A type of fern that was thought to have disappeared from Vermont has been rediscovered along a powerline in the Northeast Kingdom.
The presence of the fern was confirmed by botanist Art Gilman along a VELCO-owned powerline.
Climbing ferns typically grow a few feet tall in open boggy areas. It is the only species of fern found in the Northeast that is a vine.
Though the species is considered secure globally, it is rare in northern New England. The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife says the climbing fern was last seen in Vermont in 1997.
The department said it's possible the recently discovered patch has been there right along, but it is also possible the species is moving north in response to climate change.
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