More than 800 acres were recently protected in western Massachusetts, and plans include turning it into one of the region’s largest publicly-accessible wildlife sanctuaries.
Mass Audubon purchased the 858-acre property in Becket, Massachusetts in early May. The property was formerly the home of the Berkshire Fishing Club.
Mass Audubon officials said the land, now dubbed Palmer Brook, has long been a conservation priority due to its size, location in a conservation corridor anchored by the 16,500-acre October Mountain State Forest, and potential for carbon storage.
Officials said they plan to have the land be the future home of Palmer Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, which will require planning, additional funding, and improvements before the sanctuary can open to the public. When it does open, it will be Mass Audubon’s second-largest publicly accessible wildlife sanctuary in the Berkshires.
Almost all the acres are forested, which provides excellent habitat for forest-dependent birds as well as moose, bear, and other species. The property also contains a 125-acre lake impounded by an earthen dam constructed by the former owners for recreational purposes and a small lodge.
Over the years, there have been several conversations with the owners, none of which yielded an agreement to protect the property. But, in 2024, Mass Audubon successfully negotiated with the family, who have owned the property since the 1960s, to acquire the property for $5 million.
A coalition of conservation partners came together to support the acquisition, including the local Becket Land Trust and regional Berkshire Natural Resources Council. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation made a $1.25 million commitment, and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Landscape Partnership Grant Program awarded an additional $1.25 million.
The balance of the funding was provided by MathWorks via their investment in Mass Audubon’s 30×30 Catalyst Fund as well as many individual gifts and grants.
