Conservation Corner

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.

For years, those that install and maintain roadways were designing them to shed water and force it toward the closest steam in the shortest time possible.  These actions translate to more sediment transport and pollution in our waterways.  Join us as we discuss the Susquehanna County Conservation District's Dirt and Gravel Road program and how it's helping local entities protect our natu...

With more people going outside to get away from the stress we’re currently experiencing, we figured it was a great time to highlight plants that you really want to avoid while enjoying your favorite outdoor activities.  Enjoy!

Wetlands are a vital component of ecosystems and protected and protected at the federal and state levels.  When building a pond, landowners must first understand the value of wetlands and why the disturbance of this resource must be avoided.  Join us as we discuss the value of wetlands and the proper steps to take before constructing a pond.

While these organisms might seem a bit nasty, they play a HUGE role in so many, if not all ecosystems.  Join us as we discover the world of fungi!

From meteor showers to light pollution, listen in this week as we find out what's going on in nature after the sun goes down.  We might even talk about potato chips in this episode...

Some love them, some can't stand them...  It's the dandelion ( Taraxacum officinale )!  And since they're popping up everywhere, why not find out more about the plant we love to hate?  Who knows, maybe after listening to this weeks episode, you'll have a new-found appreciation for the lowly dandelion.

Wild and managed pollinators face numerous stressors.  Join us in this episode, as we discuss some likely pollinators in your backyard and how YOU can help them out.

As a planet, we're trying to find and define a new normal.  But sometimes we fail to remember that nature is still there, doing its thing.  Water is still flowing, plants are still growing, birds are still migrating, and the sun is still shining behind the clouds.  Step outside and take a deep breath.   Today on the show, we discover a few websites that are highlighting the nat...

Social distancing has made it a challenge to keep kids (and ourselves) occupied with worthwhile activities.  Our latest episode covers some great websites that keep kids interested in science and nature.  Enjoy!

Ever wonder about the history of fire in Pennsylvania?  Join us this week as we discuss a short history of fire in the Commonwealth and how it is used today as an essential tool by natural resource managers. 

So you want to do some work in or around the water...  Do you need a permit to do the work?  Find out on this week's show. 

Step outside and get a little fresh air!  In this episode, we discuss how going outside can be good for your brain, body, and overall health.  Enjoy!