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Who Has Muscles? LbNA #48077 (ARCHIVED)

Owner:Bell Lady
Plant date:Jun 13, 2009
Location:
City:Avon
County:Hartford
State:Connecticut
Boxes:2
Found by: Rubaduc (2)
Last found:Jun 16, 2009
Status:FFm
Last edited:May 9, 2017
Who Has Muscles?

MIA

Mine seem to be shrinking but the Farmington River boasts its own – although they are spelled differently. What makes this important is that these mussels are an endangered species.

The dwarf wedge mussel is found solely in North America’s Atlantic Coast streams and rivers of moderate current. Its size is approx. 1 ½ by 2 in. and is colored brown or yellowish brown. Adult mussels are filter-feeders and spend most of their time buried almost completely in the bottom of the stream. Eggs carried in the female’s gills, are fertilized as sperm-laden water passes through. The “glochidia” attach to a host fish where they develop for a time. Juvenile mussels detach and sink to the bottom where they continue to develop. Adults only live about 10 years, a relatively short life-span compared to other mussels that live 20 to maybe 100 years.
(All information is from various internet sources.) So who discovered these in the Farmington River? I don’t know and don’t expect to see one. Just knowing they are there is enough to interest me. So let’s explore but be aware of the poison ivy.

Find the new trail parking area on Tillotson Rd. and follow the yellow blazed trail to the right of the information board to Thompson Brook and the Farmington River. (We saw a snapping turtle laying eggs as we passed the “pond” portion of the brook. Of course I didn’t have my camera. She was gone by the time we returned. They should hatch in 2-3 months.) Continue following the yellow blazes to and along the Farmington River. You will probably want your bug repellant for this hike.

At the intersection with a bridge to the left, stay straight ahead. Eventually you will see on the left a large snag with two arms. A few steps ahead on the left will be a giant twin- sister tree. Across the trail, examine the junction of a small log with a small maple tree for the dwarf wedge mussel.

Continue on the trail under a giant sycamore limb and cross a bridge to the town line marker where the trail stops. When I read about this trail it sounded like we might get to explore the esker but that is not the case. An esker is a long, narrow ridge of stratified sand and gravel formed from deposits of sediment in the beds of streams flowing through or beneath glaciers. This one on Tillotson Rd. has always intrigued me. Would like to place a box there but will have to drop this one on the way back as a bonus.

Therefore, retrace your steps. Behind a tree on the left with a yellow blaze, see a clump of 7-8 trees in a straight line. Look behind these for the bonus but watch out for poison ivy. When I come back, I’ll bring some clippers and maybe some spray but for now you should be able to avoid it. Continue back to the parking lot.