Animals and Wildlife in New York

Raccoons, one of the most widespread mammals in New York State, demonstrate remarkable adaptability, thriving in diverse environments from remote forests to crowded urban areas. Interestingly, raccoon populations can be denser in large cities than in the wild, showcasing their versatility across different habitats and regions.

These “well-rounded” creatures, often exhibiting a plump appearance, feature reddish-brown to grey fur. With an average weight of 15 pounds, they are easily identifiable by the alternating rings on their tails and the distinctive black “mask” on their faces.

Raccoons play a significant role as furbearers in New York, contributing to income and recreation for hunters and trappers. Many individuals find joy in observing or photographing raccoons, but feeding them is unnecessary and unwise. Additionally, keeping raccoons as pets is both harmful to humans and raccoons and is considered illegal. Have you ever spotted raccoons in Central Park? They are indeed fascinating members of New York’s wildlife.

Raccoons are primarily nocturnal feeders, consuming a diet that includes fruit, nuts, berries, small animals, and insects. They are known to raid pet food, scavenge through garbage, and occasionally indulge in garden crops.

During late winter, female raccoons actively seek den sites. In April and May, litters comprising one to seven young are born. Approximately three weeks after birth, the young raccoons open their eyes and often make their presence known through mewing, twittering, or crying sounds. They nurse for about six weeks, after which they leave the den to accompany their mother until September or early October. It is during this period that they disperse and establish their own territories. The life cycle and behaviors of raccoons contribute to the rich tapestry of New York’s wildlife.

Raccoons are protected by law in New York, and possessing one without a license is prohibited. Licenses are not issued for keeping raccoons as pets, and hunting or trapping them requires a valid license. Homeowners and farmers without licenses can legally destroy raccoons causing property damage, but it is recommended to address the issue by eliminating food and shelter sources before resorting to lethal measures.

In some instances, raccoon populations may be very high, with densities ranging from 20 to 40 raccoons per square mile in rural areas and exceeding 100 per square mile in developed parts of the state, such as Long Island. To prevent raccoons from becoming a nuisance, people should avoid unintentionally providing them with food or shelter. This includes securing garbage, managing pet feeders, and addressing potential nesting sites.

Black Bears

Wildlife in New York: Though rarely seen by most New Yorkers, black bears are valued by hunters, photographers, and wildlife watchers.

Many people enjoy just knowing that bears are present in New York State. For many, black bears symbolize wilderness and wildness, but increasingly, bears can be found in semi-rural environments, agricultural areas, and occasionally in urban centres!

If you’re interested in visiting these animals, these are a few operators which may be able to assist you on this quest!

Nuisance Wildlife Species

New York Black Bear Population Facts:
• Currently estimated at a minimum of 6,000-8,000 bears in areas open to hunting
• 50-60% inhabit the Adirondack region
• 30-35% inhabit the the Catskill region
• 10-15% inhabit the central-western region.
• Bears are now well established in many other areas, including the Tug Hill, Hudson Valley, and across the Southern Tier.
• Transient bears are routinely encountered throughout the Lake Ontario Plains, Mohawk Valley, and St. Lawrence Valley.
• Except Tug Hill, these other areas include a more significant proportion of agriculture or have higher human densities. This makes them less suitable for bears due to the higher likelihood of human-bear conflicts.

Black bears are an essential and natural component of New York’s ecosystem. Whether you live or recreate in the bear country, please help maintain and protect the bear. At the same time, protect yourself and your property by not feeding bears and reducing bear attractants.

Moose

The moose holds the distinction of being the largest member of the deer family (Cervidae) and the largest land mammal in New York State. Bulls can weigh between 600 to 1,200 pounds, standing up to 6 feet tall at the shoulder, while cows typically weigh between 500 to 800 pounds. Both sexes feature long, grayish-white legs, dark brown or black bodies, and a distinctive flap of skin beneath the throat referred to as a bell.

Mature bulls possess significantly larger bells compared to cows and younger bulls. Cows have light brown faces with a white skin patch under their tails, while bulls exhibit dark faces and lack the white patch. Antlers, a feature exclusive to bulls, start growing in March or April, regrowing annually. On mature bulls, antlers can span a width of more than 5 feet and are shed from November through January.

Moose are typically found in boreal forest areas across the Northern Hemisphere. In North America, their range extends from Alaska to the Atlantic Ocean, and south into the Rocky Mountains, northern Great Lakes, and the Northeast. In New York, the majority of moose are concentrated in the northeastern part of the state, particularly in the Adirondack Mountains and the Taconic Highlands along the borders of Massachusetts and Vermont.

Moose are primarily browsers, consuming the leaves, twigs, and buds of both hardwood and softwood trees and shrubs. An adult moose has a daily diet that ranges from 40 to 60 pounds of browse.

Preferred plant species in their diet include willows, birches, maples, balsam fir, viburnums, aspen, and mountain ash. During the winter, moose may resort to stripping and eating the bark from small trees, particularly maples and aspen.

In the summer, moose extensively feed on aquatic plants found in ponds and wetlands. They wade into the water, reaching beneath the surface to graze on plants. Additionally, these wet areas serve as refuges where moose can escape biting insects and hot weather.

Optimal moose habitat is characterized by a diverse landscape, including upland mature mixed forests, open areas resulting from burns or logging, and wetlands. The regrowth of browse species after events like fires or clearcuts provides the nutritious food in large quantities that moose require. Small clear-cuts with some retained softwood cover are preferable to large clear-cuts exceeding 100 acres.

Several factors contribute to moose fatalities:

1. Predators: Black bears are significant predators of moose calves less than nine weeks old, and occasional calf predation by coyotes may occur. Adult moose in New York State do not have natural predators, although wolves serve as their main predator in other regions.
2. Parasites: Moose are vulnerable to a parasite called brainworm, which infects the nervous system and often leads to death. Other parasites like liver flukes and lungworms can weaken moose, making them susceptible to secondary infections. Although winter ticks, a common cause of mortality in other states with higher moose densities, have not been documented in New York, they spend three life cycles on an individual animal, feeding on its blood during each cycle.
3. Vehicle Collisions: Vehicle collisions are a significant cause of moose mortality, especially in areas with high road densities. Due to their height, moose collisions often result in the animal coming over the hood into the windshield and onto the roof of the vehicle. Moose are most active from dusk to dawn, making them challenging to spot on the roadway during these times, and their coloration makes them less visible, especially when their eyes are above the reach of car headlights.