Learning About Adirondack Wildlife Birds of Prey and Schroon Lake

There are many unsung heroes that make the Adirondacks special. And we are happy to give a shout out to Wendy and Steve Hall, of Wilmington, who have turned their 60 acres of property into a natural habitat for injured or sick wild animals needing rehabilitation.

The couple have spent countless hours  constructing pens and cages serving as temporary housing.

It’s known as the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge Rehabilitation and Education Center. And you can meet both of these remarkable individuals tonight, (July 29, 2016) at the July East Shore Schroon Lake Association’s member meeting.

 The couple will be talking about how the health of our lake affects birds of prey.  More from ESSLA:

“Bald Eagles, once on the endangered species list, are making a resurgence.  In fact, there have been regular sightings of them here on Schroon Lake.  Bald Eagles primarily prey on fish, in addition to small mammals, waterfowl and carrion.

Why are Birds of Prey so important? The presence of raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons, ospreys and owls) serves as a barometer of ecological health. Birds of prey are predators at the top of the food chain. Because pesticides, drought and habitat loss have the most dramatic impact on top predators, they are referred to as indicator species. The raptors also play an important ecological role by controlling populations of rodents and other small mammals.”

So come on out and meet Wendy, Steve and their raptor "ambassadors" at7:30 pm at the  Horicon Town Hall Community Center, Brant Lake. Donations to the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge will be welcome.

How To Hike in The Adirondacks

You can create a quick shelter rom rain or cold using a heavy-duty trash bag with a hole cut out for your face.

You can create a quick shelter rom rain or cold using a heavy-duty trash bag with a hole cut out for your face.

Hey you, trail warrior – you think you might know EVERYTHING about hiking in the Adirondacks. But guess what? From the novice, to the experienced trailblazer, it’s never too soon, or too late, to brush up on a few safety tips.

And the best resource, from the bottom of the trail to the top of the mountain, is the New York Department of Conservation.

Each year,  DEC)Forest Rangers search for about 200 lost or stranded people. Folks we have reported on this blog.

Many people can avoid this potentially life-threatening situation if they prepare for their trip: Top o’ The List: Bring waterproof matches, fire starter material and a warm jacket.  Learn to use a topographic map, GPS and compass
and ALWAYS  carry them.

Don’t trust technology -- trust your compass. The DEC says many people get lost because they don’t believe their compass. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) units have become almost commonplace.

But they are only an aid to navigation and must be used along with a compass and map. Knowing your GPS coordinates may be of little help if you cannot figure out which way and how far you need to walk to reach safety.  Wanna now more? Click right here!

From Our Friends In North Warren County

Just south of the Main Village of Schroon, which sits in Essex County, our neighbors on the lake are serviced by North Warren County. Those towns include Brant Lake, Chestertown, Adirondack and Pottersville,  in the Towns of Chester and Horicon. These hamlets have so much to offer in every season (just like their neighbors in Essex).

The North Warren County has done a bang up job promoting their part of Adirondack Paradise in the above video, from the Chamber of Commerce. So no matter which part of our area you call “home”,  enjoy the sights and sounds of the North Country we all love.