Peak Week
Last week seemed to be the peak for fall foliage, with brilliant reds, yellows and oranges covering the landscape. However, there is still lots of fall color outside to see. So take a break and head for the great outdoors this weekend to enjoy the colors while you still can!
Read MoreDeKay’s Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi)
With last week’s warm temperatures and sunny days, many critters took advantage of the ideal autumn conditions and were out hunting or in search of their soon to be used winter hideaways. This seemed to be the case for a little DeKay’s Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) that was found slithering across a forest road in the Finger Lakes National Forest by my husband and me. The little snake was soaking up the sun and was moving towards the leaf litter of the nearby forest floor, a place they often seek prey and hide in. As the snake was making its journey we took a few snapshots…...
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...
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