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Spraying for spongy moths will begin shortly

In an effort to protect wildlife habitat, the Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to spray over 123,000 acres of state game lands this spring to control a non-native invasive insect, the spongy moth. Spraying is planned on 46 different state game lands – 123,276 acres in all – and will begin as soon as leaf-out occurs and spongy moth egg masses hatch, likely in late April and May. “Those participating in spring gobbler seasons or otherwise enjoying state game lands may encounter aircraft spraying forested areas for spongy moths,” said Paul Weiss, Game Commission Chief ...

Reflections in Nature: Many birds have begun building their nests

While at rehab, I watched out the window as a robin was building a nest. The female continually carried nesting materials that she placed at the nest site. Every so often she would sit in the nest to make sure it would be in the familiar circular shape. Although the male was close at hand, he appeared to be getting in the way instead of helping. Later in the day, I watched a black-capped chickadee checking out one of the bird houses in our back yard. This reminded me that I needed to clean out the birdhouses so they would be ready for another nesting year. Many birds have begun to ...

Outdoor community calendar for April 23

LYCOMING AUDUBON CHAPTER MEETING WHERE: Taber Museum (858 West Fourth Street in Williamsport) WHEN: Wednesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. NOTES: Join Lycoming Audubon for a program on the American Kestrel presented by Mercy Melo, PA Game Commission Biologist, from the Northcentral office. Program is free and open to the public. You can also attend virtually with zoom using the link found at the LAS website: www.lycomingaudubon.org ARBOR DAY TREE WALK IN DOWNTOWN LEWISBURG WHERE: Hufnagle Park in Lewisburg WHEN: Friday, April 26 at 3 p.m. NOTES: This is a family program and ...

Brown Trout Club provides a world-class fishery

John Pastorek fell in love with the Pine Creek Valley many years ago, so perhaps it was only fitting that he eventually became involved with the Slate Run Brown Trout Club. The group’s mission is to bring a world-class fishing experience to northcentral Pennsylvania, according to ...

Game Commission postpones indefinitely plan for American marten

While some may have been excited at the prospect of the American marten being reintroduced in Pennsylvania and chances to see the animal in the wild, that excitement was met with slight disappointment on Saturday, April 13. During its meeting in Harrisburg, the Board of Game Commissioners postponed indefinitely the final acceptance of the 2024-2033 American Marten Reintroduction and Management Plan, which calls for returning the native furbearer to Pennsylvania. The Board of Game Commissioners had a split vote. According to the Game Commission’s public meeting remarks, “the ...

Beloved butterfly expert steps away from conservation

MILL HALL — “As soon as that first butterfly was born in my house, I said, ‘this is all I’m doing for the rest of my life,’” said Rick Mikula. And as he will tell you, it worked out pretty good, because if you go to any search engine and type in “butterfly expert” he comes up ...