Bakke Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bakke Mountain |
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 Bakke Mountain
Location in Massachusetts
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,556 ft (779 m) |
| Listing | List of mountains in Massachusetts |
| Geography | |
| Location | Berkshire County, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS North Adams |
Bakke Mountain is a cool place located in Florida, Massachusetts. It's named after Master Sergeant Roald Bakke. He sadly passed away when a structure called Texas Tower 4 collapsed.
This mountain is important for two main reasons. First, people work hard to protect its wildlife and forests. Second, it's a key spot for the Hoosac Wind Project. This project aims to build a Bakke Mountain Wind Farm here. It will create clean energy using wind power.
Protecting Wildlife and Forests on Bakke Mountain
A big part of Bakke Mountain, about 700 to 750 acres (around 3 square kilometers), used to be a turnip farm. The Tower family owned this farm a long time ago. When the Bakke family bought the land in the 1960s, it had open fields and meadows. These areas were lined with old rock walls. Small farm animals used to graze there.
How the Forest Grew Back
Over time, the fields were no longer used for farming. First, low bushes started to grow. Then, young trees, called saplings, appeared. By the year 2000, these saplings had grown into a full forest. This change meant that some unique New England animals started to leave. These animals included black bears, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse, and moose. Even birds like the kestrel began to disappear. They needed the open grassy fields to live.
Bringing Animals Back Home
To help these animals return, a special project started in 2002. The state helped fund this conservation effort. About 100 acres (0.4 square kilometers) of land were cleared. This helped bring back the open spaces the animals needed.
The plan for this area is very smart. About 50 acres (200,000 square meters) will stay as open fields. The other 50 acres will be a mix of different environments. This includes low bushes and tall, beautiful New England trees. This variety helps many different animals.
Many of the animals that left have already started to come back! People have seen kestrels flying and diving over the newly cleared meadows. Moose have also been spotted walking along the edge of the forest. This shows that conservation efforts can really make a difference.
