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FOR OVER TWENTY YEARS
Our Mission: Inspire Stewardship of Pennsylvania's State Parks and Forests

Cattail Panorama - Nockamixon State Park
Photo by Joe Geib

Here in the Valley of the Foot of the Turkey the late week snowstorm that was threatened did not materialize to the extent expected. So I am hoping the same will prove to be true about subzero temperatures for the weekend. I'd like to be able to get outside and play a little bit with a limited amount of whining. And ... 47 degrees expected by March 1. "If you don't like the weather, wait a few minutes."

Reader Joe Geib sent in several photos from Lake Nockamixon including the masthead. Many kudos for all of them but especially this one for snow placement perfect for use in Take Five! Thank you, Joe!

Pam Metzger
Membership Coordinator
Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation

News of Note

I have been remiss in not noting recent additions to state forest lands over the last month or so. The Pinchot State Forest grew by 528 acres thanks to support from The Conservation Fund; 1,200 acres were added to Rothrock State Forest with the help of the Dry Hollow Hunting Club and ClearWater Conservancy; and nearly 1,100 acres came into the Delaware State Forest through the efforts of the Nature Conservancy. Given that the Bureau of Forestry was recently - once again - commended by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Forest Stewardship Council for their skill in managing our 2.2 million acres of state forest land it's nice to see a little bit more come into the system.

State Parks did not miss out either. A coveted 18-acre parcel adjacent to Presque Isle State Park was acquired as an addition to the park's gateway.

Such creative readers! There is already a nice batch of six word essays in the mailbox for PAEnviroRights50@paparksandforests.org but that shouldn't preclude you from weighing in on your feelings about the clean air that is guaranteed to you by the Environmental Rights Amendment. "If the air is clean we survive."

As a BIG fan of bats, I am happy that the Bureau of Forestry, Game Commission, and the US Fish & Wildlife Service have announced their State Lands Habitat Conservation for Bats. Adoption of such a thing implies that the little buds are going to survive the white nose syndrome that threatened to wipe them all out.

Tomorrow is Love Your Pet Day and one of the very best ways you can love them is to make sure they are inside and warm as we head into what promises to be a very cold weekend. Some lucky pets will be enjoying the cold snap in a state park cabin perhaps. The Pets in Parks program at DCNR is expanding by 50 campsites this year in six parks: Codorus in York County, 13 sites; Frances Slocum in Luzerne County, 14; Ohiopyle in Fayette County, 3; Ryerson Station in Greene County, 7; Tobyhanna in Monroe County, 7; and Trough Creek in Huntingdon County, 2. In addition, one of the little camping cottages (which are adorable) in Ohiopyle will be both ADA compliant AND pet-friendly.

Pictures of the Week

Raccoon Creek State Park boat rental is the site of this stunner by Zach Thompson. Cropped here to fit, you ought to give it a click for the full effect. And enjoy it in full as this week's jigsaw.

This is one of several shots posted by Alana Roberts from a Prompton State Park "hike." Alana writes: "This was the noisiest iceshoe ever. We smashed through the ice layer with every step. Sounded like we were smashing plates off the ground. Couldn’t hear each other at all. No talkin’, keep walkin’."

Here's a beautiful vertical from Sizerville State Park by Denise Miller. Click for the treetops!

Lawrence Deets shared this fabulous shot on the Hiking and Backpacking PA Book of Faces. The post itself refused to load for me but based on other pictures on his own page I am going to guess Marsh Creek State Park.

Where Are We?

Click for a larger view.

Take Five for Trivia

Do you have experience recently with deer "yarding?" I see a lot of pictures coming through social media. "Yarding is when many deer congregate in a single area, usually an area that gets a lot of warm sun and has some kind of food source left."

We talk a lot about the state forests. How many state forest districts are there?

Enter each week to increase your chances of a fabulous prize at the end of the month when I'll draw one entry from all correct answers received during the month.

In Closing

SUPPORT PPFF

Pennsylvania Parks & Forests Foundation (PPFF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - contributions to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. The official registration and financial information of PPFF may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling, toll-free within Pennsylvania, to 800.732.0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.

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