According to a press release issued by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), on June 10th, after receiving multiple complaints of people keeping undersized marine species, shellfish from uncertified waters, and protected terrapins (commonly called turtles) during low tide, Environmental Conservation Officers (ECOs) Veloski and Currey participated in Operation Low Tide, an enforcement initiative to combat the illegal taking of wildlife and shellfish in New York City. [Read more…] about Operation Low Tide Nabs Crab, Turtle Poachers
Nature
Ashland Flats Wildlife Management Area
Ashland Flats Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in the towns of Lyme and Cape Vincent, in Jefferson County. The 2,028-acre property includes large grassland fields, wetland impoundments, shrublands, and forested wetlands. [Read more…] about Ashland Flats Wildlife Management Area
Wonders of Wilmington: A New Adirondack Challenge
The Adirondack town of Wilmington, in Essex County, NY has recently launched the Wonders of Wilmington (WOW) Challenge, where participants are invited to complete the hiking, mountain biking, or family fun challenges to receive their patches. [Read more…] about Wonders of Wilmington: A New Adirondack Challenge
The Northeast’s Lymantria dispar Outbreak
Occasionally I get an email from a camp, school, or even my local Rotary asking if I can present a program on insects. So it was not unusual last week for me to be handing insect nets to excited Cub Scouts. I led them toward some ash trees and made sure each Scout had an insect to examine under the microscope. Our field trip ended beneath a maple, where a parent had pointed out a profusion of caterpillars. [Read more…] about The Northeast’s Lymantria dispar Outbreak
Report Moose Sightings to DEC
DEC has asked the public to report moose sightings via an online form as part of ongoing efforts to monitor moose across New York.
While the Adirondacks are home to most New York moose, some live in the eastern part of the state along the Vermont and Massachusetts borders. Moose can also occasionally be found in southeastern New York and the Catskills, but these are usually individuals that have dispersed from other areas. [Read more…] about Report Moose Sightings to DEC
Wild Center Indoor Exhibits Have Reopened
The Wild Center in Tupper Lake has reopened its indoor exhibits to the public. Visitors are welcome back inside the main museum building and invited to hike The Living River loop trail, a walking tour with 12 stops that take guests on a journey from the highest heights of the Adirondack Mountains all the way down to the bogs and marshes of the lowlands. [Read more…] about Wild Center Indoor Exhibits Have Reopened
Proposed National Marine Sanctuary Highlights Lake Ontario Maritime History
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released a draft proposal for a national marine sanctuary in eastern Lake Ontario and the Thousand Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. The proposed sanctuary designation celebrates Upstate New York’s unique maritime heritage and provides a national stage for promoting the region’s tourism and recreational opportunities. [Read more…] about Proposed National Marine Sanctuary Highlights Lake Ontario Maritime History
Two New Wildlife Management Areas in Western NY
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced the acquisition of more than 1,200 acres in two Western New York counties that led to the creation of the new Genesee River and Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs).
The parcels in Cattaraugus and Allegany counties preserve natural habitat essential for wildlife populations and provide new wildlife-related public recreation such as fishing, hunting, trapping, and wildlife viewing. [Read more…] about Two New Wildlife Management Areas in Western NY
Waterfowl: The Common Merganser
The waterways of New York State that are a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts during the summer are also highly attractive to many forms of wildlife. While many creatures are often difficult to spot, others are regularly noticed by kayakers, canoeists, power boaters, and individuals simply sitting on a porch overlooking a busy lake, a quiet pond, or a back country river. Among those forms of animal life routinely seen, especially after the July Fourth weekend, are the mergansers, which thrive in most of the larger aquatic settings in New York. [Read more…] about Waterfowl: The Common Merganser
Free Webinar on Drawing Birds
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has announced “In the Studio with Scientific Illustrator Liz Clayton Fuller,” a webinar on drawing birds set for Friday, July 9th. [Read more…] about Free Webinar on Drawing Birds