Trending
Field officers for the state Game Commission’s Northcentral region filed the following reports on Aug. 14, according to the agency’s website:
Lycoming County Wildlife Conservation Officer Harold Cole reports he received a call about five dead bats in a driveway and road. With the white-nose syndrome and other diseases out there, this was a concern because there were several bats in a small area. The bats were collected and submitted to the Game Commission veterinarian for testing for cause of death. The test results indicated that the bats had several lacerations on them, similar to those that would be caused by a cat.
Potter County WCO Tom Sabolcik and Deputy WCO Dale Thielges responded to a report of two deer that had been shot near Port Allegany. One deer was clearly visible in a mowed field near Route 6. Upon questioning, the occupant of the house admitted shooting the deer to protect his garden. An inspection of the area revealed only one dead deer; according to witnesses, a bear had carried off the second deer, picking it up much like a forklift. “Since it was now dark and it is never a good idea to try and take a meal away from a bear, we came back the next day,” the officers said. “We found the second deer about 80 yards into the nearby woods. The shooter claimed that deer had been damaging the garden for three years and that he had installed a small electric fence the year before, but it didn’t keep the deer out. He made no attempt to fence the garden this year and instead hid at the end of his property and watched the deer cross 100 yards of open field before he shot both with a .22 rifle.” Charges will be filed against him for the unlawful killing of two deer.
- Sabolcik also reported that, after filing charges against several people for driving four-wheel-drive trucks across several farm fields, he received several hearing notices. The drivers who damaged the fields understood having to pay the fines, but they did not want to pay damages to the landowners. “I explained to them that it would cost the landowner several hundreds of dollars in fuel alone to repair the damages they caused,” Sabolcik said. “Their only defense was that they did not know anybody owned the fields.”
Lycoming County WCO Jonathan M. Wyant reports many mature and immature bald eagles are being observed throughout the county.
- Lycoming County WCO Kristoffer Krebs reports a Montgomery man recently pleaded guilty to a charge stemming from an incident that occurred on April 5. On that date, DWCO Frank Bennett discovered a raccoon in a foothold trap. The incident occurred on the property of the White Deer Golf Course, along West Blind Road in Clinton Township. Bennett released the raccoon unharmed. The defendant was cited for violating one count of unlawful acts concerning taking of furbearers. The trap was set during a closed season. The season for trapping raccoons closed on Feb. 22. The defendant entered a guilty plea and was fined $125.
- Lycoming and Union counties Land Management Officer Thomas M. Smith reports that the Game Commission has secured outside funding to construct six wheelchair-accessible archery ranges across the state. Each of the six Game Commission regions will receive one range. The Northcentral Region has selected State Game Lands 252, located on the border of Lycoming and Union counties, as the site for its range.
- Potter and Tioga counties Land Manager Denise Mitcheltree reports that the Food and Cover crews have begun mowing the hundreds of acres of clover-covered wildlife openings within their assigned areas. These “foodplots” occur on state game lands, state forests, Fish and Boat Commission lands and hunter access properties across Potter and Tioga counties and provide valuable wildlife foraging throughout spring, summer, fall and early winter.
- Tioga County WCO Steve Brussese reports that all of this year’s Hunter-Trapper Education courses in the northern part of Tioga County can be completed online and are open for registration. Classes are filling up fast, though, so prospective hunters should register early.
- Clearfield County WCO Mark Gritzer reports a person was warned for intentionally feeding black bears at a camp in close proximity to State Game Lands 90. An inspection of the property revealed a large bear sitting down at a picnic table and foraging upon a large pile of sunflower seeds. Trapping efforts are underway in this particular area to deter to the bears from this unlawful activity. Five bears have been trapped and relocated to a remote area of the state due to the camp members’ unnecessary actions.
- Cameron County WCO Wayne A. Hunt, reports investigating two incidents of exotic wildlife possession during the month of July. One case dealt with a wolf hybrid, and the other a sugar glider. Charges are pending.
Union County WCO Dirk Remensnyder reports that calls and sightings of bears has dramatically increased this year in Union County, which should bode well for hunters during the season.
- Potter County WCO Mark Fair reports that bears with mange have been spotted in the Cross Fork, Cherry Springs, Coudersport and Austin areas. Please do not feed bears or place wildlife feed out.