North Branch Land Trust receives PPL Foundation grant for rare plant survey

Oct. 8—WILKES-BARRE — North Branch Land Trust this week announced it has received a $4,000 grant from the PPL Foundation to support a survey of a rare plant community surrounding Butler Preserve.

The North Branch Land Trust's Butler Preserve is a protected part of a large contiguous Acidic Ridgetop Barrens ecosystem and identified in Luzerne County's Natural Heritage Inventory.

This unique ecosystem is a mosaic of natural communities and includes the Pitch Pine — Scrub Oak Woodland, a rare plant community in Pennsylvania. While Butler only accounts for a small portion of the Barrens, North Branch Land Trust and Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program will work collaboratively on a conservation strategy for this rare Barrens Community to maintain the ecological character of the landscape and connections to other protected lands to maintain wildlife corridors.

"The Butler Preserve is a beautiful place where this barrens habitat is protected by North Branch Land Trust and thrives alongside the magnificent Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails," said Ellen Ferretti, Executive Director of North Branch Land Trust "The trail winds its way through this conserved rare landscape, providing a place to walk without disturbing the barrens community. It's a beautiful combination that provides the best of all worlds."

The survey of the Butler Barrens ecosystem will have a long-term impact on strategic conservation activities. At Butler Preserve, this survey would identify important next steps for the management and conservation of the Barrens ecosystem. With a new strategic plan for Butler's habitat and a greater community understanding and appreciation for its stewardship, Ferretti said North Branch hopes to prepare the Preserve for increased natural resource protection and sustainable access.

Emma Thompson, Land Stewardship and Conservation Coordinator said having the opportunity to manage and conserve the Barrens habitat is incredible.

"This ecosystem is so unique in Pennsylvania, it deserves greater attention to ensure its continued presence," Thompson said. "As well as being home to uncommon trees and plants in Pennsylvania, several animal species rely on dwindling barrens habitat for their survival including ruffed grouse, snowshoe hare, timber rattlesnake, golden-winged warblers, and American woodcock. We are very fortunate to allow public access so people can learn about the rare plants found there along with our management strategies that will allow it to prosper."

NBLT hopes to foster a greater awareness for visitors to care for and steward all the natural landscapes they may visit.

If you would like to contribute to this important initiative, visit — nblt.org/donate

Pa. Game Commission: 2023 bear seasons hold promise

If you hunt Pennsylvania black bears — maybe for years without harvesting one — now is not the time to give up hope.

It's true the odds of tagging a bear can seem long — only somewhere between 1.5% and 2.5% of bear license holders get a bear in any given year.

But bears are again plentiful and widespread across Pennsylvania, with an estimated 15,000 roaming the woods. The 2023 seasons are long and varied, offering lots of opportunities, including hunting on three Sundays.

And history shows there's always reason for optimism.

In 2022, nine hunters born in the 1930s harvested a black bear. One of them, a 96-year-old, took his first bear after 82 years of trying.

There's nothing to say a hunter who gets a bear can't get another either. The Game Commission surveyed about 2,100 bear hunters about their experiences, habits and more. One question centered on their level of success.

"Most hunters, 43%, only ever harvested one bear," said Game Commission black bear biologist Emily Carrollo. "But 11% harvested five or more bears in their lifetime, and 1.5% harvested more than 10 bears in their lifetime.

"And the average number of bears harvested per hunter in a lifetime was 1.5."

The general statewide firearms bear season goes from Nov. 18 to 21, including Sunday, Nov. 19.

Through all seasons, the limit is one bear per hunter per year.

Last year, during the 2022 seasons, hunters harvested 3,170 bears overall. That was down from 3,621 in 2021, but still enough to rank the harvest as the 14th largest all time.

Pennsylvania's all-time best bear season came in 2019, when hunters harvested 4,653.

Last year hunters got bears in 58 of the state's 67 counties. Notably, the harvest was spread out — more evenly than ever before — with seven taken in the special early archery season, 737 taken in the statewide archery season, 712 in the muzzleloader/special firearms seasons, 1,051 in the general season and 663 in the extended season.

DCNR names Cassell new Pennsylvania State Forester

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn this week announced that Seth Cassell has been appointed to serve as Pennsylvania's State Forester and will lead the agency's Bureau of Forestry.

Cassell, who was worked for 23 years in various positions in DCNR's Bureau of Forestry, began the position in September.

Cassell, 47, took over leadership of Pennsylvania's state forest system — one of the largest in the nation — which recently received two successful independent audits touting proactive management and requiring no corrective actions.

"Seth is a proven leader with a heart for public service and we are proud to have him as Pennsylvania's new state forester and director of our Bureau of Forestry," Dunn said. "This role is critical in DCNR's operations and leadership, as well as on the national level related to forest management issues. Seth is well respected among colleagues and works in a collaborative way. We believe he is a great fit for this position because of his vision for the bureau and department, along with his strong background in communication and forest science."

