Latest news with #NewYork-NewJerseyTrailConference
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
Metro North's trailside train station Breakneck Ridge, favorite of hikers, to close for 2 years
New Yorkers wishing to head for the hills will have one fewer option this spring — the Breakneck Ridge station on the Metro North's Hudson Line will close for two years starting April 21 to allow for major renovations. The station, nestled between the towns of Cold Spring and Beacon, primarily serves hikers on their way to and from Hudson Highlands State Park. Currently only five trains a week serve the Breakneck Ridge station, and only on the weekends. During the closure, crews will be building a new connecting bridge from the Breakneck station to the Breakneck Trail trailhead, allowing hikers to cross over New York State route 9D rather than walk along the shoulder of the highway. 'When this project is completed, Metro-North riders will once again have direct access to one of New York's most popular hiking destinations and safer passage to Hudson Highlands State Park,' Metro-North president Justin Vonashek said in a statement. The trailheads for the Breakneck Ridge Trail and the nearby Wilkinson Trail will also be closed for the duration of the project. Melissa Cascini, a program coordinator at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference told the Daily News that hikers would still be able to access some of the ridge's scenic overlooks from adjoining trails, including those accessible from the nearby Cold Spring train station. The project's website also recommends other similar nearby hikes. The two-year closure is the first step in the creation of a planned Hudson Highland Fjord Trail linking Beacon and Cold Spring.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists use dogs to track down dangerous insects: 'Easier for a dog to smell something than it is for a human to see something'
The Wildlife Society reports that organizations like the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and Working Dogs for Conservation are putting dogs and their keen sense of smell to good use in the fight against an invasive species: the spotted lanternfly. Sightings of the destructive insect were first confirmed in 2014 in Pennsylvania and have reached at least 18 other states. As the referenced study published in Ecosphere discovered, humans have spotted visible eggs in vineyards, but canines had 3.4 times more detections than people in more complex areas where the insects overwinter, such as forests. In other words, they can sniff out invasions that aren't obvious to humans. "The dogs find egg masses by smell," Angela Fuller, professor in the Department of Natural Resources and the Environment at Cornell University, told The Wildlife Society. "So, in a very complex environment, it's easier for a dog to smell something than it is for a human to see something that is small and cryptic." Should the government be paying people to hunt invasive species? Definitely Depends on the animal No way Just let people do it for free Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. These insects are harmful to the environment as they destroy vegetation, including trees. Infestations have killed off entire wine vines in a single growing season. When plants and trees die, so do several animal habitats and food sources, such as those for beneficial pollinators at the start of the food chain. Most of the planet's oxygen also comes from trees and grass — one tree alone can produce enough oxygen for four people, reports the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Therefore, recruiting pups to protect the health of the plants in these forests and vineyards helps many. A collaboration between working dogs and nature trails is the perfect storm to battle this invasion. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference boasts over 2,000 volunteers who help keep trails safe. Working Dogs for Conservation gives shelter dogs new life by training them to sniff out biological threats like invasive seedlings. The collaboration began in 2019, when experts trained a labrador retriever and a Belgian malinois to find live spotted lanternflies through positive reinforcement. Eventually, training evolved into having the dogs identify egg masses, specifically the ones belonging to the lanternflies. Other important finds by these working dogs have included Chinese bush clover in Iowa and Yellow star thistle in Colorado. The canines even help the biosecurity of an area by distinguishing between disease-infected and uninfected scat from animals of the same species. The New York-New Jersey Trail Conference has been building and cleaning trails since 1923. You can do your part by keeping areas clean and alerting local authorities if you spot an invasive species. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Study reveals dogs outperform humans in detecting killer pests: 'The extra time ... is not as important as it is to find them"
Dogs could help save your local vineyards and forests with their amazing sense of smell, according to Cornell University. A new study published in the journal Ecosphere found that trained dogs can detect the eggs of spotted lanternflies, an invasive insect that kills grapevines, apple trees, hops, and other plants we need. The discovery offers fresh hope for catching these destructive pests before they spread. Spotted lanternflies first appeared in Pennsylvania in 2014 and have spread to 18 other states. The insects threaten American farms and forests. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. When they attack vineyards, they can kill up to 100% of the vines in just one growing season. Farmers often have no choice but to increase pesticide use by 170% to fight back. But there's good news: A Labrador retriever and Belgian malinois, trained by experts at the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference and Working Dogs for Conservation, proved better than humans at finding lanternfly egg masses in forests near vineyards. While people spotted more eggs in the vineyards themselves, the dogs excelled in complex forest environments where the eggs are harder to see. This can help protect both farms and wild spaces. The study found that areas of vineyards closest to forests faced the highest risk. "If you're searching in a vineyard close to the forest, that's more likely where they're going to be," said Angela Fuller, study lead author and Cornell professor. "The extra time that dogs take to find them is not as important as it is to find them in the first place, because you need to detect the egg masses in order to eradicate them," Fuller explained. "A spotted lanternfly infestation in a vineyard can cause 80% to 100% mortality of the vines in one growing season," she added, showing how early detection by these talented dogs could make all the difference in protecting our food supply and natural areas. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
