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PGC to host open house on CWD

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Game Commission is hosting an open house to inform the public about Chronic Wasting Disease, which poses a serious threat to the state’s white-tailed deer and elk. The event is set for 6 p.m. on Wednesday at Russell Volunteer Fire Co., 111 Perrigo Lane, Russell, Pa. CWD, which is always fatal to the deer and elk it infects, was first detected in Pennsylvania in captive deer in 2012 and in wild, free-ranging whitetails a few months later. Since then, CWD has been detected in 730 whitetails. No Pennsylvania elk have ever tested positive for the ...

PGC thrilled with piping plover success

HARRISBURG — Two piping plover chicks took flight in August from the shores of Presque Isle State Park, Erie County, after a challenging season, marking the fifth consecutive year of nesting success for this federal and state endangered sparrow-sized shorebird. “The inspiring five-year piping plover winning streak is a testament to the power of partnerships, resiliency of nature, and hope for the future, especially after the season we’ve had,” said Game Commission biologist Cathy Haffner, who has been involved in Great Lakes piping plover recovery since 2001. What started as ...

Searching for history on the Susquehanna

By Ad Crable The Associated Press MANHEIM — Mark Heller, of Manheim, wanted to paddle 444 miles down the Susquehanna River for a sense of adventure. A year of COVID-19 claustrophobia and a similar yearning for exploration did it for the Rev. John Laughlin, a Millersville resident and pastor of Salem United Methodist Church in Manheim. “Follow the exploits, adventures and journey of four guys who want to do something a bit bigger than themselves,” wrote Todd Roy, of East Petersburg, who created the trip and is founder of the Conestoga River Club. Like hiking the ...

Game Commission pays tribute to 9/11 heroes

From Mirror reports STOYSTOWN — Forty American flags stood tall and the sound of bagpipes rang out on State Game Lands 93 in Somerset County as the Pennsylvania Game Commission rededicated a memorial to honor the 40 heroic passengers and crew members of United Airlines Flight 93. The ceremony was held on the morning of Friday, Sept. 10, in advance of the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. The agency dedicated a new wooden game lands sign; two stone, engraved benches, one honoring all 40 men and women on board and one honoring U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Exploring the Pennsylvania elk range

By Walt Young For the Mirror During the next several weeks, thousands of visitors armed with binoculars, spotting scopes or cameras will travel to the north-central Pennsylvania to view the wild elk living there. Currently, about 1,000 elk inhabit Pennsylvania’s elk range, which comprises parts of Elk, McKean, Cameron, Clinton, Potter, Clearfield and Centre counties north of Interstate 80. The peak of the mating season for our Pennsylvania elk herd, commonly called the “rut,” occurs from mid-September through early October. Elk are a spectacular sight any time of year, but ...

The world of the outdoors was far away some 20 years ago

By Shirley Grenoble For the Mirror Before we can talk about the outdoors world, we have to honor the memory of what happened 20 years ago at this time. 20 years! It’s a horrid memory, of sitting in front of the TV that day, soaking in all the details and trying to understand what exactly was going on in the world in what will forever be remembered as simply 9/11. After the second day of watching, I wrote a small piece about the tragedy and the Mirror published it. It seems appropriate to publish it again on the 20th anniversary because my sentiments are still the same. Here ...