This landscape picture was taken at Higley Flow State Park on a cross country skiing lab field trip. The habitat surrounding this picture was interesting because there were many tall pine trees but at ground level there were many smaller hemlock trees that looked only a few years old. The reason I took this picture was because it looked like there was two totally distinct habitats within this small region. Animals along the lines of birds might use the taller trees on a daily basis, but small rodents or rabbits might inhabit the lower coverage for food and shelter.

This is a picture of a unique landscape in Higley Flow State Park that I noticed while cross-country skiing. This habitat would be a wetland area surrounded by a hardwood forest consisting of primarily white pines on the perimeter. As seen in the picture, during the winter months the moisture freezes over and there are a few animal tracks near the bottom because crossing over the wetland is a more direct route. I thought this picture was interesting because there is a lot of diversity in plant life near this wetland that includes multiple layers.

I took this picture of snowshoe hare tracks in Russell, New York. These tracks were weaving through thick brush in a hardwood forest that had many small beech trees nearby. I chose this picture because I thought it was very interesting to see fresh snowshoe hare tracks that were in decent condition and you could really make out the front and hind feet. Many people when looking at these tracks assume that the front tracks are the front legs but in reality they are the hind legs that swing forward when the snowshoe hare runs.

Stone Valley has a portion of the trail that's described as "the most spectacular stretch of Stone Valley" where the river has a patch of very dramatic rapids. I chose this photo because the power and strength of the river is very evident from the far side of the riverbank. You can also see the other side of the river really well, so it's easy to see that certain species of trees stop growing at respective distances from the river.

Rabbits are seen all over campus (and if not, you can definitely find their tracks in the snow!) The rabbits often run between trees on the edges of campus because those trees are not groomed around the bottom. This means that when a heavy snow storm comes, the snow creates a Subnivean zone that keeps the rabbits warmer and more protected from predation than under a well groomed tree in the center of campus.

Stone Valley is one of my favorite locations that our Natural World class has explored this semester, not only because of the the rich history of Native American culture, but because in the 1930s, the land upon which Stone Valley has been established was adopted by the United States Resettlement Administration and put under the jurisdiction of the United Forest Service. But the history nerd in me can also step back and appreciate the wide variety of tree species that call Stone Valley home, which is why I chose this photo.

There are many natural highlights at the Red Sandstone Trail in Potsdam, including the Hannawa gorge with its class four rapids, The Sugar Island Flow, and a predominant pine, hemlock and beech forest. This four season trail is perfect if you are looking to get out and experience the call of the wild close at hand. I took this shot on top of a hill that overlooks the river. This image captures the magnificent flow of the water moving northward. A great image overall!

This was a fun trip to Lampson Falls. As part of our nature walk we spent a good amount of time looking for porcupines and their dens. We spotted a lone porcupine up about 35 feet in a hemlock tree, their favorite snack. Hemlock branches were scattered everywhere along the ground as well, good sign that porcupines were in the area. As I was looking for more I came across what appears to be an old den. There was nothing inside, but it was full of droppings from its previous occupant. A really nice shot of a winter hideout!

I took this photo after a sleet fall on top of a nice snow layer so the tracks were perfectly preserved. I'm assuming this deer entered the campus of St. Lawrence University to feed upon the plethora of discarded goodies that the students leave behind. It is not uncommon to see deer tracks on campus, but it is uncommon to see them so pronounced. Also, you can tell the deer was under no stress and taking a leisurely stroll due to the incredibly tight gate, which is hard to find in such a densely populated area.

While snowshoeing near one of the most popular waterfalls in St. Lawrence County, I took a close up shot of this cottontail rabbit hopping through the snow. I thought that this rabbit left a pretty noticeable imprint. But I remember that the track were spread out far apart and it seemed a little rushed, so it could have been avoiding a predator. Most likely it was a coyote because I do recall seeing coyote tracks that day as well. Hope this little bunny got away safely!