Stewardship

April 28, 2023

A Celebration of Oaks, Part I: Arbor Day 2023

Today is Arbor Day, a holiday meant to encourage the public to plant, conserve, and appreciate trees. It seems fitting to celebrate (and appreciate) an important and diverse group of native Pennsylvania trees: the oaks! Pennsylvania is home to sixteen native oak species, adapted to nearly every type of habitat in the Commonwealth, from dry ridgetops to wet, swampy bottomlands.

April 21, 2023

“Leave No Trace” at your fishing spots this trout season

Trout season is underway, and many people will be headed out to go fishing on the lakes and streams in the Pennsylvania Wilds this year. We ask that anglers help to leave their fishing spots the same as or even better than they found them.

April 20, 2023

Earth Day 2023 in the PA Wilds: Taking care of the places we love

We hope you honor the spirit of Earth Day throughout the year, but April 22 can be an especially meaningful day to take care of the places we love in the Pennsylvania Wilds. On April 22, 1970, the United States of America celebrated its first Earth Day, the birth of the modern environmental movement. We have some tips for celebrating in a special way that respects and honors the places we love.

April 14, 2023

Celebrating International Dark Sky Week in the Pennsylvania Wilds

International Dark Sky Week is held during the week of the new moon in April (April 15-22, 2023), when people worldwide observe the beauty of the night sky without light pollution… and there’s truly no better place to celebrate than the Pennsylvania Wilds. A dark night sky is a mystical natural resource that is worthy of protection just like plants, waterways and wildlife. Learn how you can protect, appreciate and celebrate our Dark Skies!

April 4, 2023

BIRD LORE: O for a falconer’s voice

Whether it's in Shakespeare's words ("o, for a falconer's voice" as Juliet wishes she had the skill to lure Romeo back) or as gods in ancient Egypt, falcons have captured the imagination of humans for centuries. These unique birds have also had symbiotic relationships with human, with falcons working as hunting or sporting animals. Closer to modern times, humans inadvertently harmed the birds with DDT and nowadays are working to grow their numbers again.

March 31, 2023

What’s at stake?: How to grow plants from cuttings with live staking

Perhaps you’ve experienced taking a cutting and rooting a spider plant or a Christmas cactus, which readily root in water or wet soil. Some native shrubs and trees will also root without rooting hormone, which is the basis for a planting technique called live staking.  This process is highly effective in riparian (along streams) zones because the shrubs and trees that prefer these sites are particularly adept at rooting from stems (aka, “stakes”). This time of year is perfect for live staking since soils are moist and most species used in this practice have yet to break bud.

March 10, 2023

Spring is around the corner… time to jump in the (vernal) pool!

As days begin to lengthen and thoughts turn to spring, one of the earliest signs of the forest reawakening are the sights and sounds around vernal pools. Vernal pools appear as small dry depressions and damp spots in the forest in August and September, but slowly fill with fall rains and winter snow, setting the stage in late winter and early spring for an often raucous “pool party" with salamanders and frogs.

February 28, 2023

The Allegheny National Forest celebrates 100 years

With the simple stroke of a pen 100 years ago, President Calvin Coolidge signed a proclamation establishing the Allegheny National Forest (ANF). Thanks to President Coolidge and several other U.S. Presidents, you, me and many others get to enjoy the wonder of it all. The journey that moment in 1923 to now has been long and difficult, with hard work throughout the ANF's history.

February 24, 2023

Help track wild turkey populations

Have you seen a group of turkeys on your last hike? Or maybe you just spotted them crossing the road on your commute to or from work? By simply reporting those turkey sightings to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, you can help track wild turkey populations and gather necessary data. You are encouraged to report any turkeys observed until March 15 and submit it to the PA Game Commission's online form.

February 15, 2023

Why “Leaving No Trace” means caring for our PA Wilds

As you’re enjoying the Pennsylvania Wilds region, whether you live here or are traveling through the area, you'll notice the vast amount of public lands and green spaces that make it so... well, wild! It can be easy to take all of this land for granted, but caring for our PA Wilds is an easy way that we can ensure that we (and other people around us) have a positive experience while also preserving these wild areas. Leave No Trace is an organization that helps promote minimal environmental impact practices.