Conservation Corner

Enjoying the outdoors?  Got plans to enjoy the outdoors in the new year?  Join us as we find out where the money comes from that preserves and protects our wild species and wild spaces.

Ittt'ssss beginning to look a lot like Christmas...   Join us as we discuss a pine-tree looking plant called Princess Pine and then get ready to learn about another native shrub that really stands out during the winter season.

Join us as we discuss the history behind a favorite holiday plant and an annual Christmas birding tradition that's been going on for over a century.

The northeastern U.S. has seen a greater increase in extreme precipitation than any other region in the country. Between 1958 and 2010, the Northeast saw more than a 70% increase in the amount of precipitation falling in very heavy events (defined as the heaviest 1% of all daily events)( Horton, 2014 ).  By identifying the floodway on your property and removing movable property (debris piles,...

Join us as we talk with Christmas tree farmer and retired District Forester, Jim Kessler.  Find out how to keep a tree alive through the holiday season, how the industry has changed over the years, Jim's favorite variety, and so much more! 

Asian jumping worms are on the move, but are they in Pennsylvania?  Did they hitch a ride?  Find out where they would be coming from, learn more about their life cycle, and why they're so invasive.

There's a new law in town!  If you plan on hunting this fall, be sure to listen in as we discuss a new law allowing landowners to mark the legal boundaries of property without purchasing "no trespassing" signs.  Of course, we also cover a few fun events happening throughout the Endless Mountains.  

They're colorful, unique, and they're part of the salmon family - this week we're talking about the Brook Trout.  Find out where they live and what they need to survive.  We've even thrown in a couple of fish tales at the end of the program!  

Nature takes it up a notch this time of year.  Thanks to the lack of rain in the latter half of the summer season and some cool nights in September, the display of fall foliage is spectacular here in Northern Pennsylvania.  Join us as we discuss the fall colors and some other fall topics such as acorns and apples.

They might have small wings, but they've got big plans!  As fall takes center stage, Monarchs are headed south on the migration route they take every year.  Join us as we discuss this trip, find out how far some monarchs travel, and how you can help scientists track their journey and monitor their population. Links mentioned on the show: monarchwatch.org journeynorth.org/monarchs

Ever wondered what animals roamed your property?  In this episode, we take a closer look at species that once resided in the Keystone State but can no longer be found here today.  Tune in as we discuss past climate, habitat, and some reasons why these species are no longer present in our state.

Each month, we've been covering a Pennsylvania state symbol.  This month we're discussing the Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).  Found in the cool, moist, habitats of ravines and northern facing slopes, the tree is struggling to hold its ground thanks to a formidable pest.  Listen in as we talk about habitat, pests, how the tree became a state symbol, and so much more.

Join us as we discuss watershed impairment, watershed assessments, the county action plan, and dig into 2 special focus areas; Hop Bottom Creek and Starrucca Creek.

90% percent of all proposals the U.S. has ever made to reduce or eliminate protected areas have taken place since 2000.  Perhaps it's time to take matters into our own hands.  According to the Land Trust Alliance, there are 1,363 land trusts across the United States.  Land trusts and land conservancies are committed to helping landowners find the best solution to conserving their la...

Roughly 70% of the earth is water, but less than 1 percent is available for human use.  Join us as we discuss designations, indicators, degradation, and how we can maintain or even increase the water quality in our waterways on the only planet we have.

Join us as we discuss how you can keep your soil from running into our waterways when doing any earth moving-related activities.  You might even learn how to keep water cleaner, protect aquatic organisms, save taxpayer dollars, and preserve the soil on your own property.

It's elusive, it plays the drums (not quite but it does drum), and its population is in decline.  Meet Pennsylvania's game bird: the Ruffed Grouse.  Join us as we find out where the Ruffed Grouse likes to spend its time, how long it lives, and why there are less Ruffed Grouse today then there were 20 years ago.

Did you get a package of seeds in the mail?  Find out what you should do with them...  Listen in as we also discuss The Great American Outdoors Act and the rise in green space use during the pandemic.  

Meet the interesting and curious marsupial that roams our Pennsylvania woods and backyards.  How many ticks can it eat in a season?  Is the opossum a likely carrier of rabies?  How long do these pocketed animals carry their young?  Join us as we answer all of these questions and discuss the unique life of this species.  #outdoors, #nature, #environment, #forest

Harrisburg, PA – A vibrant, cold-water “Class A” fishery in its middle and upper reaches, and a waterway that attracts more paddlers every year, the Lackawanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania has been voted the state’s 2020 River of the Year. (riveroftheyear.org) Join us as we discuss the history, struggles, recreational opportunities, and upcoming events surrounding the Lackawanna River.

Find out the story behind Pennsylvania's only wild feline.  Learn about this big cat's run-in with humans, life history, and where it resides in the 21st century.  

One of the best natural spectacles of summer is the emergence of fireflies. What's the story with their flashing light? What's their strategy to avoid predators? Listen in as we answer these questions and a bunch more!

In the past few months, many people have spent more time outdoors.  Through continued observation of the natural world around us, we can help scientists track invasive species that attack our native flora and fauna.  Listen in as we talk about the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid, Gypsy Moth Caterpillar, the Asian Long-horned Beetle, and Emerald Ash Borer and how to combat these forest pests.

This week we're talking with our new Chesapeake Bay technician, Dave Beichler.  Dave has a background in soil and water testing, enjoy's the outdoors, and has some great hobbies and interests.  Listen in!

Have you noticed more turtles on the roads?  Late spring and early summer are the most likely times to see a turtle on the road or in your backyard.  Find out what turtles live in the Keystone state, what threatened and endangered turtles are living in our Commonwealth, and how you can help them cross the road safely.