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Entries from May 22nd, 2012

If You Care, Leave it There

May 22nd, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

DEC Urges New Yorkers Not To Disturb Fawns and Other Young Wildlife

NYSDEC LogoNew Yorkers should keep their distance and not to disturb newborn fawns or other young wildlife as many animals are in the peak season for giving birth, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today cautioned.

It is not unusual to see a young bird crouched in the yard or a young rabbit in the flower garden, both apparently abandoned. Finding a fawn deer lying by itself is also fairly common. Many people assume that young wildlife found alone are helpless and need assistance for their survival, however, in nearly all cases this is a mistake and typically human interaction does more damage than good. Those that see a fawn or other newborn wildlife should enjoy their encounter but keep it brief, maintain some distance and do not attempt to touch the animal.

Young wildlife quickly venture into the world on shaky legs or fragile wings. While most are learning survival from one or both parents, some normally receive little or no care. Often, wild animal parents stay away from their young when people are near. For all of these young animals, the perils of survival are a natural part of life in the wild.

White-tailed deer fawns present a good example of how human intervention with young wildlife can be problematic. Most fawns are born during late May and the first half of June. While fawns are able to walk shortly after birth, they spend most of their first several days lying still. During this period a fawn is also usually left alone by the adult female (doe) except when nursing. People occasionally find a lone fawn and mistakenly assume it has been orphaned or abandoned, which is very rare. Fawns should never be picked up. If human presence is detected by the doe, the doe may delay its next visit to nurse.

A fawn’s best chance to survive is by being raised by the adult doe. Fawns nurse three to four times a day, usually for less than 30 minutes at a time, but otherwise the doe keeps her distance. This helps reduce the chance that she will attract a predator to the fawn. The fawn’s protective coloration and ability to remain motionless all help it avoid detection by predators and people.

By the end of its second week, a fawn begins to move about more and spend more time with the doe. It also begins to eat grass and leaves. At about ten weeks of age, fawns are no longer dependent on milk, although they continue to nurse occasionally into the fall. During August, all deer begin to grow their winter coat and fawns lose their spots during this process.

Should you find a fawn or other young wildlife, If You Care, Leave It There. In nearly all cases that is the best thing for the animal. DO NOT consider young wildlife as possible pets. This is illegal and is bad for the animal. Wild animals are not well suited for life in captivity and they may carry diseases that can be given to people. Resist the temptation to take them out of the wild. For more information and answers to frequently asked questions about young wildlife, visit the DEC website at: www.dec.ny.gov/animals/6956.html.

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PenAir Announces New Service from Plattsburgh International Airport

May 21st, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

PENAIR SCHEDULED SERVICE – PLATTSBURGH TO BOSTON

PenAir logoANCHORAGE, ALASKA – PenAir, one of Alaska’s largest regional airlines, will begin service between Plattsburgh, New York, and Boston’s Logan International Airport. Non-stop flights begin on June 15th with 2 flights per day, Monday thru Friday and one flight each Saturday and Sunday. The Plattsburgh to Boston inaugural flight will be flight 161 departing Plattsburgh at 3:05PM, arriving Boston’s Logan Airport at 4:30 PM on June 14, 2012.

“We are excited to start our venture into this market and to bringing our brand of customer service to the Northeast. We are an established 57-year old Alaskan company that prides ourselves on customer service, safety and reliability”, says Hall.

An introductory fare of $66.00 (inclusive of tax) each way will be available on penair.com or by calling central reservations at 800-448-4226 starting May 21st. Seats are limited and travel is good from June 15 – June 28, 2012.

The full schedule of flights below officially starts June 15, 2012.

Schedule:
PenAir Schedule - Plattsburgh/Boston

All schedules and fares are available at www.penair.com or by contacting PenAir Central Reservations at 800-448-4226.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome PenAir to our community. They are an airline that prides itself on delivering
excellent service and customer satisfaction. These are two qualities we are thrilled to offer passengers we serve. We have no doubt that PenAir will be successful at Plattsburgh International Airport.” states James Langley, Jr., Chairperson of the Clinton County Legislature.

“We welcome PenAir’s commitment to this special market and look forward to working with them to continue to build the future of Plattsburgh International Airport’, states Garry Douglas, President of the North Country Chamber of Commerce which serves as the marketing and development agency for the airport. “We are especially pleased that they will be basing aircraft and crewmembers here, representing an additional commitment. Now everyone can help the airport development effort by making maximum use of PenAir for both personal and business travel.”

PenAir will also begin service from Boston Logan International Airport to Bar Harbor, ME on May 24, 2012 and Boston to Presque Isle, ME on June 15, 2012.

PenAir is one of the largest regional airlines in Alaska and one of the largest operators of Saab 340 aircraft in the United States. Operations began in a remote village of Alaska in 1955 with a 2-seater-Taylorcraft aircraft. PenAir now operates 11 Saab, 30-passenger aircraft, employs over 500 people in the state of Alaska and is training and hiring over 50 employees on the East Coast. Founder Orin Seybert recently retired from the day to day operations of the company and turned the reigns over to his son, Danny Seybert, who is the Chairmen of the Board and CEO. The airline is a codeshare partner with Alaska Airlines and has electronic ticketing agreements with American, Delta, Alaska, USAir, United and several other carriers.

