Pictured(L-R) Damien Rutkoski, Tom Resavage, Joe Viccica, Dale Butler, Dave Butler(back), Brian Butler, and Shawn Rypka

Recently the Red Rock Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation partnered with DCNR, Bureau of Forestry service forester Andrew Duncan, to complete a wildlife habitat enhancement project on the West Nanticoke Tract of the Lackawanna State Forest. On March 31, 2007, seven ambitious young members of the Red Rock Chapter showed up on the Lackawanna State Forest with chainsaws and fuel at the ready to create prime nesting and escape cover for a variety of wildlife species, and especially Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcock, and Wild Turkeys. The scene was a small field encompassed by forest with maturing Aspen, Red Maple, White Pine, American Hawthorn, and various other tree species. The current state of the forest around the field did not provide much protection to the above mentioned species in the form of brushy undergrowth, which is essential for nesting and rearing of young for these species. Studies have shown that Ruffed Grouse and American Woodcock populations are on the decline, primarily due to habitat conversion to non-forest uses, and a decrease in the amount of cutting designed to create brushy undergrowth, or early successional forest.

Forester Duncan had been onsite several weeks before the project date to spray trees meant for cutting and felling on the ground. The goal was threefold. Create 1-2 acre canopy gaps by felling all trees, especially trees not providing much food value to wildlife species, such as Aspen or Red Maple. Most White Pine, Black Cherry, Oak, Hawthorn, and Serviceberry trees or shrubs were left to remain standing and provide their soft or hard mast seed crop for wildlife, as well as to foster regeneration of these species in seedling form. A portion of the forest contained a large component of Hawthorn, an essential soft mast producing species similar to Apple. The second component of the project was to remove less desirable trees that were shading the Hawthorn, thus allowing for Hawthorn trees to increase in vigor, provide more mast for wildlife, and provide more seed for future Hawthorn seedlings. Finally, the third goal was to remove high forest canopy from the edge of the field for 50-100 feet back into the forest, to spur on growth of native vines, briars, shrubs and seedlings along the edge of the field. This practice would provide more security cover for birds and animals using the field as a food or general use source.

NWTF volunteers worked nonstop from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., cutting and felling marked trees, with little damage to residual trees. At the completion of the project, out came the welcome hamburgers, hotdogs, and cold pop and water for refueling. A job well done by all involved, and one that surely will not be the last with this group on the Lackawanna State Forest!