Ridgway, Pa.:  As Garrett said, “You don’t have to be a member of the Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) to help us plant for wildlife; come on out and join us.”  Over twenty volunteers for wildlife of all ages and walks of life showed up on Saturday, 4/11, at the SGL (State Game Lands) parking lot on SR 59.  The project for the morning was to fence and plant shrubs and trees for wildlife on SGL 62.  This excellent piece of landscape for wildlife was recently acquired by the PGC (Pennsylvania Game Commission) from the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and is now being managed for wildlife.

Volunteers planted Gray dogwood, Arrowwood viburnum, Holly winterberry, Wild grape, and Sargent crabapple in rows previously marked by PGC employees, and then constructed fences around the four rows to protect the nutritious nursery plants from deer browsing. 

Other volunteers took American hazelnut and planted them in three fences previously constructed by the PGC employees in a separate field.

A highlight of the day was the planting of mountain ash seedlings about 4 feet tall – mountain ash are an absolute grouse magnet and boon for migrating warblers.  Volunteer John Dzemyan, well known wildlife expert from Smethport, and Garret Baker dug up the large seedlings from inside a former RGS fenced site up by Clermont and brought them to the volunteers for planting in a special fenced area the PGC had designated down the road in yet another field.

In total, the volunteers benefited three different fields by planting shrubs and trees that will provide soft mast and hazelnuts in the future. 

Lunch was served by Garrett Baker, Habitat Leader for the Upland Bird Hunt Chapter of the RGS.

This project was jointly planned by the PGC, RGS, and TC Energy, and the Allegheny and Upland Bird Hunt Chapters supported the project. 

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 of volunteers planting shrubs.  Photo 2 of volunteers installing fencing.