#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.

#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Eastern Long-tailed Salamander!

On today’s edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday, we take a look at one of the most unique amphibians found in R. B. Winter State Park - the Eastern Long-tailed Salamander!

Known for their colorful, slender bodies and exceptionally long tails, Eastern Long-tailed Salamanders are a native Pennsylvania species found not only in R. B. Winter State Park but throughout much of the Appalachian Mountains. They typically grow to be approximately 8 inches long, with their tails accounting for nearly two-thirds of their length. The coloring of Eastern Long-tailed Salamanders can range from bright yellow to various shades of oranges and reds, with a series of black dots and dashes running down the length of their back and tail.

Eastern Long-tailed Salamanders are found in streams, springs, caves, and ponds, or nearby under rocks, fallen trees, and other natural or artificial debris near water. On rainy nights, they can often be found on roadways that are along streams, lakeshores, vernal pools, or other bodies of water. You’ll often find them around bridges over streams or near where culverts or drainpipes are running under roads. During these periods of rain, they can often be found on the forest floor, using the wet weather to migrate or to hunt for various insects and other invertebrates.

Fun fact: Eastern Long-tailed Salamanders can detach their tails to escape from predators, a process known as autotomy! Their tails will eventually regrow, although they may be shorter or differently shaped.

As the remnants of Hurricane Debby move through the mountains of Central Pennsylvania this week, keep an eye out for these colorful salamanders, as well as other species of amphibians, as they move around the environment in the rain!

#RBWinterWildlifeWednesday - Eastern Chipmunk

Join us for today’s edition of #RBWinterWildlifeWednesday as we explore one of the most common and easily recognized mammals in the park—the Eastern Chipmunk!

As a member of the squirrel family, Eastern Chipmunks are a frequent sight throughout Pennsylvania. They thrive in our deciduous forests, where dense underbrush and abundant leaf litter provide ideal conditions for foraging and burrow construction. They're also often found in suburban areas, parks, and gardens, where they take advantage of human-provided food sources like birdseed, garden vegetables, and dropped picnic items.

Adult Eastern Chipmunks typically weigh between 2½ and 4 ounces and grow up to 8 to 10 inches in length, with their bushy tails making up about a third of their total length. They have soft, short, reddish-brown fur, accented by distinctive white, black, and gray stripes along their backs. One of their most remarkable features is the large, expandable pouches in their cheeks, which they use to carry food back to their burrows, sometimes transporting dozens of seeds at once!

These excellent diggers create burrows that can extend over 30 feet and include multiple entrances, storage chambers, and tunnels. Inside these burrows, they stockpile nuts, seeds, acorns, and other food items to sustain them through the winter months until spring. Although they face predation from a variety of animals, including hawks, snakes, foxes, bobcats, raccoons, owls, coyotes, and domestic cats, these predators usually don't significantly impact local chipmunk populations.

Next time you're at the park, keep an eye out for these lively creatures as they dart through the underbrush in search of food!