Orenda Wildlife Land Trust

Orenda's No Bottom Pond Sanctuary is named for the pond it abuts. This classic kettlehole pond, formed by a retreating glacier, does, indeed, appear bottonless. In this unspoiled setting, Orenda stewards Dick Boyden and Ken Burnes found an extensive array of makeshift shelters. Wooden pallets and sheets of plywood had been dragged into the woods to create barriers and downed trees and branches were also used. Dozens and dozens of live and spent paintballs of all colors covered the ground.

An anonymous phone call started it. "Trails have been cut into your property and teenage boys in camouflage are shooting back there."

The property the caller spoke of is Orenda's No Bottom Pond Sanctuary. The 28 acre Sanctuary is a classic Cape Cod kettlehole ecosystem and the waters of the pond literally appear to be bottomless. In this pristine setting, a group of paintballers constructed an arena for their battles.

For the uninitiated, in the sport of paintball, individuals or teams battle with air-powered guns. The guns fire small, round balloon-like balls, filled with various colors of paint. The paint marks hit opponents, rendering them "dead" and out of play. This sport is played across the country and there even is a National competition.

Two of Orenda's stewards, Ken Burnes and Dick Boyden made an initial visit that revealed an extensive area of makeshift barriers and shelters. Some were just piles of brush or dead limbs and tree trunks, while others were made of sheets of plywood and wooden pallets. Fortunately, the few trees that had been cut down were small, but the entire area was littered with live and spent paintballs. A trail led from the battlefield directly to a house abutting the Sanctuary ~ obviously access for the perpetrators.

Orenda President, David Tately, made a call to the Brewster Police Department who were subsequently able to catch the "soldiers" in action the following weekend. The boys were informed that they were trespassing.

The next step was to plan a cleanup day. To prepare to remove the plywood and pallets, Dick Boyden made another visit to the Sanctuary armed with a chainsaw. He cut the boards into a more manageable size and was returning to his vehicle when he saw adults at the door of the offenders, house. He took a chance, introduced himself and explained what he was doing. He also took the time to tell them about Orenda and our mission to protect wildlife habitat.

The parents apologized for the encroachment and assured Dick that the boys would clean up the site themselves.

Dick, who heads up Orenda's Stewardship Committee, is planning a follow-up visit with two or three other volunteers to check on the cleanup, take care of anything left undone and post more Orenda signs along the property line separating our Sanctuary and private homes.

Orenda faces the challenge of monitoring its lands from all kinds of incursions. Some of our Sanctuaries have been scarred by ATV riders cutting trails through pristine wildlife habitat. Trash dumping seems to be never-ending. But in the case of No Bottom Pond, a little diplomacy has had the desired results. Thanks to Dick Boyden, a number of people are now aware of Orenda's important mission and No Bottom Pond Sanctuary will be preserved for wildlife forever.