New York Almanack

History, Natural History & the Arts

Wildlife

Owls Are On Their Nests

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Barred Owl courtesy Wikimedia user Mdf Among the very earliest signs of spring are the strange caterwauls of the barred owls that haunt our woods: “Who cooks for you? who cooks for you all?”

Their hooted conversations, thrown back and forth through forests all over the Northeast, signal the territory disputes, nest-site advertisement, and pair bonding that begin the breeding season. That these predators of the nighttime are especially vocal now, with snow still covering the ground, seems odd. But owls do everything on their own timeline. [Read more…] about Owls Are On Their Nests

Study: Climate Change Has Altered Human-Raptor Relationships

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Bald Eagle on a dairy farm by Michelle LancasterBald Eagles and dairy farmers exist in a mutually beneficial relationship in parts of northwestern Washington State. According to a new study, this “win-win” relationship has been a more recent development, driven by the impact of climate change on eagles’ traditional winter diet of salmon carcasses, as well as by increased eagle abundance following decades of conservation efforts. The research is published in the journal Ecosphere. [Read more…] about Study: Climate Change Has Altered Human-Raptor Relationships

2022 Bear Hunting Statistics

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black bear provided by decNew York black bear hunters killed an estimated 1,318 black bears during the 2022 hunting seasons. Overall kills declined slightly compared to the 2021 hunting season, with the greatest density occurring in areas of the Catskills.

An estimated 458 bears were killed in the Northern Zone and an estimated 860 bears in the Southern Zone. [Read more…] about 2022 Bear Hunting Statistics

Watchable Wildlife: Clear Lake Wildlife Management Area, Erie County

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Clear Lake Wildlife Management AreaLocated on the north side of Genesee Road and west of NYS Route 75 in the Town of North Collins, Clear Lake Wildlife Management Area is a 526-acre property that includes the serene Clear Lake Reservoir. [Read more…] about Watchable Wildlife: Clear Lake Wildlife Management Area, Erie County

Exotic Animals, The Van Amburgh Circus & The Lion King of Fishkill

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Van Amburgh’s MenagerieThe term “exotic pet” refers to wild animals kept in captivity in a domestic setting for the purpose of personal interest or entertainment. With globalization the trade has increased dramatically, although its real scope is difficult to ascertain because for most species there is no registration requirement. Its scale may be a contemporary concern, but the practice itself has a long history. The public has always been obsessed with non-native animals. [Read more…] about Exotic Animals, The Van Amburgh Circus & The Lion King of Fishkill

How Animals Stay Warm In Winter

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red fox in its winter coat courtesy Wikimedia user Lvaughn7To survive the cold of winter, some animals take advantage of protected habitats, such as wooded areas or under a blanket of insulating snow. Ruffed grouse, for example, fly into piles of loose snow and create roosting cavities to rest in when not foraging. Mice and other small mammals remain active in tunnels under the snow. [Read more…] about How Animals Stay Warm In Winter

Whitetail Antler Sheds & Deer Health

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antler shed courtesy DECThroughout the winter months, whitetail bucks cast off or “shed” their antlers in response to dropping testosterone levels associated with increasing daylight. Many outdoor enthusiasts search for these shed antlers as collectibles, use them to build lamps or furniture, and determine which bucks made it through the hunting season. [Read more…] about Whitetail Antler Sheds & Deer Health

As Lake Champlain Lake Trout Rebound, Stocking Reduced

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Lake Champlain Lake Trout courtesy DECThe Lake Champlain Fish and Wildlife Management Cooperative – a working group of fisheries professionals from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service – have announced the decision to further reduce the number of stocked lake trout released annually into Lake Champlain waters. They said this decision was prompted by the continued increase in natural reproduction and the documentation of multiple age classes of wild fish. [Read more…] about As Lake Champlain Lake Trout Rebound, Stocking Reduced