History, Natural History & the Arts
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation staff commissioned the Orwell Brook sea lamprey barrier on March 16th, 2021.
The barrier is a temporary structure that is installed each March, during the sea lamprey spawning run, and then removed a couple months later when spawning sea lamprey are no longer present. [Read more…] about Efforts Made To Stop Sea Lampreys in Oswego County
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced they will begin closing the gates at the Million Dollar Beach, Mossy Point and Rogers Rock boat launches on Lake George on April 15th, to increase protections from aquatic invasive species. The overnight closure will continue through December 15th. [Read more…] about Lake George Boat Launch Season Narrowing
The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program is set to host a virtual presentation focusing on how Adirondack anglers can help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, on Wednesday, March 24th. [Read more…] about How Anglers Can Prevent Spreading Aquatic Invasives
In general I’m rather positive about immigrants, but not the six-legged kind. Many of the insects which have made themselves at home here over the past few decades show up with interesting and colorful names like emerald ash borer, velvet longhorned beetle, and spotted lantern fly. Amusing monikers or not, this is a ménagerie of mischief-makers, and one of the more recent arrivals is quite a foul character indeed. [Read more…] about Another Invasive: Samurais and Stinkers
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is urging pet and aquarium stores and consumers to immediately remove and properly dispose of commercially purchased “moss balls” for aquariums after invasive zebra mussels were discovered inside and on some of these products, as reported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Consumers should be advised that moss ball products purchased from Petco and PetSmart may be subject to a voluntary product recall. [Read more…] about DEC Warns Aquarium Owners About Invasive Zebra Mussels
No offense, but Franklin D. Roosevelt should maybe bug off with his assertion that “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” because fear is good for gardeners and farmers. According to entomologists Nicholas Aflitto and Jennifer Thaler of the Cornell University-based New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSPIM), it can be harnessed as a weapon against destructive pests. Turns out it’s possible to scare harmful insects out of gardens and crop fields. [Read more…] about Fear and Gardening in Pest Management
New York State’s Watercraft Inspection Steward Programs are now recruiting boat stewards for the 2021 season. [Read more…] about Boat Stewards Sought for 2021 Boating Season
My son, wise beyond his years it would seem, taught me an invaluable lesson when he was a teenager living at home. Any time I got worked into a froth about a broken car, leaky roof or other serious, but non-cataclysmic setback, he’d put things in perspective for me: “Pops, it could always be worse – you could be on fire.” [Read more…] about Giant ‘Murder’ Hornets: Great News About Bad News
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has reminded the public to watch for and report signs of the invasive spotted lanternfly (SLF). [Read more…] about Report Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses this Winter
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and partners are reporting that they have completed this year’s treatment to control and prevent the spread of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA) on New York State “Forever Wild” Forest Preserve lands at Lake George in Washington County, as part of an ongoing, multi-year effort.
DEC confirmed the HWA infestation in August. The affected hemlock trees were located in the Glen Island Campground on the shore of Lake George, along the shoreline of Shelving Rock Special Management Area, at the Buck Mountain Trailhead, and on Dome Island. [Read more…] about Lake George Invasive Species Infestation Update