Pennsylvania: A Keystone for Wildlife

Pennsylvania encompasses some of the most diverse habitat types in the country due to varying geography: from the ridge and valley mountains cutting diagonally across the state, to upper Piedmont, wetlands, grassland, riparian areas, and even beaches in the Northwest. The variety here is remarkable and as a result, our state is diverse with wildlife.
Habitats here are significant to many wildlife species. Come along on a brief journey that touches on Pennsylvania conservation history, and the many species we are working with today. A healthy habitat is a diverse habitat, and we hope to leave a natural legacy that will endure for generations to come.
A Film By: Tracy A. Graziano
Narrated by: Mark Henson
Music:
“Fire on the Horizon” by Lionel Schmitt. BMI Music. Licensed through stockmusic.net
“Our Planet Earth” by AudioERA. BMI Music. Licensed through stockmusic.net
“Run from the Wolves” by Iustin Galea. BMI Music. Licensed through stockmusic.net
Base Maps:
Google Earth Pro, ESRI, HERE, Garmin, FAO, NOAA, USGS, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS User Community. The map was developed by Esri and reflects a distinctive National Geographic Society cartographic style in a multi-scale reference map of the world. NGS provided guidance and design feedback throughout the process. Special thanks to the National Geographic Cartography Team for their support and guidance!
#wildlife #conservation #endangeredspecies #extirpated #threatenedspecies #nature #PennsylvaniaGameCommission #blackbear #woodrat #greategret #turkey #scarlettanager #history #elk #leastweasel #snowshoehare #nativeplants #nestBoxes #HowardNursery #pipingplover #barnowl #HenslowsSparrow #NorthernHarrier #ProthonotaryWarbler #ForestryForWildlife #AmericanGoshawk #shorebirds #waterfowl #baldeagle #chimneyswift #WaggonersGap #MiddleCreek #Pymatuning #PresqueIsle #AppalachianCottontail #ShoholaFalls #WadeIsland #PAgameCommission #GameCommission #PGC #habitat #4k #ultrahd

[@user-gp5tw5vo8t]

Just saw my first Pennsylvania cedar waxwing on a scarlet oak today. Thanks for all you guys do!

[@user-gp5tw5vo8t]

Also I will be planting a little completely native prairie soon

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

That's wonderful! Thank you for taking action and planting prairie habitat!!!

[@user-gp5tw5vo8t]

@@PAGameCommissionHDQTRSI would love to see the comeback of some of my favorite animals that aren’t common any more around my area. Prairies are rich in biodiversity and that is one of the reasons. I also just REALLY enjoy native plants!!!!

[@jasonflyte3175]

This should be shown in classrooms across the state. Very well done!

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Wow thank you so much for the vote of confidence! I'm so glad the value is being realized! ~Tracy

[@jarrettfalduts287]

Doing it rn

[@user-kd2ve7hk1f]

Always been very proud to be a Pennsylvania outdoorsman !

[@eagledove9]

About woodrats and chestnuts: I've been telling everybody who will listen that, when you find chestnut trees growing in the woods on the mountains, you can save individual trees, one at a time, by mudpacking them, that is, wrapping soil compresses around the areas that are damaged by blight, the cankers. Wayne H. Weidlich described this method. The trichoderma fungus present in the soil protects the roots of the trees from dying from blight, so you use that same soil up higher on the trunk, and it will kill the fungus in that location, allowing the tree to heal and continue to survive a little longer, with the ultimate goal being for it to flower and fruit.

[@matthewargot2146]

Just watched this with my kids over my morning cup of coffee. Well done to those who made the video and those on the ground doing the habitat work and study.

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Glad you and your kids enjoyed it! ~Tracy

[@KeystoneInvestigations]

Absolutely an outstanding video! It ranks up there with On The Trail of Pennsylvania Black Bears! As an active hunter and wildlife photographer, no place is better than the forests of Pennsylvania and the PA Game Commission is foremost in presenting our commonwealths beauty through great videos!

