Erie County Parks, Recreation & Forestry

A Park Ranger Minute- Do you remember the thunderstorms on Tuesday night?

Canada Geese and their new goslings!

It’s that time of year again! Many of our park inhabitants are becoming proud new parents including this Canada Goose couple! This is the perfect time to remind all of our park visitors that we should be keeping our distance from all wildlife in our parks. These goslings may be cute, but mom and dad will not be happy if you try to get close to them. So, try to keep your eyes and ears open for any upset parents while you’re outside. Additionally, this is a good time to remind everyone about our leash law. We should all know that our dogs have to always be on leash when visiting our parks. This time of year especially is when our wildlife is extremely vulnerable to your inquisitive pup. So, for your dog’s safety and for the safety of all of our wildlife, please keep your dog on a leash! And with those reminders out of the way, enjoy our parks and let us know what new park babies you’ve seen! #youreriecountyparks #findyourownadventure

Fisher spotted at Chestnut Ridge!

In our series of shy, infrequently seen animals, we have a Fisher (often known colloquially as a Fisher Cat) at shelter 38 in Chestnut Ridge Park. Fishers (Martes pennanti) are a type of large Mustelid which means they are part of the weasel family and are a type of predator that lives in healthy forests. Their greatest claim to fame is the fact that they are one of the few predators that can get around a porcupine’s tough defenses! Quite incredible considering porcupines can have approximately 30,000 needle like quills protecting them! It’s amazing that we have a live sighting of a Fisher in the parks! This tells us that we can support a habitat that these animals can safely live in. Also, the Fisher was once extirpated, or locally removed, from this area so its great to see them come back and reclaim part of their native range. Let us know what you’ve seen in your parks today and if you’ve been lucky enough to to spot a Fisher in the area. Bonus points if you’ve seen them in our parks! #youreriecountyparks #findyourownadventure

A Common Loon has been spotted for the last week or so at the reservoir at Chestnut Ridge Park. These birds are migrating during this time of year so our visitor will not be staying for long. She’s likely sticking around so she can nab some tasty fish before she’s on her way north to breed. If you want to get a glimpse of this beautiful bird grab your binoculars and keep patient. These animals are fairly shy so they won’t want to stay near you and they will dive frequently for fish. Also, the entire reservoir has a trail wrapped around it so you can keep up with your social distancing just give room to your fellow park visitors if they need to pass you on the trail. Stay safe out there everyone! #youreriecountyparks #findyourownadventure

Ring-necked Pheasant crosses 277.

Why did the Ring-necked Pheasant cross the road? Let us know in the comments! Ring-necked Pheasants, like this male here, hold a unique place in the ecosystems of New York and the US. While they are not native to our habitats they are also not considered an invasive species. How can this be? The term invasive species is given to non-natives that cause great economic or ecological damage. European Starlings are considered invasive because they use up the limited nesting cavities our native birds use and limit the places they can breed. Ring-necked Pheasants however are considered an alien species. They aren’t native here but are unlikely to push native species out of their habitats and nest sites. In fact there haven’t been large increases in their population unless humans introduce them locally. In fact, many see this species as a beneficial bird because they are highly sought after as game birds. #youreriecountyparks #findyourownadventure

The following video was taken in Chestnut Ridge Park during our rain shower today. Did you notice a bunch of tiny bubbles flowing down this tree trunk at the beginning of the video? How does this happen? Well, during a long spell without rain (like during winter) particles in the air, kind of like dust that you have in your house, build up on the bark of trees. When you get a heavy rain like we had today those particles mix together. Sometimes these particles chemically interact with each other you can get a "soap" or a natural surfactant. You wouldn't be able to clean your hands with this tree water but the surfactant can act a lot like household soap. Hence, the bubbles! This phenomenon doesn't happen all the time but if you're lucky and look around for it during a heavy rainfall you may see it on some of the trees in our parks. #findyournextadventure #youreriecountyparks

Everyone is having a great time at Santa Land at Chesnut Ridge Park! The Orchard Park Chorale group is here, caroling for all of the guests! Santa Land runs today until 3 pm and again tomorrow from 11 am - 3 pm!

Only two days left until this year's Erie County Fall Fest!! You definitely don't want to miss out on all the fun happening at Como Lake Park this Saturday from 10 AM - 2 PM!

Thanks to a combined effort from our contractor (CaHill Resources) and plenty of Erie County forces, Como Lake is now 100% dredged and the entire project is more than 80% complete! Weather-permitting, we anticipate this project to be finished in late September/early October.

Here we have the crews of @ErieCountyDPW hard at work dredging the lake at Como Lake Park.

In preparation for this week's Hump Day Hike, Ranger Jerry is going over the 10 essentials you should carry with you for any hike.

Find Your Next Adventure: Red Jacket Park

Visited an Erie County “pocket park” yet? Red Jacket Park is a beautiful, naturalized pocket park in only a couple blocks south of busy South Park Avenue, and is easily accessible from the I-190 (Smith Street exit), yet is the most remote of the Buffalo River Parks. #FindYourNextAdventure in an Erie County Park! More info at: erie.gov/parks #NationalParkandRecreationMonth

Find Your Next Adventure: Sprague Brook Park

July is National Park & Recreation Month, the perfect time to explore Erie County’s huge park system, where you're always sure to find something new. Today we highlight Sprague Brook Park, which offers something unique to any other county park—watch to find out! Details at: erie.gov/parks #FindYourNextAdventure #YourErieCountyParks #NationalParkandRecreationMonth

Find Your Next Adventure in the Erie County Forest

It's National Park & Recreation Month, and County Executive Poloncarz comes to you today from the Old Scarbuck Trail at the County Forest (on Genesee Road in Sardinia). With more than 10,000 acres of public parkland and forest in your Erie County Parks system, you can discover a new adventure anytime. More at: erie.gov/parks #YourErieCountyParks #FindYourNextAdventure

Did you know our Forestry staff mills lumber for our shelter repairs? Lumber can also be milled for other County Departments’ projects. The wood is harvested throughout various County parks and forestry lots.

Winter Sports Website

Check our winter sports web page before heading out to the park! The site is updated daily and as conditions change! http://ow.ly/4Sea30nT1lg

Please Don't Feed the Wild Life!

Ranger Jerry explains why it's important not to feed wildlife!

‪Cut a wood cookie and either decorate it inside or out Forester can brand it for you!‬

Join us for WinterFest this Sunday at Chestnut Ridge! This free, family friendly event runs from 11-4. Join us for an afternoon of fun!

Christmas caroling fun on the way to see Santa!