WASHINGTON — University of Washington ecologist Christopher Schell is studying how coronavirus shutdowns have affected wildlife in Seattle and other cities. But when planning fieldwork, he also thinks about how he’s perceived in neighborhoods where he installs wildlife cameras. “I ...

SARANAC LAKE — The state Adirondack Park Agency approved a controversial wetland permit and shoreline variance for an expansion at the Saranac Lake Marina Friday, with an eight-to-one vote. Chad Dawson, the one dissenting vote, had many questions about the project at a Thursday ...

The state Department of Environmental Conservation announced it and several environmental partners are developing a treatment plan to control and prevent the spread of hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) invasive insect on Adirondack Forest Preserve lands in the towns of Dresden and Fort Ann in ...

Black bear hunting season is opening early. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced on Wednesday that early bear hunting season will open this Saturday in southeastern New York and next Saturday, Sept. 19 in the North Country. “Early black bear hunting ...

Recently a couple of young hikers were lost in the woods near Ray Brook. They were admittedly unprepared for hiking at night with only a dead phone for a light source. They did have the means to start a fire. Thankfully they got out safely with the help of a ranger who had originally directed ...

Puffball is the generic name for a large group of mushrooms with similar characteristics. They come in many sizes and are usually spherical or globular in shape.  Puffballs are distinguished from other mushroom groups by the fact that they lack many of the features or characteristics that ...

KEENE — State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers conducted three rescues on the tallest mountain in the state this past Saturday. The rescues all happened in the span of one night, between 4 p.m. and midnight, according to DEC spokeswoman Lori Severino. The string ...

LAKE GEORGE — It was supposed to be a summer full of roller coasters and water rides for the Liffords, but instead it’s been one of checkers and trying new things. The family of four are “infrequent” hikers, but decided to make the steep trek up the newly reopened Prospect ...

KEENE VALLEY — The Labor Day weekend brought a rush of nature-seekers to the High Peaks region, filling trailhead parking lots early each day. This part of the Adirondacks has continued to see historic levels of hiker traffic throughout the last few years. Despite the ongoing closure of ...

Black outdoorspeople have spoken about the fear and danger that stands in the way of more people of color coming to recreate and reconnect with nature in the Adirondacks, but they have also shared their thoughts on how to improve inclusion in the wilderness. Aaron Mair, a former president ...

It is Labor Day weekend, one of the most popular times of the year for hiking in the Adirondacks, and the backcountry will likely be filled with people from all over, looking to enjoy the outdoors in the midst of a global pandemic. Statistically, very few of them will be people of ...

Those that have noticed the web-like insect nests popping up in local tree branches may think it is the wrong season for tent caterpillars. That thought would be correct, according Hartwick Professor of Biology Allen Crooker. The silken dwellings are actually home to a different species ...

SARANAC LAKE — Just in time for the Labor Day long weekend, the Lake Flower boat launch is, well, launching. Back in February, the state Department of Environmental Conservation began construction on new bathrooms on the western corner of the boat launch property on River Street. Due ...

RAY BROOK — Two hikers, who apparently didn’t bring headlamps, burned their clothing for light after getting lost in the dark on the trail to Haystack Mountain last week, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. This occurred on the Haystack Mountain in Ray ...