Tionesta, Pa.:  The rain poured all morning but just before 1:00 p.m. the sun decided to shine.  A dozen volunteers met with employees of the Army Corps of Engineers at Tionesta Lake last Saturday to do some planting for wildlife habitat improvement in a savannah along the Tionesta River.   The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) Upland Bird Hunt Chapter sponsored the planting.

Eight scraped up planting areas about five feet by 15 feet were ready for planting and fencing in the understory of trees along the river.  The dozen volunteers planted all eight areas with Wild grape, Allegheny serviceberry (juneberry), Mountain ash, and Gray dogwood.  The mountain ash seedlings, almost six feet tall, were a special addition as they were transplanted from a fenced colony of mountain ash protected from deer.  Garrett Baker, Habitat Coordinator for the Upland Bird Hunt Chapter, dug up the mountain ash seedlings for transplant.  Arrowwood viburnum was planted in a hedgerow along the edge of a long field next to the trees.

The planting did not take long and then the volunteers started on fence posts, install of wire fencing, and plastic tarps for weed control around each shrub.  The afternoon finished with one of Garrett’s wonderful hamburger and hotdog grill lunches.  Thank you, Garrett!

“This finishes our scheduled planting for this spring and we thank the land managers for allowing the RGS to provide this help,” said Garrett.  “Look for maintenance next year on our projects from this spring, and likely another new project next spring for wildlife mast production.”

This project is part of the RGS’s ongoing efforts to improve habitat for ruffed grouse, woodcock, and other wildlife species. 

The Ruffed Grouse Society is a national conservation organization dedicated to preserving our sporting traditions by creating healthy forests for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other wildlife.  Through habitat projects, advocacy, and education, RGS works to ensure the future of upland bird populations and hunting heritage.

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Note to reporters:  Photo 1 – Volunteers installing fence at Tionesta River.  Photo 2 – Putting mats on the Arrowwood shrubs.