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Outdoors

Reflections in Nature: Many animals seek shelter, dens in winter

Are you prepared for another Pennsylvania winter? Our furnace and chimney have been cleaned, filters have been replaced, woodshed is full and Mary Alice has our warm coats, scarves, mittens and boots ready for frosty weather. Wildlife shares these same human instincts. They have been seeking warm dens to spend the winter. During periods of cold and snowy weather, most wildlife will remain inactive, staying in their dens until the weather warms. Although we have not had mice in the last few years, Mary Alice still has me set mouse traps in our food pantry. Our neighbor — who had ...

A constitutional right to hunt and fish?

A recent move by our neighbors in Ohio to make hunting and fishing constitutionally protected activities has raised some questions here in the Keystone State. Is hunting and fishing constitutionally protected here? What does it mean to protect such activities constitutionally? And what, if any, changes would such protection have on sportsmen? Currently, 24 states have constitutional protections for hunting and fishing. Vermont was the first state to do so in 1777. None of the other states included this provision in their original constitutions, but instead added amendments to do so ...

December: The advent mystery of new beginnings in nature

Yet another miracle of nature becomes apparent in December: the diverse and curious means that animals, birds and insects have developed to survive winter conditions. When we think of hibernation, bears most likely come to mind. Bears actually begin to prepare for hibernation in the summer ...

Outdoors community calendar for Week of Nov. 25

HOLIDAY WREATHS WITH PETE GSTALDER WHERE: Rider Park WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 30 (1-3 p.m.) and Sunday, Dec. 7 (1-3 p.m.) NOTES: Rider Park is hosting a event making holiday wreaths twice with Pete Gstalder. Both days are a cost of $20 cash the day of the program. The fee goes towards the material costs and Gstalder’s time. We will be using white pine, spruce, arborvitae, some juniper and seasonal color like red stem dogwood, dried mountain mint flowers and the evergreen leaves of mountain laurel. We will have two wreath making tables set up. Participants will be asked to assemble ...

The firearm deer season is almost here in Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG — You could call it the social event of the season, a mass wellness retreat, grand-scale volunteer work or collective reaping that puts food on the tables of participants and non-participants alike. Or you could just call it deer season. You’d be right on all counts. ...

Celestial happenings on the Susquehanna Greenway

It can be tempting to hibernate indoors as the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, but the night sky along the Susquehanna Greenway has other plans. Autumn and winter bring some of the most dazzling celestial displays of the year—perfect for those crisp, clear nights when the ...