February 2018 Outdoor Discovery Newsletter - Cross-country Ski, Search for Wildlife at Utica Marsh or Visit an Adirondack Fire Tower

Maurice D. Hinchey Catskill Interpretive Center

Mt. Tremper, Ulster County

The Catskill Interpretive Center is the first of its kind in the area, serving as a welcome center for visitors to the Catskill Park, providing information and interactive displays about recreational opportunities and the natural resources, history and culture of the Catskill region. Visitors can also get information on activities and events in the Catskills and hike the trails on the property and nearby public land.

During the winter, the unmaintained trails are perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and the center is open for visitors to warm up, view the interactive displays and plan future visits to the Catskills.

There are also state parks and forests nearby as well as commercial cross-country businesses throughout the Catskills.

Watchable Wildlife: Utica Marsh Wildlife Management Area (WMA)

Utica/Marcy, Oneida County

Utica Marsh WMA is a unique urban wetland situated on the edge of the City of Utica, sandwiched between the Mohawk River on the south and the New York State Barge Canal on the north. The diverse marsh habitat harbors a tremendous variety of plants and animals, especially birds. You can view many varieties of birds and wetland wildlife around this very accessible natural oasis.

White-tailed deer are the largest mammal you’ll see at the marsh. Look for them at sunrise and sundown. Muskrat are the most common aquatic mammal, but you may see mink or a gray fox at the wetland edges. More than 160 bird species have been recorded at Utica Marsh, and many more waterfowl species move through during the spring and fall migration periods. The site includes two viewing platforms.

Hiking and nature trails take you throughout the marsh, and people enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing here. There is a new wildlife viewing tower that provides the public with a bird's eye view of the wildlife abundant at the. The tower was built in 2017 as part of the Governor's Adventure NY initiative to connect more New Yorkers with nature.  Look for more information about Utica Marsh in an upcoming issue of the Conservationist. Subscribe now.

Snowshoe Mt. Arab

Tupper Lake, Franklin County

For an easy snowshoe adventure, visit Mt. Arab, located a few miles outside the village of Tupper Lake in the Adirondacks. This two-mile round-trip hike is relatively easy, although there can be a few icy spots.

Once you get to the summit, take in the view from the recently restored 1918 steel fire tower, and visit the restored observer's cabin, which houses a small museum. You can enjoy 360-degree views featuring Tupper Lake and the High Peaks.

This hike is ideal for beginners, with a trail that is easy to follow.

Ice Fishing Safety

Did you know that ice thickness is not uniform on any body of water? New, clear ice on nonrunning water can be safe for ice fishing if it is four inches thick. Slush ice is about 50 percent weaker. Clear ice over running water is about 20 percent weaker. Double the recommendations for white ice. Many ice anglers do not like to fish on less than five inches of ice, and do not like to drive a pick-up truck on less than 15 inches of ice. Use common sense!

ECO Report - The Big Bad Wolf - Westchester County

ECOs Charles Eyler III and Craig Tompkins received information from ECO Adam Johnson that an individual was selling a timber wolf mount and a bear mount on Craigslist. The two ECOs contacted the seller and set up a time to meet and purchase the wolf mount (which is illegal to sell). Upon arrival in uniform and in a marked patrol vehicle, the two ECOs knocked on the door and identified themselves. The man explained that he had bought the pelt from a hunting guide in Saskatchewan, Canada, had it mounted there, and shipped to his office in Queens nearly 25 years ago. The wolf mount was seized and the charges will be handled administratively by the Region 3 DLE office.

In the February Conservationist

You won’t want to miss the February issue of Conservationist. You can tag along with biologists studying denning black bears, and learn how you can help with black bear research. Read about the outdoor fun families have at the Allegany Nature Pilgrimage, and how a visit to the Caledonia Fish Hatchery or the Washington County Grasslands Wildlife Management Area can help you connect with nature. You’ll also learn how non-native plants can threaten our ecosystems, and discover why some environmental projects across the state have earned DEC’s Environmental Excellence Awards.

There's all this and much more in the February Conservationist. Don't miss it! Subscribe online or call 1-800-678-6399.

Upcoming DEC Events

Learn to Cross-Country Ski, 2/3 at 10:00 AM, Reinstein Woods EEC
Got a Question? Ask a Naturalist, 2/10 at 1:00 PM, Five Rivers EEC
Citizen Science: The Great Backyard Bird Count, 2/17 at 10:00 AM, Five Rivers EEC
Stories in the Woods, 2/24 at 10:00 AM, Reinstein Woods EEC

More Upcoming DEC Events

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