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DEC Issues Draft Unit Management Plan for Taylor Pond Wild Forest

May 21st, 2012 · No Comments · Adirondack News

NYSDEC LogoALBANY, NY – The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens today announced the release of the draft unit management plan (UMP) for the Taylor Pond Wild Forest. The management plan covers 76,347 acres located in portions of 13 towns and three counties in the northeastern region of the Adirondack Park. This includes 45,637 acres of forest preserve lands in the Taylor Pond Wild Forest, 6,314 acres in three state forests, 1,329 acres in three wildlife management areas and 23,067 acres in four conservation easement tracts.

“The release of the draft unit management plan for the Taylor Pond Wild Forest is another significant milestone in our efforts to improve public access and ensure the protection of the Adirondacks for future generations,” Commissioner Martens said. “The public’s participation has been extremely valuable throughout the planning process, providing the Department with important information and recommendations incorporated into the draft plan.”

A public meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 24, at the Town of Jay Community Center in AuSable Forks. The meeting will provide the public with an opportunity to learn more on the proposed management actions in the draft UMP and to provide comment on the proposals. DEC will accept comments on the draft UMP until June 22. The meeting facility is wheelchair accessible. Please provide any requests for specific accommodations to 518-897-1291 at least two weeks in advance. The Town of Jay Community Center is located at 11 School Lane in AuSable Forks. Directions to the Community Center can be obtained from the Town Offices at 518- 647-2204.

The core of the Taylor Pond Wild Forest is located in the region around Taylor Pond, Silver Lake and Union Falls flow, in the Franklin County Town of Franklin and the Clinton County Town of Black Brook. Other parcels of the Wild Forest are located in the Towns of AuSable, Peru, and Saranac in Clinton County, and the Towns of Chesterfield, Elizabethtown, Essex, Jay, Lewis, St. Armand, Westport and Willsboro in Essex County.

Catamount MountainThe summits of Silver Lake, Poke-O-Moonshine and Catamount Mountains are the three most popular summit destinations for hikers in the Wild Forest. A number of rivers and ponds provide excellent boating and paddling opportunities. There is also extensive use of the campsites on Franklin Falls and Union Falls Ponds and several other camping areas in the unit. Other popular activities in the unit are hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing.

A segment of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT), which links the waterways of New York, Vermont, Québec, New Hampshire and Maine, runs through the Taylor Pond Wild Forest. The segment is on the Saranac River and includes Franklin Falls and Unions Falls Ponds. The NFCT route’s variety of flat water, swift water, and whitewater, on a range of rivers, streams, lakes and ponds provide extensive opportunities for canoe and kayak recreation.

Wickham Marsh - Beaver Dam
The 4,739-acre Terry Mountain State Forest and the 1,575-acre Burnt Hill State Forest are included in the UMP. As are the 577-acre Ausable Marsh, 683-acre Wickham Marsh and the 96-acre Pauline Murdock Wildlife Management Areas. The conservation easement tracts included in the plan are the 1,200-acre Alderbrook Park Tract, 1,030-acre Cook Mountain Tract of the Lassiter Easement, and the 5,124-acre Franklin Falls/Union Falls Tract.

Although included in the unit no management actions are proposed for the 15,713-acres Black Brook Tract of Lyme Adirondack Timber Lands Easement. A separate Recreational Management Plan will be developed for the Black Brook Tract.

Proposed management actions in the draft UMP include:

  • Officially designating the Catamount Mountain Trail and developing a trailhead parking area;
  • Constructing a new snowmobile trail between the Forestdale Road and the snowmobile trails near Taylor Pond which when connected to trails to be constructed in the Wilmington Wild Forest will allow snowmobilers to ride from Clinton County and Franklin County snowmobile trail system to the hamlet of Wilmington;
  • Constructing a parking area for the new Observer’s Trail, formerly known as the Jeep Trail, which accesses the fire tower on Poke-O-Moonshine Mountain;
  • Constructing three lean-tos designed for accessibility for people with limited mobility – one each near the shores of Taylor Pond, Military Pond and Mud Pond;
  • Providing group camping opportunities along the Northern Forest Canoe Trail on the shores of Franklin Falls Pond and Union Falls Pond; and
  • Bringing the primitive campsites on Franklin Falls Pond and Union Falls Pond into compliance with Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan requirements.

A UMP must be completed before significant new recreational facilities, such as trails, lean-tos, or parking areas, can be constructed. The plan includes an analysis of the natural features of the area and the ability of the land to accommodate public use. The planning process is designed to cover all environmental considerations for the unit and forms the basis for all proposed management activities for a five-year time period.

UMPs are required by the Adirondack Park State Land Master Plan for each unit of State land in the Adirondack Park. The plans integrate the goals and objectives of the Master Plan, related legislation, and resource and visitor use information into a single document.

The draft UMP will be available for public review beginning next week at DEC headquarters in Albany, DEC Region 5 headquarters in Ray Brook and the DEC Region 5 office in Warrensburg. CDs of the plan will be available at these same locations, as well as the offices for the Town of Franklin in Franklin County; the Towns of Black Brook, Ausable, Peru, and Saranac in Clinton County; and the Towns of Chesterfield, Elizabethtown, Essex, Jay, Lewis, St. Armand, Westport and Willsboro in Essex County. The document may be viewed or downloaded at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/75834.html

Public comments will be accepted until June 22, and may be sent to Dan Levy, Senior Forester, NYSDEC, P.O. Box 296, Ray Brook, NY 12977 or emailed to r5ump@gw.dec.state.ny.us.

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