The $1.8 million improvement project was unveiled May 15
By JASON KAPLAN
On May 15, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Trailside Museums and Zoo at Bear Mountain State Park as three animals were introduced to their new enclosures. Rosie the porcupine, Sylvia the bobcat, and Todd the red fox now have larger spaces in which to roam.
This $1.8 million improvement project adds three new, state-of-the art animal habitats and a public loop trail — replacing a row of four smaller exhibits. To accomplish this, the previous exhibit infrastructure was first removed, allowing the area to be reclaimed. The larger new habitats were then integrated into the landscape, incorporating natural rock outcroppings. Rustic animal night houses, built from local stone and lumber to resemble the nearby museum, round out the site.
A lionshare of the funding came from the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historical Preservation, as well as from the Palisades Commission and the Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties. Bob Drew, a generous benefactor, contributed $680,000 and kick-started the effort.
“He cared deeply for animals and had many childhood memories at Bear Mountain and the zoo,” said Ed McGowan, director of science and Trailside Museums and Zoo. “Getting that donation allowed us to think a little bigger.”
The Garden Club of Orange and Dutchess Counties was a huge contributor to the project, which began 10 years ago. Club member Jeanette Redden explained a three-year grant for Partners for Plants was obtained, as well as a Founders Fund Grant, in 2019, called Flora and Fauna. Using research conducted by local botanist Jane Colden, plants native to the Newburgh area were selected for the habitats. More than 60 plant species can be found in the bobcat closure alone. The Garden Club also provided volunteers who helped dig in the dirt, prune the plants, and clean up the area.
“We get 100,000 school visitors here at the zoo,” Redden said. “They see it; they ask about it. It’s important to have it together with the animals. Parks are for interconnected connectedness with nature. The plants, the animals, the land, the people, and the climate, those are five factors we’re always trying to balance. It’s so important to train children early and make it hands-on.”
The Trailside Museums and Zoo was constructed in 1927 as a partnership between the Palisades Interstate Parks Commission and the American Museum of Natural History, Joshua Laird, executive director of the Palisades Interstate Parks Commission said. In the 96 years since, Trailside has provided environmental education and outdoor opportunities for millions of children, families, and students.
The animals housed in the zoo all have a story, said Laird. “They’re native and here because of an injury, or some other trauma which left them unable to survive in the wild. Trailside offers a new life for these creatures as ambassadors for their species, helping to educate school children and families from across the region about the importance of protecting local wildlife that they may otherwise take for granted.”
The new exhibits replace the out-of-date enclosures in the same location. The goal in designing the enclosures was to create spaces more in harmony with the regional habitats in which the native fauna exists.
While Sylvia and Rosie have been able to enjoy their new homes, Todd the fox will have to wait a little bit longer. He was saved from an animal trap and unfortunately had his leg amputated.
His recuperation is going well, but is taking longer than anticipated. Once he’s healed, Todd will serve as an ambassador for the fox community in the region, helping to dispel the notion that foxes are a nuisance rather than an important player in the function of the local ecosystem.
Looking ahead to the future, there are other projects on the horizon. Sammy the eagle passed away last year, but the goal is to modernize the eagle enclosure and habitat to create a larger more modern space for the next eagle.
