Blog

The Adirondack Council expresses its deepest gratitude to thousands of its members and other supporters, who signed petitions, wrote emails, made phone calls or personally visited members of Congress, urging them to protect the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) budget this year.

Congress is poised to make deep cuts to federal programs that protect the Adirondack Park from acid rain. It is threatening the progress we have made in saving our 11,000 lakes and ponds, our 30,000 miles of brooks and streams – our loons, trout and wildlife -- from acid rain.

Wildlife biologists at the Department of Environmental Conservation are asking for the public’s help in their ongoing monitoring of black bear dens during the winter season. Learn some interesting facts about bears and how you can identify evidence of bear activity, territory and living quarters.

While canines and wildlife are generally a bad mix, in the Adirondacks, a group of researchers is currently working with the Conservation Canine (CK9) program as part of a multi-year study on New York State moose populations. We recently had the opportunity to chat with Angela Fuller, the Unit Leader at the New York Cooperative Fish And Wildlife Research Unit at Cornell University, about the research and scat detection surveys they are conducting with Conservation Canines.

Now that the snow has thawed and the air has warmed, for some it is time for hiking, canoeing, mountain biking, fishing. For others, it is time to ride their all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). As riders tune up their machines for the year, get gas and buy last minute supplies before leaving for their destination, it is worth considering other costs associated with this activity for which others foot the bill.

Wintertime is peaceful in the Adirondack Park. It is a bit quieter as you will see less people braving the trails covered in snow. Also, you are more likely to see some iconic Adirondack wildlife. When you're out and about in the Park, keep your eyes peeled for some of these winter loving Adirondack animals.

As we enjoy the holiday season, reflect on the year that has passed and look forward to the next, will you do one more thing for the Adirondacks? There's still time to send a letter to the Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and tell them that you want motor-free Wilderness for the Boreas Ponds. The APA will accept your comments until Friday, December 30.

"Lingchi" or "death by a thousand cuts" was once a gruesome act that now stands as a metaphor, encouraging all of us to be wise in considering cumulative impacts of any given activity. Our public lands, roads and health continue to play host to a litany of "tiny cuts" that when viewed as a whole paint a very clear picture that shows why we must enact broad reforms to ATV legislation in this legislative session.

You can help stop the state from expanding motorized recreation on the protected public lands of the Adirondack Forest Preserve. Policymakers in the state legislature need to hear from you about the damage that ATVs can do to the Forest Preserve.

The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has plans to expand the hunting of black bear across New York State in order to prevent conflicts with people. People need to be educated on how to avoid attracting bears.