Amanda Purcell is reporting in the Register-Star on the grand opening of the Doodletown Wildlife Management Area in Columbia County, Tue., Apr. 25, as part of the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Earth Week celebration. The DEC this year purchased the nearly 700 acres located in the towns of Ancram, Taghkanic and Gallatin from a private seller with $2.8 million in federal funds. The land is the third and largest wildlife management area in the county, DEC Regional Director Keith Goertz said. As a Wildlife Management Area, the public will have permanent access and the land will be largely used for conservation of fish and wildlife resources. Doodletown's shrub habitat can be expanded to support the New England cottontail rabbit. The area is already home to migratory songbirds, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, scarlet tanager, Louisiana water thrush and the wood thrush. The Doodletown Wildlife Management Area can be accessed via New Forge, Allen, East Klein and Doodletown roads, as well as County Route 27. Read the full story in the Register-Star.