The Catskills are a nature lover’s paradise. the climate is perfect for a wide variety of flora and fauna that is unmatched anywhere else. If you plan to hike during your visit to the Catskills, you’ll want to make sure you’re careful about your surroundings. Mother Nature may be a beautiful thing, but wild animals also pose their own threat in their habitat. Listed below are some animals you can see while out and about in the mountains.
snakes
There’s a good chance you’ll come across a snake or two while hiking in the Catskills. there are mainly 2 venomous ones to be very careful of and those are the copperhead and the timber rattlesnake. they will usually be black, tan and yellow in color and have a triangular head shape and of course the rattlesnake tail. if you see (or hear) one of these nearby, you’ll want to make sure you move away slowly. do not make sudden movements that the snake could mistake for aggression. these snakes can live up to 30 years and grow up to 4 feet.
coyote
you might hear coyotes howling if you listen carefully. There are a plethora of coyotes in the Catskill Mountains and surrounding regions. They tend to stick to mountains and valleys, but have been seen elsewhere as well. staying in the mountains allows them to chase their prey (mainly rabbits) to the edge of the mountain, where they cannot escape. Coyotes are known to be intelligent animals and can weigh anywhere from 40 to 65 pounds.
fishermen
these creatures were nearly wiped out in the early 20th century. they were hunted for their fur, but have now returned to a healthy population. you can think of them as cat-sized weasels. they are usually chocolate brown to black in color and have long tails. they generally stay in the woods and are quite elusive and hard to spot. They can range from 4 to 16 pounds and grow up to 40 inches long, from head to tail. They are opportunistic hunters and seek easy meals, but generally feed on rabbits, voles, squirrels, nuts, and seeds. they are very aggressive and have very few predators.
black bears
These cute creatures are also abundant in the catskills. while they may look adorable from afar, these animals should not be approached. the male black bear can reach up to 750 pounds and is nothing to play with. They are omnivorous, which means they eat both meat and vegetation. They tend to stay in the dense forests of the mountains, but if you see one, stay out. you should also avoid going into dens and caves in the catskills area as black bears hibernate, often with their cubs, during the winter.
big cats
Bobcats and cougars are common in the Catskill Mountains. they roam freely, tracking their prey of birds, rodents, and sometimes even deer. Wildcat tracks are easy to spot and they tend to hide in caves and on the various rock ledges around the mountains. Cougars, also often called cougars and panthers, are larger than the bobcat. they eat mainly deer and sometimes raccoons and rabbits. They won’t mess around with mice or small birds. If you see a big cat while you’re out and about, it’s most likely a bobcat. there is still some debate as to whether there are pumas in that area.
white tail deer
These majestic animals are often seen in herds, usually before dawn, eating the cool, moist grass, nuts, and seeds. Deer are not known to be hostile, unless cornered. deeper it will escape if it meets a person. Their main predators of deer in the Catskills are coyotes and big cats. If you’d like to see some baby deer or fawns when you visit, deer breeding season is usually November through December, with a 7 month gestation period, so expect baby deer around May or June.
chipped squirrels
these cute and cuddly squirrels are found all over the mountains in new york. you can see them running around in the trees of the forest or foraging for fruits, mushrooms, nuts and seeds. They are not aggressive, they tend to run away from people, but they become territorial if they feel their nest or home is being threatened.
There are also many beautiful flowers to see when you’re in the Catskills. there are different ones that bloom at different times of the year, so if you’re a plant enthusiast, you’ll want to research the specific region you plan to travel to beforehand, so you can find out which plants will be in season during your visit:
Dutchman’s pants, starflowers, white violets, trout lilies, red and painted trillium, eastern red columbine, fringed polygalle, irregular robin, mountain laurel, pinxter, viper’s bugloss, orange hawkweed, etc., to name just a few. plants in the catskills are beautiful and abundant in variety.
One thing is for sure when you go to the Catskills, you want to make sure you remember and pack your camera before you head out. Once you’re done touring all the attractions and restaurants in and around the Catskills, you’ll definitely want to capture all the beauty and wildlife that surrounds you. Even if it’s just to get a photo of the surrounding landscape and mountains, a river or a newborn fawn, you’ll come across places you’ll want to capture and remember for a lifetime. traveling to the catskills can be a real adventure and it is important to know what to expect. While you can go and not see any of the wildlife mentioned above, it’s good to have an idea of what animals you might encounter and what to do if you come across one of the furry or scaly natives of the Catskills. Now is a great time to start planning a trip to the Catskills.
