Rare Plant to Be Protected During Trail Project

Monkton, Vt. — The Nature Conservancy in Vermont said it will ensure a rare flower is protected while builders renovate a hiking trail in the town of Monkton.

Conservancy critical lands manager Lynn McNamara told WCAX-TV the new walkway will be built away from the winged loosestrife in the Raven Ridge Natural Area.

The flower, long thought to be extinct in Vermont, was discovered by a botanist in Monkton last year.

McNamara said the conservancy has flagged the area near the loosestrife and talked to trail builders about identifying the rare flowers.

The state said a small number of winged loosestrife plants were last observed by a botanist in Middlebury in 1979.

It is closely related to purple loosestrife, which is native to Europe and Asia and is invasive in Vermont.

Vt. Police: Quebec Woman Dead After Bicycle Crash

Warren, Vt. — Vermont State Police has released the name of the 30-year-old Quebec woman who died after she hit a tree while bicycling on the Lincoln Gap Road in the town of Warren.

Police were notified of the crash at about 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Police said Carolyne Delage died on the way to the hospital.

The investigation into the death is continuing.

— Wire reports

Vermonters told to avoid loons during summer breeding season

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MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont is asking boarders and anglers on the state’s lakes and ponds to keep their distance from loons to avoid disturbing them during breeding season.

The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department said Wednesday that humans continue to threaten the state’s loon population despite the bird’s removal from the endangered species list in 2005.

Officials said loon chicks are often hard to spot and boaters should note where loon families are, avoid those areas and obey “no wake” guidance.

Anglers should avoid lead fishing tackle, take all fishing line with them and avoid attracting loons.

Eric Hanson, a biologist with the Loon Conservation Project, said that loons may approach people if they are curious but that if a loon feels stressed from being chased it may abandon its young.