Current Snow Depth
Many snowmobile trails are open and folks are out on their sleds, hiking and skiing across the wintry landscape in Chautauqua County. Here’s our current regional snow depth – this is more like it! Have you used our educational, conservation-minded and natural history based winter trails cell phone tour? http://rtpi.org/conservation/winter-trails-cell-phone-tour/
Read MoreHappy First Day of Fall!
This morning as the sun was coming up along the building, it revealed the fall colors at the tips of some of the trees. It won’t be long before they will be in full color and deep reds, oranges and yellows will surround the building and the rest of the region. Keep an eye on the fall foliage reports to see the most spectacular colors throughout New York State and get outside this fall!
Read MorePennsylvania Elk
Typically when most people think of North American Elk (Cervus elaphus), they picture them scattered across a beautiful mountainous landscape in the Rockies or dotting a grassland prairie in the Midwest. What many fail to think of however, is elk in their own backyard or wooded property right here in the eastern United States; many except those in “elk country” Pennsylvania. Historically, Pennsylvania was like most states having a healthy elk population with copious amounts of prime habitat capable of sustaining the largest member of the deer family. However, upon the arrival of...
Read MoreWhy Do Leaves Change Color?
Have you ever wondered why the lush green summer colors of the local trees and shrubs change as autumn approaches? Well, as the length of daylight shortens and the intensity of sunlight lessens, chlorophyll production slows down and eventually stops within the leaves. As the chlorophyll gets broken down and disappears, the carotenoids and anthocyanins (other chemicals that exists in the leaves) become unmasked as the green color fades, revealing brilliant shades of oranges, reds and yellows. While this process is occurring, another is at work. The veins that carry fluids and nutrients in and...
Read MoreTrees of Rimrock and Jake’s Rocks
As I gaze over the tree tops from Rimrock Over look on the edge of the Allegheny Reservoir in the Allegheny National Forest I’m struck by the sight of tree species that I almost never see in the forests of Northern Chautauqua County where I live, like Boutwell Hill State Forest, one of my favorite local hiking places. At Rimrock I see the dark green shiny leaves of a couple of Black Gum trees below the overlook and there are many more all around. That’s a tree I’ve don’t remember ever seeing in Boutwell Hill State Forest. And whereas Red Oak is the predominant oak tree in Northern Chautauqua...
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