In 1959, Vermont bought Snake Mountain land but not the timber rights. Seven decades later, the state wants to reunite them

A land deal dating back to 1959 is about to enter a new chapter at one of Vermont’s most important wildlife areas.

When Vermont acquired the property that became the Snake Mountain Wildlife Management Area, the state obtained the land but the seller retained the timber rights. Nearly seven decades later, Vermont is preparing to acquire those rights as part of a broader effort to expand and protect the landscape.