DEC Reopens Lake Colden Area Campsites and Lean-tos After Temporary Closure
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 07/06/2020 04:15 PM EDTDEC Delivers Press Release - Information to keep you connected and informed from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation |
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DEC Reopens Lake Colden Area Campsites and Lean-tos After Temporary Closure |
Adirondack High Peaks Visitors Advised of Uptick of Nuisance BearsThe New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today that it is immediately reopening campsites and lean-tos in the Lake Colden area in the Adirondack High Peaks, Essex County. Camping in the area was temporarily closed after an uptick in nuisance bear incidents. Campers in other areas of the Eastern High Peaks are encouraged to follow DEC guidance for dealing with nuisance bears. Minimizing human-bear interactions can be accomplished through a few simple steps. While bear interactions can happen on the trails, conflicts are most often associated with backcountry camping. In June, black bear movement increases as the breeding season begins and yearling (one-year-old) bears disperse to find their own space. Inevitably some of these bears, particularly yearlings, wander through places these animals would not normally inhabit, like suburban or urban neighborhoods. Bears have an acute sense of smell and may attempt to consume anything they perceive as edible, including improperly stored garbage, birdseed, livestock, pet food, and barbecue grill grease traps. Once a bear has discovered a food source, it may return or seek similar foods at neighboring properties, learning bad behavior that can damage human property and may lead to the death of the bear. Follow the tips below to reduce human-bear interactions: Do not feed bears intentionally. Feeding bears intentionally is illegal and a ticketable offense. Bears that obtain food from humans will continue to seek food from humans and become nuisance bears, which can pose a threat to humans. Follow the following guidance to reduce potential bear conflicts:
Visitors to the backcountry are encouraged to:
If you encounter a bear:
When to report a nuisance bear:
For more information, visit DEC webpages on black bears and reducing bear-human conflicts. |