Established in 1985, the New York Natural Heritage Program is a partnership between the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The program’s mission is to determine the location and status of New York’s plants, animals, and ecological communities and provide this information to public agencies and scientific and educational institutions to facilitate conservation. Today, they count multiple non-profits, local governments, federal institutions, and state agencies among their partners — including New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites. You may have heard about their long-term firefly study at several of our parks. Ecologist Julie Lundgren shares more highlights from their year of work in New York State Parks.
Continue reading A Year in the Field With the NY Natural Heritage ProgramCategory Archives: Stewardship
Moths: Friend and Foe
What’s your first feeling when you hear the word moth: irritation or wonder? Anyone who’s gotten an unpleasant surprise when taking winter wools out of storage will agree that moths can be a menace to clothing and bedding. But at the same time, the varied species of moths lend beauty and majesty to nights outdoors and play an important role in our ecosystem.
As a textile conservator, Sarah Stevens works with historic site staff to prevent moth damage and respond to it when it occurs. As a wildlife biologist, Kelsey Ruffino facilitates the study of the moth population in New York State parks and ensures it has the support that they need to thrive. Both share their professional perspectives on these winged insects.
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Protecting Rare Species in New York’s State Parks
What do a bare-cheeked bumblefly, a brown bog sedge, and a Blanding’s turtle have in common?
Not only are they living organisms that start with the letter B, but more importantly, they are all considered to be rare species in New York State. What does it mean to be a “rare species,” exactly? Rare species are uncommon or few in number and as a result, at a greater risk of extinction than common species. This is because small populations are more susceptible to environmental changes, like flooding or wildfires, and to genetic issues. Some rare species—like the bald eagle, still listed as threatened in New York despite its inspiring national comeback—might be familiar. Others—like the globe-fruited seed-box, grass-leaved ladies’ tresses, hairy-necked tiger beetle, Nuttall’s milkwort, southern pygmy clubtail, or wavy-rayed lampmussel—sound more like they are from a fantasy novel than from New York’s natural areas.
Though you may not see them, our parks and historic sites harbor some of the state’s most imperiled and significant natural assets, supporting 192 species of rare animals and 290 species of rare plants. In some cases, these sites support the only occurrences of a rare species in the state, or even in the world! Read on to learn about a few examples of rare species.
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Park Rangers Share Tales from the Field
As a New York State Park Ranger, every day is different. You can never be quite sure what you may encounter, or who you may cross paths with, but each day offers an opportunity to make an impact on the experience that visitors have when coming to enjoy New York State Parks. Below are some of the many stories from Park Rangers across the state about their experience working in parks this summer, in their own words!
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Move Over, Candid Camera: New York Wildlife Caught on Trail Video
Humans aren’t the only species of animals that enjoy state parks. Park staff will occasionally find clues of what animals may live there, such as scat, a chewed branch, or a feather. But we don’t always get to watch out for wildlife to stroll on by, especially in remote parts of parks. The best tool for this job is a game camera. Park staff use these camera traps to ‘capture’ these animals in a safe, respectful way.
Park educators from across New York have put together a snapshot of what we’ve discovered. Now, you too can witness and enjoy some of our favorite remarkable wildlife encounters taking place here at our parks when humans are not present.
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New York State Parks and Historic Sites Blog 