[@danhealyeverythingoutdoors7105]

A great video !

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Glad you liked it!

[@kassiapencek6185]

❤❤❤🙌👏👏👏👏Wow, this is the best most inspiring video on PA conservation I've ever seen. Great job Tracy and all the hard working staff in this agency, taking real action steps to repopulate the animals and stop the destruction of our vital forests from greedy 'developers'. This needs shown in every classroom and every cable channel that air waves across our state. I've witnessed too much wonton habit loss in southern PA. Not on my watch anymore.

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Wow, thank you! This is much appreciated!! We are so glad you enjoyed the film.

[@victoriag1049]

This should be shown in schools, very good video!

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thank you for watching! We hope many of our programs will be used in an educational capacity.

[@user-wo2iw3kt8o]

I work for the Pennsylvania game commission. And im very lucky to do so. I LOVE what I do. And am very proud of what the commission does. God bless

[@lttruck2973]

You work for an out of control organization. ALL sworn officers are rogue.That's the only way they can carry out their form of justice...in the wild, no witnesses. Never ever call them for help with anything. They will turn the tables on the caller. Always RECORD any game commission officer The number 1 quest of the Game Commission is to generate revenue. That's it. They totally disregard Right To Know Laws. Fourth Amendment? What's that? Papers please GIVE me your papers. The commission is going to need more than a video to gain favor among the sportsmen and women of the state.

[@artemis4661]

An excellent presentation. Hopefully, it can be used in our school systems to acquaint the younger generations - who are becoming more and more removed from nature - with the importance of maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thank you so much for your thoughtful input! ~Tracy

[@ssbirding]

Such a brilliant film to inform & educate all ages. Certainly hope this will be included in school curriculums statewide. Bravo to all involved!

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thank you for watching!

[@Pam501]

Wonderful film covering all parts of nature - good to hear that worldwide, organisations are learning from one another! All the best from the UK.

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thank you! As we all know, wildlife does not recognize human made borders! This is a group effort, for sure!

[@ala5831]

Keep up the good work

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thanks, will do!

[@michaeltesta3863]

Wow very well done!

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thank you very much! ~Tracy

[@kirkzevola5004]

Are there any wildcats such as Bobcats or Cougars in PA?

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

there are bobcats in PA, yes! www.pgc.pa.gov/Education/WildlifeNotesIndex/Pages/Bobcat.aspx

[@renee1741]

Please get wildlife overpasses built on our highways! I am so sad all the time seeing all the roadkill here... :( They've done them out west and know that they work!!

[@victoriag1049]

how do you. make those manmade boxes for the prothonatary warblers?

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Many versions of plans can be found online. The boxes in this film were hand made for the volunteer who placed them on PISP. They were done by an Amish fellow in IN and hand painted. A wooden nest box like the one in this link will suffice as well: 70birds.com/birdhouses/prothonotary-warbler/

[@LangDu21]

Well put together video clip!

[@SouthDakotaBowHunter78]

Be nice to have more places to hunt in Luzerne County every where I try to go it's always saying no hunting

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Hi! Have you checked out our State Game Lands Mapping System? You may discover more public hunting ground near you! pagame.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c9c7c8912356450fa77fc34d30b131fb

[@tysonrodgers1324]

So you’re saying you are working on bringing back the mountain Lion..Nice!

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Sorry! Nowhere does this film claim to want to bring back the mountain lion.

[@tysonrodgers1324]

I just assumed you would be along with other extirpated animals. What are the factors when deciding what animals we should help with supplemental feeding/ habitat creation? Why rats?? I assume to help feed predators like the fisher cat Didn’t you ever see “how wolfs changed a river”

[@douglaskampfer2028]

Balsam, have the department grow balsam for the hares.

[@whitetailedboss]

What about Kensington in Pittsburgh 🧟‍♂️🧟‍♀️

[@Chris-gr7ll]

That's not in Pittsburgh

[@pamtnman1515]

Nice video. Pennsylvania is a hunting, fishing, trapping bird watching destination

[@leeheider4454]

This documentary is great, but why is there so little information on bats? I was under the impression that they’ve been a big deal since white nose began.

