New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

A mink, with some snow on its fur, running across ice.

A mink on a patch of snow looking directly at the camera.

Did you know mink are found throughout New York and most of the United States and Canada? They occupy a variety of habitats: streams, rivers, lakes, marshes and coastlines.

A distinguishing mink characteristic is a small white patch of fur on their chin.

Photo by Mike Reynolds

Be Air Aware

📢 Check the latest AQI forecast here: appfactory.dec.ny.gov/AQI

DEC experts are forecasting good or moderate air quality levels across NY State today, but temporary spikes in pollution common with winter weather patterns and smoke impacts from Southeastern U.S. wildfires may occur in Long Island and the NYC Metro areas.

A map of New York State, divided into several regions, with most of Upstate colored green, indicating good air quality, but the Upper and Lower Hudson Valley, NYC Metro, and Long Island areas are yellow, indicating moderate air quality.

DEC is closely monitoring the weather forecast, which shows the potential for trapping colder air and pollution closer to the surface.

For more details on these and other recent Forest Ranger stories, head to on.ny.gov/4rDzsoM.

A pickup truck stuck in deep snow at night.

The second posed no threat to snowmobilers. Rangers contacted a local snowmobile club to coordinate the removal of the second vehicle with the owner.

A snowmobile shining its headlight toward a pickup truck that is stranded in deep snow at night.

Also on Feb. 21, Ray Brook Dispatch received a call about two stranded vehicles on a snowmobile trail off Rock Rd. in the Town of Altona. Forest Rangers Odell and Russell were able to free one of the vehicles.

Two people on a red hovercraft on ice and another person in a hole cut into the ice of a frozen lake for training purposes.

On Feb. 21, Forest Ranger Laymon assisted with flat ice rescue training on Goodyear Lake for the Milford Volunteer Fire Department. Training with the use of the fire department’s hovercraft, firefighters learned different rescue techniques.

Graphic which reads "Air Quality Health Advisory. Unhealthy for sensitive groups. New York City Metro"

Graphic which reads "Air Quality Health Advisory. Unhealthy for sensitive groups. Upper Hudson Valley"

DEC and @nysdoh.bsky.social have issued an Air Quality Health Advisory for TODAY, February 18, for fine particulate matter in the Upper Hudson Valley and NYC Metro regions.

👉 Latest AQI forecast: appfactory.dec.ny.gov/AQI

☎️ Air Quality Hotline: 1-800-535-1345

Our team is engaging attendees with information about DEC’s many programs and grants, as well as highlighting rewarding career opportunities: dec.ny.gov/about/employ...

A group of DEC staff pose behind a staffing table at the New York State Capitol.

DEC is in the Capitol this weekend for the Annual Legislative Conference hosted by the New York State Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislators.

Read DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton’s full statement on the U.S. EPA’s dismantling of the Federal Government’s obligation to reduce pollution-causing climate change: dec.ny.gov/news/press-r...

Large snow piles in a parking lot.

New Yorkers are no strangers to snow, but did you know that snow can impact air quality? Snow can attach to particulate matter and bring it out of the air.

🌬️ Want to learn more? Check out the latest issue of Air Mail!: content.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYS...

➡️ Check snowmobile route openings at nyssa.evtrails.com
➡️ For updated trail conditions/closures at specific locations: on.ny.gov/backcountryi...
➡️ Hike Smart by bringing the 10 Hiking Essentials: on.ny.gov/hikesmartny
➡️ Follow Leave No Trace™ principles: on.ny.gov/lonyl

🌜 Sunrise = 7:05 a.m.; Sunset = 5:13 p.m. Don’t forget your headlamp and extra batteries.

❗Notices❗
👉 The gate to Corey’s Road is closed due to recent snowfall and narrowing the road conditions. 4WD/AWD is still recommended up to the Raquette Falls lot.
👉 Avalanche Pass is still currently closed.

Layer:
1️⃣ moisture-wicking inner layers (avoid cotton!),
2️⃣ insulating mid-layers of wool or fleece, and
3️⃣ wind/waterproof shell layers
🥾 Switch between snowshoes and spikes/crampons. Snowshoes or skis are required when snowpack is over 8 in. This applies to ALL hikes in the High Peaks Wilderness.

Marcy Dam at dusk in the wintertime.

Adirondack backcountry report:
❄️ As of Feb. 4, snow depths were 47 in. at the Lake Colden Interior Cabin (~2,750 ft elevation).
⚠️ February is the most common month for avalanches.
🥶 BASE elevation lows this weekend: in the negative-teens. Expect to lose 5°F for every 1,000 ft of elevation gain.

Air Quality Index (AQI) Map for New York State on 1/28/2026.

DEC is closely monitoring the weather forecast, which shows the potential for trapping colder air and pollution closer to the surface. Be Air Aware!

📣 Check the latest AQI forecast: appfactory.dec.ny.gov/AQI/

Tune in to hear DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton present details of Governor Hochul’s Executive Budget: www.nysenate.gov/calendar/pub...

All DEC environmental education centers (Stony Kill Farm, Five Rivers, Rogers, and Reinstein Woods) will be closed on Monday, January 26th.

Please be respectful of maintenance staff plowing the parking areas on Sunday and Monday, in anticipation of re-opening on Tuesday, January 27th.

A large winter Storm will then impact NY beginning Sunday Morning - Monday; 12-18 Inches of Snow Possible for NYC, Long Island, Hudson Valley, Capital Region, Southern Tier, Mohawk Valley, Lower North Country and Parts of Central NY, and 6-12 Inches in Western NY and Upper North Country.

DEC urges you to consider rescheduling any outdoor plans. It only takes 10 minutes for frostbite to set in and rescues can put hikers and first responders at risk.

Snowy graphic with text reading "Winter Weather Advisory".

Dangerously cold weather is coming, with statewide feels-like temperatures in the negatives Friday and Saturday night. Some locations in the North Country may experience feels-like temperatures as low as -50 degrees.

For details on these and other recent Forest Ranger stories, head to on.ny.gov/4a3OWMu.

Five people walking in a snow-covered, wooded area.

The Sullivan County Search and Rescue team is made up of members of multiple fire departments who often assist Rangers in search and rescue missions. Training together ensures more successful real-time missions throughout the county.

Several people under a pavilion while standing around a person who is in a sleeping bag on the ground during search and rescue training.

On January 12 and 17, Forest Rangers Franke, Jeffery, Kocher, and Schweider taught the classroom and field portions of the Basic Wildland Search class to the Sullivan County Search and Rescue Team.

The Savona Fire Dept. and NY State Police joined the Forest Ranger and the Thurston Fire Dept. to stabilize the vehicle with straps so they could safely remove the driver and passenger. Rescuers reunited the family, and a bulldozer pulled the SUV up the icy hill.

The two rescuers quickly removed the child from the vehicle and checked them over to ensure they were uninjured and warm enough.

A silver SUV leaning on a tree and over an icy embankment.

At 12:30 p.m. on Jan. 11, Forest Ranger Dormer responded to a call for a car over an embankment in the Town of Thurston. Ranger Dormer and a Thurston Fire Dept. member located the SUV and learned that there was a child in the backseat and an adult driver and passenger in the front.

To help build affordable housing, improve critical infrastructure, and advance other projects benefitting communities and avoiding environmental impacts, Governor Kathy Hochul's State of the State included sweeping and commonsense reforms to modernize the State Environmental Quality Review Act.