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The Pennsylvania Game Commission held a habitat workday on Saturday, March 15th on State Game Lands 36 to expand shrubland habitat for eastern cottontail rabbits, create young forest habitat for ruffed grouse and American woodcock, and to expand grassland habitat for grassland songbirds.
“This whole area was strip mined back in the 80s and part of the reclamation was planting trees and grasses,” explains Gamelands Maintenance Supervisor Darren Pettyjohn, “The trees have outlived some of their usefulness, and since we’ve started managing this as a grassland, we use fire as a tool for grassland restoration.”
“A grassland habitat is fairly unique, and there are species of songbirds in this site. Actually, we do have northern harriers that nest here and they are ground nesting raptors, which is pretty unique.”
“By managing this with fire, it’s going to hopefully keep that grassland and then some of the obligate species of songbirds that prefer grasslands.”
Volunteers were required to sign a liability release waiver before working and brought along their own personal protective equipment (PPE). The workday ran from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. and lunch was provided for volunteers.