New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced ongoing work to improve public safety at Zoar Valley Multiple Use and Unique Areas in southern Erie and northern Cattaraugus counties and reminded visitors to prepare for outdoor adventures prior to visiting. Zoar Valley is one of Western New York’s most scenic and ecologically diverse natural areas. [Read more…] about Zoar Valley Improvements Update
Nature
Lake Ontario Fisheries Public Meetings Planned
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Bureau of Fisheries Chief, Lake Ontario Unit Leader, and respective regional fisheries managers will be on-hand at two upcoming public meetings hosted by DEC partners in Rochester and Mexico, Oswego County, NY. DEC experts will talk about the current state of the Lake Ontario sport fisheries and take questions on a wide array of management actions and research taking place on the lake and tributaries. [Read more…] about Lake Ontario Fisheries Public Meetings Planned
Blanding’s Turtle
The Blanding’s turtle inhabits a variety of wetlands including marshes, swamps, and flood plains. However, individual turtles will travel over land considerable distances to reach sandy or gravelly areas to lay eggs, and vernal pools where they will feast on amphibian egg masses, larval amphibians, crustaceans, plants, and other organisms throughout the spring. [Read more…] about Blanding’s Turtle
Record Broken for Oldest Bear Hunter
When New York State’s big game biologists began compiling the black bear hunting data from this past hunting season, they noticed something unique. Nothing about the black bears reported by hunters or checked by taxidermists seemed out of the ordinary, but there was an outlier in the distribution of the ages of successful hunters. [Read more…] about Record Broken for Oldest Bear Hunter
Multiple Upstate NY Wildfires Keep Rangers Busy
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers were kept busy last week suppressing numerous wildfires around New York State as very dry conditions persisted and drove the Fire Danger to HIGH. Fires were reported in at least five towns in four counties, including in Clinton, Sullivan, Schoharie, and Albany Counties. The fires burned about 50 acres total including a large 30-acre fire that burned ion the town of Black Brook, Clinton County, for two days. At least two fires were caused by illegal debris burning despite the high danger for fire spread.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Multiple Upstate NY Wildfires Keep Rangers Busy
Logging, Forestry, Wildfires & Forest Rangers: William Fox’s Legacy
Driving by the Saratoga Tree Nursery, just south of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), most barely notice the state tree nursery’s rustic entrance sign – and you need to squint to see that its full name is “Colonel William F. Fox Memorial Saratoga Tree Nursery.” The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which owns the nursery, considers William Fox the “father” of today’s DEC forest ranger program, as well at the guy who believed the state should raise young trees for later replanting.
Yet the story of the 19th century Ballston Spa native, who also served with valor in the Civil War, is little-known to the general public. [Read more…] about Logging, Forestry, Wildfires & Forest Rangers: William Fox’s Legacy
Wilderstein Landscape & Birding Walk
Wilderstein Historic Site in Rhinebeck, Dutchess County, NY, has announced a landscape and birding walk, set for Wednesday, May 31st. [Read more…] about Wilderstein Landscape & Birding Walk
$13M DEC & Adirondack Watershed Institute Invasive Species Plan
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced a $13.24-million, five-year partnership with the Adirondack Watershed Institute (AWI) of Paul Smith’s College to administer the Adirondack Park Watercraft Inspection Steward Program (WISP). The announcement, made during Adirondack Day at the New York State Capitol, is expected to protect the Adirondack Park’s resources from the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) that damage ecosystems. [Read more…] about $13M DEC & Adirondack Watershed Institute Invasive Species Plan
DEC Releases 2022 Deer Hunting Estimates
Hunters in New York killed an estimated 231,961 deer during the 2022 hunting seasons, a 10-percent increase from last year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced. [Read more…] about DEC Releases 2022 Deer Hunting Estimates
Weeds of the Northeast
A second edition of Weeds of the Northeast (Cornell University Press, 2023) by Joseph C. Neal, Richard H. Uva, Joseph M. DiTomaso and Antonio DiTommaso has been published. It’s a comprehensive reference book for those aspects of weed biology and ecology important to weed management. [Read more…] about Weeds of the Northeast