Outdoor Adventures with Gary Lee - Vol. 284
Fires right here in New York State and New Jersey have burned over 4,000 acres and an 18-year-old Dariel Vasquez, an employee of the NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Department, was killed by a falling tree while fighting the Greenwood Lake Fire in southern New York. In New Jersey, since October 1st, there have been 537 fires reported. The light rain of today has helped but many of the fires are only partially contained and still burning. The smoke from these fires drifted over New York City and into much of the Southeastern part of New York State up to and north of Albany. Many structures have been threatened but no evacuations of these structures to date.
Going across the ocean the city of Valencia, Spain was hit with a flash flood nearly two weeks ago with more than two hundred dead and many more missing. A flash flood from heavy rains hit the town piling cars up in the streets and bridges washed out. Residents were upset that no warning was issued and, in many places, still no fire fighters, no trucks and no soldiers have been there yet to help with the flooded areas.
Going back to my tag of a couple of weeks ago, wearing an orange or pink hat and vest while hunting big game with a gun is now required. I still see hunters going down the trail behind the house, some in complete camo, and if I am out there, I mention it to them, and they say only a hat is required. They should look at page 20 in the Hunting and Trapping 2024-2025 Official Guide to Laws and Regulations that can be picked up where Licenses are sold. If you have a lifetime license which you get your tags in the mail, you can still pick up one of these guides at these places. Out west, this law is strictly enforced in most states where it is the law. It has been proven that this law does protect and save lives so please wear both the hat and vest of the legal color you chose. On that same page it shows a picture of a young lady with a nice buck she has taken with her gun laid against the deer and she is only wearing an orange hat. That photo alone would send a mixed message. You are still legally hunting when you must get your game out of the woods to your vehicle. Last year one fatality in New York occurred while two hunters were dragging their deer to the vehicle and one gun was still loaded and discharged and killed the other hunter. Guns should be unloaded during this activity or when there is a group activity during the hunt.
I put many bulbs in the ground last week and this week, mostly daffodils, crocus and allium. Most of these are deer resistant and bloom in early to mid-spring. The big allium blue flower balls last the longest, sometimes more than three weeks, the others are only out a week or less but add beauty after a white winter. Some daffodils that I planted last fall which bloomed this spring and died back are coming up with the warmer weather we have been having and not waiting for spring. Only time will tell what will happen with these plants. Some Old Forge Garden Club members put over one hundred daffodils at Point Park in Old Forge today.
Locally, Diane Bowes sent me a picture of some white masses on trees near Higby Road and asked if I had ever seen it or knew what it was. I told her I thought it was white aphids which are found on speckled alders this time of the year. So, it is called Wooly Alder Aphids. They are on the leaves of this shrub during the summer, but they are hidden in the leaves where they are feeding. They all get together now and form white masses on these trees in the swamps. I do not know if it is for protection or if they keep warmer in the mass. On warm fall days you see them flying in the air, maybe looking for a mass to connect to. The speckled alder is in the birch family, and it can be found along most streams and in swamps in this area.
Another thing you might be seeing this time of the year and even on warm days when there is snow on the ground are male winter moths. While banding the owls after dark I saw several of these in the air and they would try to fly through my nets and sometimes get stuck in the mesh. I believe the owls do catch and eat them and I watched just yesterday as Slate Colored Juncos flew up and caught them in the air and ate them. I caught one in the garage today on a window and took it outside and let it go. They are an invasive species that was brought here from Europe and the caterpillars feed on many species of trees and bushes. The most damaging is to apple and blueberry flower buds which will prevent them from bearing that fruit. The female is flightless and just walks up the trees and lays eggs after breeding with the flying males.
Not many hunters in the woods in this area that I’ve seen. Most are waiting for tracking snow, and they may get a little this week but that’s another story. See ya.
Photo above: Wooly alder aphids by Diane Bowes
