Greetings Everyone!

Even though schools are back in session, that doesn't mean state parks are closing down! As you can see from this latest edition of our e-newsletter, there is still a lot going on in your favorite parks! Camping, hiking, fishing and picnicking are at their very best this time of year.  For many of us, early fall is THE time of year to camp.

Fewer bugs, fewer crowds, clear skies and air with just a hint of a chill...all come together to make spending a few nights outdoors truly special. Of course that doesn't even account for the renowned Vermont foliage! It is beginning to come on strong and all reports are that we should have another outstanding fall season for the vivid forest coloring that people from all over the world travel here to see. Experience it for yourselves, up close, by "camping in the colors" in one of the many state park campgrounds that are still fully operational. In most cases, there is plenty of room so reservations aren't needed, but feel free to call ahead just to be sure. Fall really is a wonderful time to get outdoors and experience all that Vermont and our state parks have to offer!

See you out there!   

Craig Whipple

Director, Vermont State Parks

Recently I was sleepily wandering around my yard with my little dog at bedtime.  She sniffed car tires, her favorite patch of grass and some rocks while I wandered around near her.  Normally this whole bedtime routine takes about fifteen minutes.  Not that night.  Suddenly this very loud and long wailing sound echoed across the yard.  The source was very close by on a bank on the other side of the driveway.  My dog and I both hightailed it to the front door as quickly as possible.  Normally I need to cajole that dog into coming back into the house, but not that night, she heeled like a well-trained pet.  Ever since then I have been trying to figure out what made that noise and also drum up the courage to take the dog out after dark again. 

Think of the last time you were snuggled in your tent, zipped up in your sleeping bag snoozing away only to be abruptly awakened by animals scurrying around your campsite.  Your brain instantly starts to try and identify the source of the noise.  It seems too loud to be a mouse; it seems too loud to be a raccoon.  No matter what, it always sounds like a huge animal.  In the dark, your brain always thinks the worst because you cannot see anything, especially through the wall of your tent.  Any animal scurrying around your campsite makes much more noise than expected based on their size.

There have been black bears around my neighborhood, but the first thing that came to my mind when I heard the noise that night was a catamount!  There have been no documented sightings of catamounts in Vermont for some time, so that is not at all likely.  I am a trained naturalist and that is where my mind went even though it defies all logic.  There is just something fundamentally scary about hearing a weird noise in the dark.  

Have you ever had mice nibble their way into your bag of trail mix stashed for the night in the leanto, or had a raccoon chew on your water bottle because it was the only thing left out overnight on the picnic table?  Both these things have happened to me in state parks, and on both occasions I sat in my tent pondering what was going on with my heart racing.  During the raccoon incident I got up the nerve to run out of my tent and chase it away and save my water bottle, but the mice pooped in my gorp.      

Nocturnal animals are active at night and they are going to search for the easiest food sources they can find.  Food left out on your campsite is like a buffet for them.  Make sure you pack things away safely so you do not end up awake at midnight wondering what on earth is making all that noise at your campsite.

It turns out that my mystery noisemaker was a fisher (Martes pennanti).  I discovered this by waiting and watching for it in the forest.  This particular fisher has been wandering around the housing development where I live looking for things to eat.  Fishers are wonderful predators that will eat whatever they find including mice, squirrels, rabbits, birds and even porcupines.  I do not think that there is much that will scare my dog, so I am not surprised to learn that the noise we heard that night was from such an excellent

2013 Reservations  

We are now taking reservations for the 2013 camping season. Here is what you need to know:   

- Find a park using our Park finder on the website (top right hand corner)  

- Use the interactive map in each park to find the location you would like.  

- Make a reservation on-line or call the call center for more advice and to reserve.

See you in 2013! 

We want to give a big shout out of thanks to Matt Parsons for his opening and  closing photos of Kettle Pond State Park  and Seyon Lodge State Park.  

He was born and raised in Northwestern Vermont. He was fortunate at a very young age to see many of Vermont's splendors; most of which are found in our State Parks. Most of his  favorite childhood memories are of his visits to Vermont's State Parks.

These visits have given him a love and appreciation for our State and it's natural resources that Matt can't seem to shake.