyotes, short tailed Shrew, Eastern
Chipmunk, Gray Squirrel, Red Squirrel, raccoons, skunks, cottontails
and deer.
Fish in the quarry ponds include brown bullhead, spiny Sticklebacks,
Golden Pond Shiner, and a pond minnow. The ponds and marshes in Fisk Quarry
house bullfrogs, Leopard Frogs, Spring Peepers, and Gray Treefrogs, Painted
and Wood turtles.
As a sanctuary for birds, the habitat is on a par with Missiquoi according
one birder. During 3 weeks in spring, 106 species were sited. Mallards
and Wood Duck breed and feed in the quarry ponds. Common Mergansers, Blue-
winged Teal and Great Blue and Green Herons frequent the quarry wetlands.
Ruffle Grouse, Woodcock, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Northern Shrike,
Great Horned Owl, Pileated Woodpecker and Common Snipe have been sighted in
the adjoining fields and woods.