An announcement with a project update was recently made on the commission\u2019s Northcentral region social media pages, building excitement about the progress.<\/p>\n
According to Shawn Seeley, Land Manager for the Pennsylvania Game Commission who is currently overseeing the project, planning began in 2023 with a lot of coordination between the PA Game Commission and DCNR to lay the groundwork, which officially started in January of 2024.<\/p>\n
The area, once hit by a tornado<\/a>, left the forest with small pole timber and little wildlife value.<\/p>\n Read more on GANT about the tornado here.<\/a><\/p>\n
\u201cBefore the project it was hard to find signs of wildlife in the area. As soon as we began the project, the deer and turkey showed up,\u201d said Seeley.<\/p>\n He noted since the elk are in close proximity to the area already, it shouldn\u2019t take long for them to find it.<\/p>\n The project is unique because they created woodland savannahs, which are open areas with islands of trees.\u00a0 They kept a mix of oak, cherry, and other special trees in place. These trees will provide a habitat not just for the elk but birds, insects, and other animals, too.<\/p>\n \u201cWe expect these woodlands to be fully green by next spring. This project will benefit all wildlife,\u201d explained Seeley.<\/p>\n In addition to the new elk habitat, they are also creating a small elk viewing area that borders a section of the state forest road adjacent to this project.<\/p>\n \u201cThe viewing area will be similar in nature to the Hoover viewing area in Quehanna. It will have a small parking lot with informational kiosks.\u00a0 The field will be designed in a \u201cV-shape\u201d \u00a0with the bottom of the \u201cV\u201d designated as the parking area.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will be planting the area in front with native wildflowers to support pollinators and warm season grasses so the elk can forage in the back.\u00a0 This natural buffer will help to provide for safe viewing,\u201d explained Seeley.<\/p>\n The need for elk conservation is great.\u00a0<\/p>\n The post went on to explain that much of the state\u2019s elk habitat sits on reclaimed strip mines, which have become grasslands perfect for elk and other grassland animals. Since elk are mainly grazers, eating grasses and wildflowers, these areas are critical for their survival.<\/p>\n Each year, the Game Commission receives funding from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation<\/a> via the Governor\u2019s Elk Tag Lottery. Eighty percent of the money raised goes back to the Game Commission to help fund elk conservation.<\/p>\n The viewing area is slated to be completed by the end of 2027.<\/p>\n For more project updates you can follow the PA Game Commission\u2019s Northcentral Region Facebook page here.<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t Vigil Held for Charlie Kirk<\/a><\/p>\n
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\nPictured is a view of a portion of the land being readied for the future elk viewing area. (Shawn Seeley, PA Game Commission Land Management).
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