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

You are correct! Regrettably bats were omitted from this film. However, they will be the subject of an entire episode for our Threatened and Endangered Species series!

[@Fred-fe8vd]

in the past i think the game commission helped get rid of some animals and probably most likely got rid of some bugs in certain areas in pennsylvania in the past and probably most likely might try it again maybe. it happenned cause some guys scared of the creatures or were gonna be scared. guys still get scared of creatures. guys act tough but they aint. even if they learn how to fight they definetly are scared of prison. thats why they found a way of not being able to get arrested cause they figured that if they cant get arrested they cant go to prison. im pretty sure i got my reasons why and believe me they wont admit it. they are annoying to say the least. and they enjoy it. and they figured i wouldnt figure it out ever but i did. and i got a house Mouse and a pet store Rat that run around the house and do what they want all day and night. i got plans for them to go inside and outside whhenever they feel like it. my friend thats a Girl that lives here also wants a Cat. when She gets a Cat i will make sure they all get along. they will.

[@onenewworldmonkey]

1. They introduced the Multiflora Rose bush that has taken over and pushed out native species. It is terrible. 2. During the blight that killed the chestnut, PA paid loggers to make a wall, which helped the blight by the loggers carry it faster than ever. 3. In the 50s they stripped the game lands and never repaired the damage. They took the coal and gave us the shaft. 4. If I take an inner tube down a river and happen to use the safest areas to get in and out of the river I get a fine-unless I pay them for a permit. 5. After restoring my 1959 boat I took it to Moraine state park for its maiden voyage with extra throwable devices, fire extinguishers,and a dozen life jackets for my wife and 2 kids. I was stopped and if a thread had come up or anything did not look brand new they were disqualified and we were thrown off the lake. We were thrown off the lake and there was no lack of safety on that boat. 6. In order to stop any drowning, it is illegal to swim on PA game lands (think about this). If Walden Pond were in PA, there would be no swimming. I could go on and on. When you see "manage" think control freak. When you see "safety" think about it being a leverage word that gives them power. The spanish inquisition was for "safety". We have problem solving bred into all of us from when we were hunter gatherers and needed to eat every day. It was so important that it is an instinct to us. In other words, someone attacking a black friday sale does it like its a deer. Everything you do and own is for the purpose of solving a problem or ammunition for solving a problem (problem as in "math" problem-from you shoes to the shingles on your roof). PA runs with it to the point that being control freaks is their solution to all the wrongs in the world. I believe that trait is what caused the end of the bronze age and every civilization in history.,

[@eagledove9]

How's our Bigfoot population? We have large areas of contiguous forest, like around the Allegheny National Forest. There are a lot of sightings around the edges of that area.

[@kirkzevola5004]

Forgive me if I sound weird for this but am I the only one who feels slightly panicky and starts feeling anxious and sadness over new things being built and developed on what could have been preserved for biodiversity and species. I hate seeing land cleared for our greed because while it may serve a good for us it can harm other species weather human or not and I feel empathetic and sad for animals and plants cause in a way your harming them. But am I a weirdo for that? I just hope it’s not me.

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

You aren't alone. There are several new terms to describe what you are experiencing. Check out the book by Glenn A. Albrecht titled "Earth Emotions"

[@samkitzmiller4302]

Don't care for the PA game commission all for predators not game animals and way bigger than they need to be it's all about the money I put more time in other states that focus on game animals not predators

[@PAGameCommissionHDQTRS]

Thank you for expressing your concern. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is mandated to oversee all wild birds and wild mammals, as is in our mission statement: "Manage and protect wildlife and their habitats, while promoting hunting and trapping, for current and future generations."

[@openyoureyes3969]

Keystone state for TICKS. To many laws regulating the harvesting of deer. WAY TO MANY DEER!!

[@davidmcclellan9495]

F pa game commission