Rare Plants & Animals

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Hikers, Maintainers & Trail Designers

Hikers should be aware of what plants and animals are along the trails so they do not damage the resources. Just staying on the trail and obeying closure signs is generally sufficient. 

For maintainers, more knowledge about specific species is needed. Some plants can be cut after flowering season. In general don't cut or pull anything that has only a small population in the vicinity unless you know what it is. Where studies have been done, your supervisor should be able to tell you about what you can and cannot do.

For trail designers, there is a much higher responsibility. Many but not all parks in the area require an environmental study of proposed routes, which generally will  tell you where you cannot build and perhaps suggest alternates.

Studies

Many parks in the area have had extensive studies done of rare plants and animals. These reports are generally confidential and not released to the public because they detail species and locations. Use some of the links below to find out what is rare in NY or NJ. You can find out a lot about particular plants on one of these lists, including some location information, if you search for it by its Latin name on the internet. 

Known studies 

• AT New Jersey
  • the TC office has a copy
• AT New York
  • the TC office has a copy
  • maintainers should have a sheet describing any rare plants in their section and giving maintenance instructions.
• Harriman Park
• Sterling Forest
• Fahnestock, Hubbard Perkins, Hudson Highlands - all trails built since 1994 have had environmental studies of the immediate trail vicinity. Many have protected species that have been avoided.
• Hudson Highlands Gateway Park
• Additions welcome -

Help

Eventually there will be a new volunteer position within the Trail Conference called something like environmental monitor. They will be trained to recognize specific species which need protection at particular places and report on how their charges are doing. Maintainers will be welcome to take on these extra duties but may decline and have an environmental monitor do the work. 

Some of you already know a lot about the plants and animals along the trails. Reports of occurrences that you notice are welcome. See NYS form or NJ form - please report to us as well as the NYS Heritage program.

Links

• New York Natural Heritage Program
• New Jersey Natural Heritage Program
• New York State Protected Native Plants
• New York State Rare Animals
• New Jersey Rare Species Lists
• Wildlife, Fish and Rare Plants USFS Eastern Region
• Eastern Cougar
  • Eastern Cougar Network
  • Eastern Cougar Foundation
  • The New England Mountain Lion Discusion Group