Wildlife at Hyzer Creek

1. Orange salamanders are everywhere. They are actually red efts, which is a stage of development of the eastern red spotted newt. You might also see giant mole salamanders, up to 8 inches long.

2. Wild turkeys and deer are very common. Also the usual squirrels and chipmunks, red tail hawks, heron, yellow bellied sapsuckers, turkey vultures, and woodpeckers. Moose live around here, but they live near lakes and swamps, and Hyzer Creek is on a hill, so you won't see any moose. Porcupines are common, we've seen many on the course, and beavers live in the area but none live on the course. Rabbits, mice, weasels, fishers, untold other wild species.

3. Snakes are common, but the only snakes you will see are harmless. Poisonous snakes don't live this far north at this high elevation (1400 feet). The only two types of snakes you will see here are garter snakes and ribbon snakes.

4. No ticks. You can bring your dog without any fear of picking them up. There is a kennel at the course for keeping your dog if you want to.

5. Red foxes are common. They see you before you see them, and you probably won't see them for very long!

5. You won't see any bears. There are bears in the Adirondacks, but they live higher up in the mountains away from people so you won't see any. Besides, black bears don't attack people anyway so you are perfectly safe.

6. Flying squirrels! Keep looking up in the trees and see for yourself. They look like very small, grey squirrels, but they can glide up to 240 feet from the treetops using skin flaps that act like glider wings. For more info check out http://www.esf.edu/resorg/rooseveltwildlife/Research/fairbairn/fairbairn.htm

7. Black flies from around May 7 to early June can be very annoying, you should bring insect repellant. Use 100% DEET if you play during that time. Deer flies can be very annoying in July, but after July 31, there are no bugs at all!!! Also, there is almost no poison ivy here, and very few mosquitoes. In late summer, yellow jackets (wasps, also called ground bees) come out. If you are allergic to bees and wasps, you MUST carry your epi-pen because we don't have staff for this emergency.

    Hyzer creek in the winter

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