Health and the Outdoors

Everything we do, including sitting on the couch, entails some risk. Below are links to sources of information about some risks that may be present in parks and conservation areas in Newton or surrounding areas. Also included are links about the health benefits of outdoor activity.

Health Benefits of Exercise

• Medline (National Institutes of Health)
• US Centers for Disease Control
• Weight-control Information Network (National Institutes of Health)

Saftey During Hunting Season

• Appalachian Mountain Club
• Appalachian Trail Conservancy
• Stone Museum

Other Safety Issues

• HikeSafe.Com

Poison Ivy

• American Academy of Dermatology
• Medline (National Institutes of Health)
• US Food and Drug Administration
• Wellesley College Web of Species
• Poison-Ivy.Org
• New York Times

Mosquitos and West Nile Virus

• Massachusetts Dept of Public Health
• Medline (National Institutes of Health)
• US Centers for Disease Control
• USGS National Wildlife Health Center

Ticks and Lyme Disease

• Massachusetts Dept of Public Health
• Medline (National Institutes of Health)
• US Centers for Disease Control

Sunburn

• American Academy of Dermatology
• Medline (National Institutes of Health)

Small Animals and Rabies

• Massachusetts Dept of Public Health
• Medline (National Institutes of Health)
• US Centers for Disease Control
• MassWildlife

Large Animals

Coyotes have been reported in Newton and surrounding communities in recent years.

• City of Newton
• MassWildlife
• Mass Audubon Society
• Boston Globe (12/19/2004) (5/30/2010)
• Stanley Park Ecology Society

Bear sightings have been reported in several towns within I-495, but not in Newton or adjoining communities.

• MassWildlife
• Boston Globe (6/10/2005)