Tug Hill – Adirondack Wildlife Habitat Connectivity
Maintaining connections between large forested areas like Tug Hill and the Adirondacks is critical for many wildlife species that require large ranges for survival. The Adirondack-Tug Hill Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Project is a collaborative undertaking by Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, Adirondack Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society, Tug Hill Commission and others to identify areas of the Black River valley that seem optimum for wildlife movement between the two regions. Over the past three years, current knowledge of wildlife needs, computer modeling and on-the-ground data have been used to identify areas of special interest regarding wildlife movement.
Two priority areas have been identified through the work so far, one of which is the mostly forest and farm area in Northern Oneida County. Implementation of some measures has begun in that southern linkage (the towns of Ava, Boonville, Forestport, Remsen, Steuben, Trenton, and Western) to maintain and improve the landscape for wildlife habitat.
Make Room for Wildlife 2013 Landowner Brochure
Make Room for Wildlife 2013 Planners Brochure
Tug Hill – ADK Wildlife Habitat Connectivity Map
Implementation involves three primary approaches: working with towns on local land use planning; partnering with state, county, and town transportation/highway departments on ways to make roads easier for wildlife to cross; and engaging interested private landowners in land protection efforts.
