When the 410-acre David S. Smith Public Conservation Area was protected in 2022, one of the driving forces behind the effort was the opportunity to maintain and improve important habitat for two endangered species: the Indiana bat and the northern long-eared bat which rely on healthy, mature woodlands for roosting.

The property contains a combination of hay and crop fields, old agricultural fields returning to grassland and shrubs, a small area of forested wetland, and forests that serve as summer roost habitat for the endangered bat species. The land serves a partial headwater for Philomel Creek, which ultimately contributes to the Black River near Glen Park.

But protecting the land was only the first step. Along the woodland edge, a thick tangle of invasive buckthorn has crowded out native vegetation and diminished the ecological value of the surrounding brushland for many years.

This past fall, with funding from and partnership with SLELO PRISM, restoration work began last fall to expand and improve critical habitat. Contractor F&W Forestry removed approximately 17 acres of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle between grassland and forest habitats last November using targeted methods that minimize disturbance to desirable native trees. Once the invasive canopy is gone, native plants, including trees ideal for bat roosting, can begin to thrive again. It’s this kind of patient, careful work that restores balance to the land, and builds habitat from the ground up. The cuttings will be treated in the spring and native growth encouraged as 2026 progresses.

The goal is to open up space for natural regeneration, allowing young native trees to grow without competition from invasives. Follow-up work is planned for 2026 to ensure long-term success.

Looking ahead to 2027, THTLT is looking toward second phase of restoration in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, as 10 acres of open meadow will be transformed into new forest. The goal is to plant 5,000 trees such as oaks, pines, maples, and hickories. The project would expand habitat for bats and many other woodland species. Trees like shagbark and pignut hickory, in particular, provide the loose bark structure that endangered bats seek for roosting.

By increasing the amount of forest on the landscape, this project would support broader efforts to improve climate resilience in New York. Larger, connected forests help clean our air and water, store carbon, and buffer the effects of a changing climate.

Plans are in the works to establish an entry and parking area that will make it easier for school children, families, and the Fort Drum community to experience this land, creating space for discovery, connection, and the healing power of nature close to home.