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EPIB Trail
Volume 12, Issue 1
ADIRONDACK WILDLIFE REFUGE WILMINGTON, NY
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By Anna Forsman
he Adirondack Park, located in upstate New York, is comprised of over 6 million acres of public and private p rivate land. Known for its unique topographic features, the Adirondack Park is home to over 100 mountain peaks spanning more than 160 miles. The Adirondack region is bigger than Yellowstone National Park, the Everglades, Glacier National Park, and the Grand Canyon combined. The highest peaks within the Adirondack Park are known as the 46 Adirondack High Peaks, and hikers who climb all of the High Peaks are known as 46ers. The Adirondack region provides the ideal environment for people to connect with nature and enjoy outdoor recreational activities, as the park has over 2,000 miles of hiking trails, 3,000 lakes and ponds, more than 10 ski areas, and countless scenic roads and views. After the official establishment of the Adirondack State Park in 1892, Article XIV of the New York State Constitution deemed approximately 2.6 million acres within the Adirondack Park as “Forever Wild” in 1895. This amendment has prohibited industrialization and development of the protected land. Originally aimed at limiting lumbering and natural resource exploitation within the Adirondacks, this Article of the New York State Constitution represents the evolving, ever-present dedication to wildlife conservation exhibited by residents and visitors of the Adirondack Park. One such example of modern wildlife conservation efforts in the Adirondack Park is the Adirondack Wildlife Refuge & Rehabilitation Center in Wilmington, New York. The Adirondack Wildlife Refuge is a non-profit profit organization that specializes in the rehabilitation of sick and injured animals, ranging from hawks to black bears. Volunteers and employees at the rehabilitation center consult with veterinarians to care for animals and work towards returning healthy