The DCNR Bureau of Forestry manages 2.2 million acres of state forestland, conserves native wild plants, and promotes stewardship of the commonwealth's forest resources for values including sustained yields of timber; clean water; plant and wildlife biodiversity and habitat; and wild character.

Gov. Josh Shapiro has repeatedly highlighted the importance of clean air and water in the Commonwealth, which is a top priority of DCNR as stewards of Pennsylvania's public lands.

Some of the opportunities and challenges facing Pennsylvania's forests and the bureau include addressing the impacts of invasive species and diseases; stewardship of private forest lands; expanding recreational opportunities; enhancing tree planting efforts in urban areas and along streams; implementing plans to mitigate climate change and improve forest carbon storage; helping ensure a healthy and vibrant wood products economy; and elevating the values of forests and trees.

Cassell is the 18th person to hold position of state forester and bureau director since its creation, replacing Ellen Shultzabarger, the first woman to hold both positions in Pennsylvania history.

"I am honored to lead our Bureau of Forestry team as we work to conserve our trees, forests and native wild plants and connect with all the people we serve," Cassell said. "As State Forester, I see my role to help lead our organization in a changing, dynamic environment while supporting and investing in Bureau of Forestry staff and their unmatched dedication to our mission and public service. That hard work and dedication helps us accomplish our mission, while also building strong and effective partnerships with other state agencies and stakeholders in conservation."

As a part of his service to the Commonwealth and country, Cassell also serves in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. He is currently a lieutenant colonel and commands the 193rd Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

A York County native, Cassell Graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a bachelor's degree of journalism and a master's degree of forest resources. He has also completed graduate-level programs from the Air War College and Air Command & Staff College.

Cassell lives in Halifax with his wife, Amy, and their children, Zane and Ayla. He enjoys woodworking, hunting, fly fishing, hiking, canoeing, vegetable gardening, playing guitar and banjo.

PFBC asks anglers to report sightings of two species of non-native fish

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) is alerting anglers that two species of fish that are non-native to the lower Delaware River basin — Freshwater Drum and Blue Catfish — are being detected in increasing numbers within those waters.

Freshwater Drum are the only member of a mainly saltwater family of fish that inhabits freshwater in North America. Adults typically weigh between five and 15 pounds.

Captures have been documented by PFBC biologists in the tidal Delaware River, as well as the non-tidal portion upstream to the vicinity of Upper Back Eddy, Bucks County.

Additionally, agency partners have collected Freshwater Drum in the lower Schuylkill River in Philadelphia.

Blue Catfish have been collected by partner agencies in the vicinity of the Commadore Barry Bridge in the lower Delaware River. Blue Catfish are large, heavy bodied fish which are the largest members of the catfish family in North America and are capable of attaining weights of over 100 pounds, although most larger adults are in the 30-pound range.

"Documentation of expansion of both non-native Freshwater Drum and Blue Catfish is of potential major concern for fisheries and natural resources in the Delaware River and its tributaries as these are considered invasive species with potential major ecological impacts," said Sean Hartzell, PFBC Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator. "Where introduced elsewhere, such as the Chesapeake Bay, invasive Blue Catfish have impacted economically important commercial and sport fisheries. The potential impacts of introduced Freshwater Drum are less well-known, but this species is considered a threat to native freshwater mussels in the Delaware River basin due to its feeding preferences on hard-bodied invertebrates."

While not native to the Delaware River Basin, both Blue Catfish and Freshwater Drum are native to parts of the Ohio River basin in western Pennsylvania. However, both species are considered invasive if introduced outside of their native range. Introduction of Blue Catfish, Freshwater Drum, and other fish species into Commonwealth waters where they do not naturally occur, or without written permission from the PFBC, is considered an unlawful act.

In Pennsylvania, Freshwater Drum and all catfish species have no size limit or closed season, and up to 50 (combined with other species) may be taken per day by rod and reel. In their native range, Freshwater Drum are frequently captured as bycatch by catfish anglers baiting bottom rigs with worms or shrimp, and thus anglers fishing for catfish in the Delaware River basin are most likely to encounter both Freshwater Drum and Blue Catfish.

Anglers with suspected captures of Freshwater Drum or Blue Catfish in the Delaware River or its tributaries are encouraged to harvest these fish, take photos, and report their captures to the PFBC's online aquatic invasive species reporting form on the PFBC website.

While Blue Catfish are well-known as desirable table fare, Freshwater Drum are less frequently taken for consumption, but some anglers enjoy cutting fillets into strips and boiling to produce a flavor and texture similar to shrimp or lobster. Freshwater Drum may also be harvested to use as chum bait for saltwater fishing.

Reach Bill O'Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle