Wildlife of Adirondacks, New York
The Adirondack Park is the largest state-protected wilderness in the contiguous US. Common loons nest on almost every lake; moose have re-established a small population; and boreal specialties like spruce grouse and Bicknell's thrush breed on high peaks.
Best timeMay – July for loons and warblers, September – October for moose rut.
- 1The Adirondacks is bigger than Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Canyon combined.
- 2Boreal species reach their southern limit here — Bicknell's thrush, spruce grouse.
- 3Moose returned in the 1980s and now number 1,000+.
Signature species
Curated for Adirondacks, New York, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- LC
Common loon
Gavia immer
- VU
Bicknell's thrush
Catharus bicknelli
- LC
Spruce grouse
Falcipennis canadensis
- LC
Moose
Alces alces
- LC
American marten
Martes americana
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Paddle Bloomingdale Bog at dawn for boreal birds.
- Support the ADK loon-lead-tackle exchange.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't fish with lead sinkers — they kill loons.
- Don't camp on High Peak summits — vegetation takes centuries to recover.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 80km, last 30 days.
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