Though deer, bear, raccoons and other nocturnal animals are commonly recorded these days on trail cams, they are still seldomly encountered in the wild due to their natural instincts and cunning.
Story by Rick Hiduk / Photos by Herb Gery (top) and Gillian Yartym (above)
(This story was originally published in the autumn edition of Living Susquehanna/Wyoming County Magazine. Two of the three mentioned hikes have been completed, but they will continue through the winter. See the website at center of story for details.)
While most animals in the wild bed down and go to sleep at night just as people do, a number of woodland creatures stay all but hidden during the day and wait for the cloak of darkness to move around and hunt for food. Likewise, as vehicular traffic and the hum of industry winds down for the day, new sounds emerge from the darkness.
Once per month, if skies are clear, nocturnal species and other natural elements in the Endless Mountains can be observed by those knowing for what they should be looking and listening. One of those people-in-the-know is Rebecca Lesko, director of the Endless Mountains Nature Center (EMNC) on Vosburg Neck in Wyoming County. On Thursday, Oct. 5; Saturday, Nov. 4; and Sunday, Dec. 3, EMNC will offer Full Moon Hikes, weather permitting.
“It’s always been one of my favorite times to go walking. It’s more meditative without all of the visual distractions,” Lesko (below) said of the moonlit ventures. “When you can’t see as much, your other senses are more heightened. You’ll hear the crunch of the leaves more and notice their scents. You’ll notice the ground under your feet – whether or not it is level. Even with shoes on, you will feel it in a different way.”
Lesko also enjoys helping people confront any reservations they may have of being in the woods after dark. She admits that even she was once scared by the scampering of shrews beneath the leaves until she could readily identify the sound.
The hikes at the EMNC started in January as another way to get people outdoors. They haven’t all run due to whether. While as many as 60 people showed up for the June hike, just two people participated on a chilly winter night, much to Lesko’s dismay. “The moonlight on the snow and river were absolutely gorgeous,” she related.
Though the hikes are free, preregistration is encouraged by calling 570-836-3835 or EMNCinfo@yahoo.com. Having an idea of how many people are coming helps Lesko prepare. She’ll happily put on coffee, hot chocolate or hot water for tea, and water is always available. “If people register in advance,” she added, “I can also let them know if it will be canceled.”
The actual tour route and the accompanying talk are based on Lesko’s assessment of the crowd’s interests and abilities. “If someone expresses an interest in bears, I will talk more about them,” she explained. “In the fall, bears are awake about 20 hours per day. They have to eat an enormous amount of food before they go dormant.”
Though they are both awake at night, bears and deer are seldom seen, Lesko noted, because they can easily hear the hikers approaching and will avoid them.
What will hikers see?
“Until we get a good frost, moths are pretty amazing,” Lesko remarked, noting that she has been applying a natural odorous and sticky substance to some trees to attract moths. In November and December, “great horned owls start calling as they set up their territories. They are the first birds of the new year to nest.”
As the leaves fall from the deciduous trees, the forest takes on a new “personality.” Not only does more moonlight reach the ground, the silhouettes of the trees become more pronounced.
“Each species of tree has a different shape,” said Lesko. “When the leaves are not on them, you can actually see the curvy branches of a sassafras versus the very pointy branches of an oak. There’s also the symmetry of a maple tree that is much more evident when the leaves are not on it.”
So far, mostly adults have taken part in the Full Moon Hikes, though children are always welcome to accompany adults. If she gets the right group, Lesko suggested that she’d like to conduct the one-mile walk to the “Lookout,” a high point on the property above a cliff overlooking the river.
“It’s a clearing at the top of the hill,” she related. “You’ll be able to see more of the stars from the overlook.” The walk to the Lookout is relatively easy, Lesko noted, as all of the trails are mowed.”
The EMNC is headquartered at Camp Lackawanna at the end (1309) of Vosburg Road. The start time of each hike varies as the sun sets earlier and standard time returns. Participants should wear sturdy footwear and clothing appropriate for falling temperatures. Non-flash photography is permitted, as are flashlights for emergency use.