History, Natural History & the Arts
Adirondack Watershed Stewards have reported a 25% increase in the number of watercraft inspections at Adirondack boat launches compared with this time last year.
The Adirondack Region had already been experiencing increased tourism even before the current pandemic. This summer’s excellent weather has given a further boost to visitor numbers, even as the closed border keeps Canadian tourists home. [Read more…] about Adirondack Park Boat Inspections Rise 25% Over 2019
European starlings are one of the most common bird species in the United States. They are known for their stunning aerial displays (murmerations), but many observers consider them a curse.
Starlings aggressively compete for the nesting places of native birds; they can damage crops (grapes, olives, cherries, grain) and spread disease; they can mess up the environment and be a threat to aviation. The story of invasive starlings is part of a wider narrative that reflects both the ambitions and fears of the Victorian era. [Read more…] about Meddling With Nature: The Acclimatization Movement and Central Park Starlings
Boaters returning from the waters of Lake Champlain at Shelburne Bay have reported large quantities of invasive fishhook waterflea fouling their fishing lines.
First identified in Lake Champlain in 2018, masses of fishhook waterfleas began to appear on the 20th of June this year, as observed by trained Lake Champlain boat launch stewards.
No known control methods exist to eliminate fishhook or spiny waterflea once established in a water body. Efforts now focus on preventing the spread of this species to other bodies of water in the region. [Read more…] about Fishhook Waterflea Infesting Lake Champlain
Giant hogweed plants are beginning to bloom across many parts of the state, making it a prime time to spot this harmful invasive. Giant hogweed is a large, flowering plant from Eurasia with sap that can cause painful burns and scarring. [Read more…] about Identify Giant Hogweed, Then Avoid It
Since the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) was first detected in Washington state in December of 2019, it has been hard to miss the eye-catching headlines about this species.
With so much news out there, we want to make it easy for you and break down the facts about this much-buzzed-about species: [Read more…] about Asian Giant Hornet – Fact vs Fiction
DEC’s Forest Health team has seen some success in tackling southern pine beetle (SPB) and restoring the pine barrens on Long Island.
If you live on Long Island or in the Hudson Valley, keep your eyes out for signs of southern pine beetle, which are active and flying now. [Read more…] about Be On The Lookout For Signs of Southern Pine Beetle
Its immense reproductive capacity, ability to skulk about on dry land, and avid appetite for all manner of aquatic life (as well as a few terrestrial species) has earned this invasive fish some apt monikers, chief among them Fishzilla and Frankenfish.
The northern snakehead (Channa argus) is a fierce apex predator which hails from southeast Asia, and breeding populations are known to be established in Delaware, Georgia, Mississippi, Missouri, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and downstate New York. Individual specimens have also been found in eight other states. [Read more…] about Northern Snakeheads In New York State
Jake Hill has joined the Ausable River Association as the 2020 summer River Steward.
The river steward is an information resource to river users and the general public, educating and creating awareness, and helping people to identify and mitigate the spread of non-native infestations when they happen. [Read more…] about Ausable River Association Welcomes River Steward
Boat counters on the Northway for the Memorial Day weekend say that 89% of the trailered motorboats traveling north into the Adirondacks on Interstate 87 passed the inspection/decontamination station without stopping, according to the Adirondack Council, which organized the transportation survey. [Read more…] about Survey: 90% of Boats Bypass Northway Inspection Station
The gates at the Mossy Point and Rogers Rock Boat Launches on Lake George will be closed overnight this boating season as part of the Lake George Park Commission’s (LGPC) Boat Inspection Program and DEC’s efforts to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. [Read more…] about Lake George Boat Launches Being Gated Overnight