The 7 Catskills Creatures You Need to Watch Out For
July 26, 2014
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It comes with the territory, right? Wildlife numbers are up, as previously scarce species come roaring back to life. That’s great news — except when it comes to coexisting peaceably with humans. Click the images in the gallery below to meet some of the Catskills’s natives.
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Coyotes
With their distinctive howls, these wily wild animals (they only look like German Shepherds) are increasing in number and will happily go after your cat or small dog.
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Cougars
Also known as mountain lions, these large, long-tailed cats, which emit a long scream, are officially extinct in the state. Still, sightings are often reported, and conspiracy theories abound.
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Fishers
Part of the weasel family, the elusive fisher weighs in at about 10 to 16 pounds, runs fast, hangs out in trees, and is the only North American mammal that kills and consumes porcupines.
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Bobcat
Aww, a big, soft, fluffy orange kitty! Look again: These nocturnal carnivores, who avoid human contact, are twice the size of a housecat (with a short tail) and even chow down on deer.
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Snakes
There are two poisonous snake species here: the timber rattlesnake and the northern copperhead. Most of them are found in Ulster County, with a large den of rattlers on Overlook Mountain.
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Black Bears
A third of the state’s population lives here — and the number is growing (despite legal bear hunting for 16 days in September). You’re most likely to spot them near a blueberry bush.
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Feral Hogs
Aggressive, free-ranging Eurasian boars in western Delaware and Sullivan create havoc by consuming crops and livestock. Still, the DEC has made progress in managing these intelligent beasts.
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