Update on RTPI’s Winter Phone Cell Tour
For some, snow is simply a burden. But for myself (and I’m sure there are others!), snow brings a positive change in attitude. Hearing Christmas music for a month straight doesn’t necessarily put me in a celebratory mood, but a blanket of snow illuminated by colorful lights and accompanied by a quiet stillness that seems to intensify as every flake descends really gets me into the holiday spirit. Along these lines, snow also gets me excited for outdoor recreation opportunities and for being able to enjoy the landscape with a completely different view. It also draws countless...
Read MoreStart of a New Season
Happy 1st day of winter everyone! Today marks the first day of a hopefully snow-filled season as well as the official beginning of the snowmobiling season. Remember before hitting the trails on your snowmobile, skis or snowshoes to grab your cell phone so that you can explore the many fascinating stories waiting to be told through the “Nature at Your Fingertips” cell phone tour. This tour couldn’t have been possible without the help of the Snowmobile Clubs of Chautauqua County (Chautauqua Lake Snowmobile Club, Cherry Creek Sno-Goers, Ellery Sno-Cruisers, Lake-Effect Trail...
Read More“Leaving Only Footsteps? Think Again”
Here’s an interesting opinion piece in the New York Times that details how even passive recreation can have an unexpectedly high impact on wildlife. These are all issues we as scientists have dealt with at one time or another, from how placement of trails in preserves is vital to protect certain species and the fact they create unsuitable edge habitat, how passive recreation activities like hiking can have negative impacts in the same way something like snowmobiling could (or more, as they can occur in all seasons and not just winter), and that a day at the beach disrupts birds like...
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