WESTERN NEW YORK – The Department of Environmental Conservation announced that two new Wildlife Management Areas will be created in Western New York after they took control over 1,200 acres of land in the area.
The brand new Genesee River and Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Areas will help to protect local wildlife and foliage while also giving people the opportunity to do outdoor activities, such as fishing and animal sight-seeing.
“DEC is committed to enhancing fish and wildlife habitat and providing quality access for wildlife recreation across New York State and these two wildlife management areas are great additions to State Lands in Western New York,” commented DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos.
The wildlife in these WMAs is diverse: it includes wild turkey, ruffed grouse, woodcock, white-tailed deer, black bear, beaver, muskrat, raccoon, fisher, red and gray fox, wood ducks, and mallards. In these new zones, they will have the opportunity to safely reproduce and flourish.
$2.12 million of federal funding from the Wildlife and Sport fish Restoration Program and the State’s Environmental Protection Fund was used to purchase the land.
“Preserving and protecting our natural resource gems is not only crucial to the future of our planet, it’s a boost to tourism, jobs and our local economy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “The Genesee River and Poverty Hill Wildlife Management Areas will preserve natural wildlife areas and provide yet another recreational opportunity for Western New Yorkers to explore the great outdoors.”
Activities such as hiking, cross-country skiing, kayaking, and canoeing will likely be allowed, but human activity will be monitored closely by officials. These activities may be halted if the wildlife starts becoming negatively affected by human interactions.
The Genesee River WMA is made up of 310 acres of forest, ridges, brushland, wetlands, and open fields. It can be accessed on Route 29 at Yorks Corners bridge and along the west side of River Road in Allegany County.
Poverty Hill WMA is in the towns of Mansfield and Ellicottville in Cattaraugus County. The 950-acre area contains forest, wetlands, brushlands, and open fields. The WMA is accessible from the north side of Cattaraugus County Route 13 and Poverty Hill Road, south of Hinman Hollow Road.
Parking lot construction at both sites is expected to finish this year. More information on WMAs can be found here.
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