After Sunset on October 10th a strong solar storm created an amazing display as the Northern Lights could be seen directly over the park! If you missed it, check out these pictures by Friends of R. B. Winter board member Kyle Fawcett.
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On today’s edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at one of the most unique frogs you’ll find at R. B. Winter State Park—the Wood Frog!
Wood Frogs are one of six species of frogs that inhabit the park and the surrounding state forest lands, they are quite common throughout Pennsylvania and have been documented in all 67 counties in recent years. Additionally, they can be found from northeastern Georgia through the states of the Appalachian Mountains, all the way up to northeastern Canada and westward through the upper Midwest and central Canada, extending across the continent to the mountains of Alaska.
In fact, one of the things that makes Wood Frogs so special is that they are the only species of frog found north of the Arctic Circle! These little frogs are extremely cold-tolerant. As winter approaches, their bodies produce natural cryoprotectants—essentially a natural antifreeze—that protect them during the long winter months. During this process, Wood Frogs find a spot in the soil or leaf litter on the forest floor to enter dormancy. Through the winter, up to 65% of their body freezes solid into ice for periods of around 190 days!
As the snow melts and the ground begins to thaw, they are the first frogs to emerge from the forest floor as winter slowly gives way to spring. On the first few rainy nights, you’ll find them slowly moving about as they head toward seasonal breeding pools to mate and lay eggs. When the first rainy night arrives with temperatures in the 50s, their activity explodes, with hundreds of frogs gathering at the breeding pools. This is one of the only times you’ll hear male Wood Frogs making their distinctive duck-like quacking call. After laying eggs, Wood Frogs quickly disperse into the surrounding woodlands, where they spend the rest of the year hunting for insects among the trees.
If you would like to see a Wood Frog and learn more about the reptiles and amphibians of Pennsylvania, join us for an interpretive walk this Saturday and Sunday at 1 PM at the Environmental Learning Center at R. B. Winter State Park! We will explore important habitats and discuss the species often found in the park.
On today’s edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at Pennsylvania’s state animal – the White-tailed Deer!
One of the most recognizable and widespread mammals in Pennsylvania, White-tailed Deer are found throughout the state, from the forested mountains in Northern Pennsylvania to the rolling farmlands in Southern Pennsylvania, and even in city parks around our largest cities. White-tailed Deer are medium-sized, with adult males, called bucks, typically weighing between 150 to 300 pounds. Bucks grow antlers annually, which they use to attract mates and fight rivals. Female deer, which are smaller and usually weigh between 90 to 200 pounds, lack antlers. Their reddish-brown summer coat turns grayish-brown in winter, providing camouflage in their woodland habitats as the seasons change.
When European settlers arrived, nearly 97% of Pennsylvania was covered in diverse forests, where White-tailed Deer thrived, with an estimated 8 to 10 deer per square mile. However, as settlements expanded, forests were cleared for farms and lumber, drastically altering the landscape. The eradication of natural predators like mountain lions and wolves, combined with new food sources from farms, initially boosted the deer population. Unfortunately, unrestricted overhunting and the nearly complete deforestation of Pennsylvania reduced the herd to just 5,000 animals by 1900. In response, Pennsylvania established the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) in 1895, which introduced hunting regulations and imported deer from other states to rebuild the herd. Today, around 1.5 million deer roam Pennsylvania’s forests and fields, a testament to successful conservation efforts.
If you would like to learn more about White-tailed Deer, join the R. B. Winter State Park Naturalist on Saturday, September 7th, at 1 PM in the Environmental Learning Center. We will be discussing their historic role in Pennsylvania’s history, the threats to their current population, and their importance to our ecosystems. Skulls and pelts will be on display, and crafts will be available after the presentation for younger audience members.
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