Editing Eastern Prickly Pear (section)

== Unconfirmed Colonies ==

The following locations are places which, based upon my research, most likely support a colony of ''Opuntia humifusa''.  In most cases, I have found relatively modern textual references and/or photographs (that is, resources which are less than 10 years old) that attest to the existence of ''O. humifusa'' in these locations.  Only by an extreme disturbance to the plants or the habitat could these colonies possibly have vanished in the short amount of time that passed since they were last documented.

Most of these colonies are as yet undocumented because access to them is difficult.  Some are to be found growing upon islands and are only accessible by boat.  Others are found growing along the seashore on the mainland, but are difficult to investigate due to the fact that they are clearly on private land.

The goal of this study involves photo-documenting each one of these colonies.  Thus, in time, every location listed here will ideally be migrated to the [[#Confirmed Colonies|Confirmed Colonies]] section once I've had an opportunity to document them.

=== Outer Island Colony (Branford) ===

An issue of Connecticut Wildlife magazine published in 2003 notes that Outer Island, the island furthest south in the chain of thimble islands off the coast of Branford, "is a home for the state-endangered prickly pear cactus".<ref name="ctwoodlands">''Connecticut Wildlife''. Jan/Feb 2003: 12. Print. <http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/wildlife/pdf_files/outreach/connecticut_wildlife_magazine/cwjf03.pdf>.</ref>  Notably, Outer Island is also part and parcel to the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge.

Although Outer Island is generally not open to ordinary visitation by the public, the 2012 schedule for ferry trips to the island can be found online at the website for the Friends of Outer Island.<ref name="water-taxi">"Forms and Schedules." ''Friends of Outer Island''. Friends of Outer Island, 2012. Web. 29 May 2012. <http://www.friendsofouterisland.org/Page5.html>.</ref>

=== Russian Beach ===

As part of its online description of Russian Beach, the Town of Stratford website portrays a photograph of ''O. humifusa''<ref name="townofstratford">"Russian Beach." Town of Stratford. Town of Stratford, n.d. Web. 19 Apr 2012. <http://www.townofstratford.com/content/1302/402/625/1100/5066/5107.aspx></ref>.  Presumably, the cactus can be found at Russin Beach.  A map of Russian Beach, as well as access information, is available from the Connecticut Coastal Access Guide.<ref name="russianbeachmap">"Russian Beach." Connecticut Coastal Access Guide. Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, n.d. Web. 19 Apr 2012. <http://www.lisrc.uconn.edu/coastalaccess/sitemap.asp?siteid=339&act=1&mapaction=8&maptool=3>.</ref>

=== Scott Cove Colony (Darien) ===

The presence of ''O. humifusa'' at Scott Cove in Darien, Connecticut was noted in a series of records dated November 9, 2010 which describe an application to build a residential dock in that cove.<ref name="darien-application">State of Connecticut. Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Adjudications. ''Coastal Permit Application #200701968: Installation of a Pier, Ramp and Floating Dock, Town of Darien''. Hartford: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 2010. Web. <http://www.ct.gov/dep/lib/dep/adjudications/decisions_pdf/110910reynoldsproposedfinaldecision.pdf>.</ref>  The correspondence was produced by the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CTDEEP) Office of Adjudications.

The investigation conducted by the CTDEEP found that special revisions to the application had to be made in order to protect "Eastern Prickly Pear, identified near the landward edge of the proposed dock".  Based upon the proposed location of the dock, the cluster of ''O. humifusa'' is most likely at or within range of these coordinates: 41.059723&deg;, -73.463757&deg;.  Further examination of the small cove using satellite imagery revealed other large rocky outcrops where ''O. humifusa'' may grow as well.

Because this site and the other potential habitat areas in Scott Cove are on private property, it will difficult to examine this colony.

=== Stratford Point ===

In an article published by the Connecticut Audubon Society (CAS) on June 16, 2011, strong populations of ''Opuntia humifusa'' are noted as living at the Audubon-managed Stratford Point Property in Stratford, Connecticut.<ref name="natcons">"The Nature Conservancy funds development of adaptive coastal restoration plan for Stratford Point ." Connecticut Audubon Society. Connecticut Audubon Society, 16 Jun 2011. Web. 19 Apr 2012. <http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2011/06/nature-conservancy-funds-development-of.html>.</ref>  This population is further confirmed by another article published by the CAS in March 2012 which described a controlled burn of the grasslands at Stratford Point intended to prevent the succession of meadows into forest.  Although the article text does not actually refer to ''O. humifusa'', a supporting photograph that follows the text is given the caption," Walking the site - picking up litter, looking at what trees to avoid burning, and here clearing a bit of brush around the Prickly Pear Cactus marked by flagging behind the small cedar to protect it."<ref name="controlledburn">"Controlled burn at Stratford Point!" ''Connecticut Audubon Society''. Connecticut Audubon Society, 2 Mar 2012. Web. 19 Apr 2012. <http://ctaudubon.blogspot.com/2012/03/controlled-burn-at-stratford-point.html>.</ref>