History, Natural History & the Arts
The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are holding a joint public comment period to solicit comments for the Sharp Bridge Public Campground and Day Use Area Draft Unit Management Plan (UMP).
The campground is located on NYS Route 9, 15 miles north of Schroon Lake in the town of North Hudson, Essex County. [Read more…] about Sharp Bridge Campground, One The Oldest In The Adirondacks, Getting Upgrades
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos and Attorney General Letitia James this week announced the convictions of Cross Tie Disposal, Inc. (Cross Tie), a Kentucky-based freight shipping and trucking company, and its Vice President, Harold Young, 48, for illegally dumping contaminated railroad ties treated with hazardous materials in Chenango County and creating fake receipts to conceal the illegal disposal. [Read more…] about Company Convicted of Illegally Dumping Railroad Ties
Birdhouses are a simple addition to your yard that can provide nesting places for many kinds of birds and weeks of wildlife-watching opportunities.
Cavity-nesters, like tree swallows, house wrens, blackcapped chickadees, Eastern bluebirds, wood ducks, and American kestrels, all use nest boxes.
The type of birds you might attract depends on the size of the box and the nearby habitat; some birds prefer open fields while others prefer forests or wetlands. [Read more…] about It’s Time For Bird Nest Box Maintenance
The 2022 Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) notification season has ended, and the Department of Environmental Conservation posted the summary of this year’s HABs notices to the HABs Archive webpage.
During 2022, 198 waterbodies statewide were listed with “Confirmed HABs” on the NY HAB System (NYHABS). Over 1,600 HAB reports were collected, and of these, over 1,000 met criteria for a Confirmed HAB. The reports ranged from a single observation to widespread blooms that were persistent throughout the season. [Read more…] about Harmful Algal Blooms in NYS: A Season Summary
Due to an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in the St Lawrence waterway in Canada, an estimated 5-15% of nesting eider females died this year, negatively impacting the eider population, likely for several years. [Read more…] about Eiders Hit Hard By Avian Influenza; Little Response From DEC
In addition to battling at least nine wildland fires in nine different counties from last Friday, November 4th through Monday, November 7th, New York State Forest Rangers responded to an additional eight fires from Tuesday, November 8th through Sunday, November 13th. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Battle More Wildfires In Eight Counties
On November 8th at 7:50 pm, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers Booth, Bronson, Praczkajlo, and Russell responded to a report of an overdue hunter in the town of Dickinson, in Franklin County, NY.
The reporting party found the 79-year-old’s vehicle near Mosier Hill, but could not find the subject. [Read more…] about 79-Year-Old Hunter Rescued From Swamp in Franklin County
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers respond to search and rescue incidents throughout New York State. Working with other state agencies, local emergency response organizations and volunteer search and rescue groups, Forest Rangers locate and extract lost, injured or distressed people.
What follows is a report, prepared by DEC, of recent missions carried out by Forest Rangers. [Read more…] about Forest Rangers Recover Bodies, Make Several Backcountry Rescues
Vosburgh Swamp is a 290-acre Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Greene County, NY comprised of forested uplands, tidal forested wetlands, tidal marsh, and small areas of freshwater wetlands. The area also features accessible waterfowl viewing and hunting blinds, multiple trails, and public parking. It was acquired by the State of New York from Scenic Hudson in 2012 and 2015. [Read more…] about Featured Natural Place: Vosburgh Swamp Wildlife Management Area
On November 3rd, seven Forest Rangers participated in gondola training at Gore Mountain Ski Area in Johnsburg, Warren County.
Each year, Rangers and Gore Mountain staff train for gondola rescues in preparation for the ski season. [Read more…] about Rangers Take Part in Gondola Rescue Training