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Watchable Wildlife: Great Baehre Swamp
Amherst, Eric County
Enjoy some peace and solitude not far outside the city at Great Baehre Swamp Wildlife Management Area. Visitors often encounter muskrats, beaver, mink, fox, turtles and waterfowl along the 1,300 foot boardwalk. It's an easy hike for people of varying abilities, and wildlife usually is seen there. The area consists of nearly 260 acres of shrub swamp, emergent marsh and wetland open water and approximately 10 acres of brush and grassland.
Nearby:
Nature Note: The arrival of spring and summer also means the arrival of newborn and just-hatched wildlife. For all of these young animals, the perils of survival are a natural part of life in the wild. Remember, don't disturb or interfere with young wildlife.
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Hiking to Belfry Mountain Fire Tower
Essex County
Offering views of the eastern Adirondacks, Belfry Mountain Fire Tower is in the Hammond Pond Wild Forest. Belfry Mountain is one of the smaller peaks and close to the highway. The tower can be reached via an easy climb along a gravel road. At only one-third mile, it's the shortest distance to a fire tower on a mountain top, making it both kid and dog friendly. Belfry Mountain also has one of the fire towers needed to complete the ADK Fire Tower Challenge.
Fire tower hikes offer what some refer to as "cheap views"-outstanding vistas with less effort than what's required to reach the summits of the highest peaks. Pack food and drink, bring a windbreaker, and plan to spend lots of time on the summit enjoying the view.
Related Conservationist articles:
Paddling Fun and Much More at Gilbert Lake
Enjoy a day at Gilbert Lake State Park's Wear It on the Water (WOW) Paddle Fest, Saturday, July 16, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Gilbert Lake is located near Cooperstown in Laurens, Otsego County. The WOW Paddle Fest is a fun way to emphasize the importance of wearing a personal floatation device while on the water. Free kayaking lessons with loaner kayaks will be available. The number of kayaks is limited, so call 607-432-2114 to reserve one. In addition to kayaking, enjoy games, prizes, live music and a free DEC fishing clinic (no license required). Camp out, bring a picnic, relax on the beach, go for a hike and see the park's museum to round out your visit. The Gilbert Lake State Park webpage has more information.
Primitive Camping at Hunt's Pond State Forest
Chenango County
The Hunt's Pond State Forest Campground offers 12 designated campsites near the waters of 50-acre Hunt's Pond. These sites are primitive, but each contains a fire pit and picnic table. Although there is no source of potable water, two portable toilets are available for campers. Several sites are accessible for people with disabilities.
There also is a free boat launch for canoes, kayaks and boats with electric motors only. No fees are charged for camping; however, a permit is needed and can be obtained from the DEC office in Sherburne.
DEC manages this 1,383-acre property for multiple interests, including fishing. The pond contains largemouth bass, yellow perch, brown bullhead, chain pickerel and rock bass. For wildlife watchers, the area includes numerous species of woodland and aquatic birds. White-tailed deer, coyotes, red and grey fox, raccoons, red and grey squirrels, and beaver are among the resident mammals.
Safe and Sound: Never use gas stoves, heaters, propane lanterns or charcoal grills inside a tent because carbon monoxide can quickly build up.
Recent Search and Rescue by DEC Forest Rangers
St. Regis Canoe Area, Franklin County
Injured hiker: DEC Ray Brook Dispatch received a request for assistance from Franklin County 911 for a 22-year-old man from Oneida, NY with a lower leg injury on the summit of St. Regis Mountain. The man's companions hiked out to the trail head to get cell phone service and call for help. Forest Rangers responded and encountered the injured man descending the trail with assistance from his hiking party. They escorted the injured man out to the trail head, and he said he would seek medical attention on his own.
Be sure to properly prepare and plan before entering the backcountry. Visit DEC's Hiking Safety and Adirondack Backcountry Information webpages for more information.
DEC's Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife App
Looking for an outdoor adventure close to home this spring? Download DEC's Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife App. Using the app's advanced GPS features, you will be able to identify and locate New York State's many hunting, fishing and wildlife watching sites.
Upcoming DEC Events
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Trail Tuesdays, June 5,12,19 and 26 at 6:30PM
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Summer Family Fun, July 26 - July 29, Aug 2 - Aug 5 and Aug 9 - Aug 12, 10:00 AM, fee charged
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Free Family Fishing Day, Lake Gleneida, Carmel, July 16 at 9:00 AM
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I Fish NY Islip Fishing Clinic, Sayville Marine Park, July 21 at 5:30 PM. Please register for this event through the Town of Islip at 631-224-5130
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Free Saltwater Fishing Clinic, Sayville Marine Park, July 31 at 5:30 PM. Please register for this event through the Town of Islip at 631-224-5130
Conservationist Magazine
Readers really enjoyed "Unprepared: Lost on the Great Range Traverse" in our June issue. It was a first-person account of two brothers who got lost hiking in the Adirondacks and nearly died. Our forest rangers provided tips on how to enjoy wilderness hiking safely, and also explained what the brothers could have done differently. Also in the June issue: a photo essay of young wildlife; introducing young people to the sport of fishing; how to help the monarch butterfly population; and becoming an outdoors-woman.
There's all this and much more in the Conservationist. Don't miss the next issue! Subscribe online or call 1-800-678-6399.
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