#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - White-tailed Deer

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.

https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/event/creature-feature-white-tailed-deer

Perseid Meteor Shower Watch!

On Sunday and Monday night, more than 100 campers and visitors joined Park Staff and the Friends of R. B. Winter State Park to observe the peak of the annual Perseid Meteor Shower. Partic

ipants were able to observe around a dozen or so meteors each night, with a couple of really spectacular ones eliciting gasps of "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd as they streaked across the night sky! Though it couldn't be seen by the naked eye, the Northern Lights even made an appearance over Sand Mountain, as seen in these long-exposure images taken by the Friends!

The Northern Lights in the sky above Sand Mountain in this twenty-second long exposure taken by the Friends of R. B. Winter State Park!

A meteor streaking across sky above the beach in this twenty five-second long exposure taken by the Friends of R. B. Winter State Park!

#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Great Blue Heron

On today’s edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at the tallest bird found at R. B. Winter State Park – the Great Blue Heron!

Great Blue Herons are a very recognizable species with distinctive slate-blue feathers, a long neck, and a dagger-like yellow bill. They stand approximately four feet tall and have a wingspan that can reach up to seven feet in adult birds. Solitary hunters, Great Blue Herons often stand perfectly still for long periods or wade slowly in shallow water, waiting for the right moment to strike at prey.

At R. B. Winter State Park, they can be seen hunting in the shallows of Halfway Lake, often keeping to quieter sections such as the forested eastern shore. When there are fewer visitors at the park, especially in the evening before sunset, they can be spotted near the beach or the fishing area on the south shore of the lake. Great Blue Herons can also be found hunting in the wetlands around the park, as well as along Rapid Run. Elsewhere in Pennsylvania, it is common to see these elegant hunters wading along the banks of lakes, small ponds, streams, and rivers.

Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they are opportunistic feeders and will also eat amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and even other birds when the opportunity arises. Great Blue Heron eggs and juvenile birds are vulnerable to predators such as raccoons, crows, black bears, and red-tailed hawks. However, due to their large size and sharp, dagger-like bills, adult Great Blue Herons have few natural predators, though bald and golden eagles will occasionally attempt to prey on adult herons.

If you joined us for the meteor watches at the park earlier this week, you might have caught a glimpse of two Great Blue Herons around the lake. The next time you visit R. B. Winter State Park, be sure to take a moment to watch for these elegant hunters in their natural habitat.