Deer Habitat Workshop

A deer habitat workshop entitled “Deer Density and Carrying Capacity Workshop” is scheduled for Saturday, April 4, 2009 at the Western Clinton Sportsman’s Associations complex in Hyner, Clinton County, Pennsylvania. The program is scheduled for 9:00 am – 4:30 pm. Registration begins at 8:30 am. The cost is $15.00 per person and includes refreshments, lunch, and handout materials.

Penn State Cooperative Extension in partnership with the North Central Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association are providing a workshop specifically for anyone interested in learning more about white-tailed deer biology and management as it relates to the carrying capacity of the habitat. Other cooperators include: The Western Clinton Sportsman’s Association, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. This hands on, in the field workshop gets participants in the woods looking at deer habitat. Participants will assist in collecting deer population and habitat data and learn:
· To calculate the deer density in a given forest setting
· To evaluate the condition of deer habitat
· How the condition of the habitat relates deer numbers and habitat carrying capacity.

This is an opportunity to talk to wildlife biologists and other natural resource professionals who have experience in implementing various forest and wildlife habitat management strategies.

Pre-registration for this workshop is required prior to Monday, March 30, 2009. Space is limited so please register early. For registration or additional information contact Penn State Cooperative Extension-Centre County at 814-355-4897 or CentreExt@psu.edu.

Forestry Internet Seminar: Climate Change, Wildlife, and Woodlands

Cornell Universitie's March 18th ForestConnect webinar will focus on wildlife and woodland changes to expect. Those not registered for the webinars can do so through http://www.forestconnect.info/ (once, easy, and free)

Discussions of climate change in the popular press have highlighted negative effects on polar bears and arctic sea ice, but what will climate change mean for our environments in the Lower 48 and Northeast? Changes in temperature, season length, snowpack, and severe weather events are predicted. For some climate patterns, changes have occurred. As temperature and rainfall patterns change, some species will be favored while others are expected to decline. Some animal populations will increase in number, while others will decline or shift to new areas. During this webinar we will discuss how our forests may change and how different kinds of wildlife may be affected, and explore practical steps you can take to manage your water, woods and wildlife in the face of change.

The ForestConnect Internet Seminar Series is an interactive web conference and was the first of its kind in the US. Each seminar uses the Internet to distribute, or webcast, a live and interactive presentation. Since May 2007, web-based seminars have connected forest owners, managers, and practitioners from throughout the United States and overseas. More than 800 owners and managers from 40 states and three countries are registered and receiving announcements for the monthly webcasts.

Seminars occur on the third Wednesday of each month. Each webcast is provided live, twice. The initial broadcast each month is from noon to 1:00 PM with a repeat live broadcast the same day from 7:00 to 8:00 PM, Eastern Time. Participation is as easy as a high-speed internet connection via a web browser. Participants will connect to a secure Cornell Cooperative Extension server to join the presentation. Participants must pre-register once, without charge, at http://www.forestconnect.info/. Email notification of internet URL details for the web conference will be sent to everyone registered.

Wildlife Habitat Web Seminar

The PA Forests Web Seminar Center ( http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/) is pleased to announce the March on-line program. Gary San Julian, Professor of Wildlife, Penn State School of Forest Resources, will be presenting, "Wildlife Habitat on Your Property" on Tuesday, March 10th at noon and again at 7 p.m. Each seminar lasts approximately one hour.

Forest landowners often have a small number of acres close to their homes they would like to enhance for wildlife, while at the same time preventing wildlife/human conflicts. Many would like to develop habitat for small game, song birds, and larger wildlife species on their land. These goals are not mutually exclusive if short and long term objectives are established and management options are put in place to reach the owners' wildlife and habitat goals. This seminar also counts towards 1.0 credit of Category 2 SAF CFE credits.

Live seminars are scheduled for the second Tuesday of every month at noon and 7 p.m., skipping July and August. Each session is recorded and loaded onto the Web Seminar Center along with a copy of the presentation and any handout materials. So, if you are unable to participate in the "live" session, a recording of it will be available for you to view at your convenience. Of course, none of the interactive elements will be available when watching the recording.

To participate in the live seminars you must register and have a "Friend of Penn State" user ID. The "Register Now" page on the website will walk you through this process. If you are a member of the Penn State community, you already have your User ID, but we would ask you to register on the website so that you can receive reminders of upcoming programs. Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software. To view live and previously recorded seminars all you need is a high-speed Internet connection and sound. To register and take part in the live seminars or to view the upcoming seminars schedule, visit: http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/.

Call For Volunteers

Musser Gap Deer Density Survey

Musser Gap was conserved in 2007 to protect important water resources and wildlife habitat that was threatened by a residential development. The property was purchased by ClearWater Conservancy in partnership with the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), State College Borough Water Authority, the six Centre Region municipalities, and Altrusa International of Centre County. It is now owned by DCNR Bureau of Forestry and is part of Rothrock State Forest.
The Musser Gap Stewardship Committee was established in 2008 to create a Conservation Stewardship and Recreation Plan to guide the conservation and enhancement of the natural resources of Musser Gap while creating a recreational gateway between the community and Rothrock State Forest.

Volunteers are wanted to help conduct a deer density and browse impact survey in Musser Gap and surrounding properties on Friday, March 27th starting at 8:00 a.m. in the Ferguson Township Building. April 1 will be the snow date. Anyone interested in assisting with the data collection is encouraged to volunteer. Participants will learn how to calculate the deer density in a given forest setting; how to evaluate the condition of deer habitat and the level of deer browsing impact on tree seedlings; and how the condition of the habitat relates to deer numbers and habitat carrying capacity.

Dave Jackson, Forest Resource Educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension, will teach volunteers the survey protocol the morning of the survey. We will then travel to Musser Gap where groups of volunteers, led by experienced personnel, will assist in conducting the surveys on pre-established transect lines. Volunteers need to be prepared to hike in the woods for more than a mile over rough terrain. Following the field data collection, we will reconvene as a group to compile the results and discuss what we found. Data collected by the survey will be used to help guide habitat management in Musser Gap and will be shared with neighboring landowners.
The survey is being coordinated by Penn State Cooperative Extension, DCNR Bureau of Forestry, and ClearWater Conservancy.

Pre-registration is required by March 20, 2009. To volunteer please call ClearWater Conservancy at 237-0400 or email at Katie@clearwaterconservancy.org.