Pennsylvania Game News - August 2010 - 39

Realistic
CUMBERLAND — Landscaping students from Cumberland Valley recently earned Reserve Best in Show and People’s Choice Award honors at the Pennsylvania Garden Expo. They accurately incorporated Game Commission borrowed wildlife mounts into their landscape/habitat display. Congratulations to Mr. Todd Biddle and his students for their outstanding achievements. — WCO TIMOTHY L. WENRICH, MECHANICSBURG

Wouldn’t Listen
P ERRY — Neighboring WCO John Fetchkan gave me a confiscated flying squirrel to relocate, and after ignoring my wife, Kathy’s, loud protests, I let it go in the woods behind our house. “Don’t do it! It’ll get in the house!” Kathy kept saying, but I assured her that there was a million to one chance that it would get in the house. A few nights later I was watching the late news when our cat went on a rampage, chasing something through the living room. Whatever it was escaped down the stairway, and it wasn’t until the next night that I actually saw the flying squirrel scampering across the living room floor. Fortunately, I was able to trap it a few nights later and now it resides on a Game Lands about 20 miles away, but I still have to live with the “I told you so” comments. — WCO STEVE HOWER, ICKESBURG

New Life
SOMERSET — Spring is a time for birth, and a busy time for WCOs. In one day I had to place an orphaned bear cub with a female that had cubs; I dealt with a young red fox; I spotted two fawns hiding in the woods; observed a nest of young bluebirds; and saw a hen turkey with a brood of 10 poults that appeared to be but a few days old. — WCO TRAVIS ANDERSON, JEROME

Above and Beyond
SUSQUEHANNA — We trapped a lot of nuisance bears earlier this summer, so I would like to say thank you to the Food & Cover Corps crew at SGL 35 for completing culvert trap maintenance. Many times these folks go unrecognized for their long, tedious hours maintaining and improving habitat, but they are always willing to help in any way. — WCO MICHAEL WEBB, NEW MILFORD

Next Time I’ll Walk
SCHUYLKILL — I was involved in a bear snaring project with the PGC bear biologist, and we were driving down some of the roughest roads, looking for bear sign. We talked about hazards such as rattlesnakes, ticks and even bears, so you can imagine my surprise when all of a sudden we heard a loud bang, the truck cab filled with smoke, and I got hit square in the chest with an airbag. Next time I think I might walk and take my chances with the rattlesnakes. — WCO KEVIN CLOUSER, ASHLAND
AUGUST 2010

Slow Time?
LYCOMING — In a 14-day period not long ago, I had two days planning and preparing for training, six days of either instructing or taking yearly training and four scheduled days off. That left me with two days of dealing with my incoming calls, assisting State Police with an investigation, looking for turkeys to trap for a hen mortality study and to do my required office work. — WCO HAROLD COLE, WILLIAMSPORT
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Pennsylvania Game News - August 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Game News - August 2010