Friends of Wachusett Mountain is a non-profit group dedicated to conservation,
environmental education and land stewardship at Wachusett Mountain.
Keep Your Fish to Yourself
We're counting on you to help keep the Summit Pond pure!
Update: This year, 2007, was the first year we've documented deaths of four adult spotted salamanders. All the deaths appear to be related to an infestation of leeches. These leeches may be associated with the increasing goldfish population.
Please spread the word that these goldfish are not a welcome part of the Wachusett animal community and could be not only eating the native species (eggs, and larval amphibians), but could could be exacerbating disease and parasites. If something isn't done about this issue, the population of spotted salamanders and frogs that used to breed in the summit pond could be eliminated.
If you witness anyone dumping fish (or anything, for that matter) in the pond, please report it and all the details (description of the person, license plate #, etc.) to the Department of Conservation and Recreation or Friends of Wachusett Mountain.
Leeches kill spotted salamander
Leeches kill spotted salamander
Leeches kill spotted salamander
Over the past 25 years or so, people have become used to feeding the fish in the small pond located at the summit. Did you know that most of the fish you've observed in this pond are exotic fish probably dumped in from someone's aquarium?
Although the pond appears to be manmade at first glance, historic descriptions and photographs indicate this pond is a natural feature predating recreational use of Wachusett Mountain. This pond is one of the highest elevation functional vernal pools (maybe the highest) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Why are the fish bad for the vernal pool environment? There are several native frogs and salamanders that live in this pond. For at least the past 6 years, wood frogs do not even lay eggs this pond, but do in a nearby pond. This is probably because either the fish ate all the eggs and/or tadpoles year after year until the wood frog population died out. Alternatively, the adults may be able to detect the fish and lay their eggs in another pond. Spotted salamanders continue to breed in this pond, but we are not sure if their larvae achieve metamorphosis on a regular basis or if they are mostly eaten. Eastern newts also live in this pond year-round, but their toxic skin probably prevents fish from eating the adults. However the fish got there, they are not a natural part of the pond and could ultimately lead to complete eradication of some of the native amphibians.
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