What Do You Do If Coyotes are in Your Neighborhood?

Several Patch readers spot coyotes in the the area—and state game commission officials say sightings are becoming more common.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission says coyotes have become more common with spottings in many municipalities across the state, including one last year within the city of Pittsburgh. On the Pine-Richland Patch Facebook page, several readers said they spotted coyotes in the Heights of North Park and Treesdale neighborhoods as well as near Route 8 in Richland Township. On Wednesday, Beth Martin was surprised this week to see a coyote roaming in the vicinity of Quaker Heights in Leet Township. “I was coming down the hill and it ran from the wooded bank on the right to the left,” said Martin, who owns a St. Bernard, and hoped to warn other residents, particularly pet owners.  Leet Township Police Chief William Wanto said it's the first coyote …

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It's for the Birds: Nature-Lovers Sought for Great Backyard Bird Count

The Pennsylvania Game Commission seeks bird-watchers and nature enthusiasts to report the number and species of birds in their neighborhoods for this North America survey.

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials want bird and nature enthusiasts from Western Pennsylvania and around the state to join North American birdwatchers in the 2013 Great Backyard Bird Count. Set for Feb. 15-18, the Great Backyard Bird Count is a free joint project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society. Organizers say it's an opportunity for families, students and bird lovers to observe nature in backyards, schoolyards and local parks while making a contribution to conservation efforts. “Participants count birds and report their sightings online; it doesn’t get any easier,” Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe said. in 2012, observers reported 17.4 million birds of 600 species in the United States …

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750,000 Hunters Expected for First Day of Pennsylvania Deer Season

Hunters can share their harvest using a network set up by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

It is considered Pennsylvania's only unofficial holiday. The Monday after Thanksgiving marks opening day of the two-week general deer season and 750,000 men, women and teenagers wearing fluorescent orange are expected to invade Penn's Woods, according to Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe.  “In addition to being a rich part of our state’s heritage, deer season is critical in managing Pennsylvania’s whitetails,” Roe said. “The efforts of hunters are far-reaching; they help to keep deer populations in check, and enable the agency to meet deer management goals that benefit those who reside, visit or travel through this state.” Safety Rules Hunters must wear 250 square inches of fluorescent orange material on the head, chest and …

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PA Game Commission: Coyote Sightings Not Unusual

Allegheny County family believes their pet husky was probably killed by a coyote, police said.

The death of an Allegheny County family's pet husky, possibly by a wild coyote earlier this week, shouldn't come as a surprise, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. "Coyotes have been spotted in every municipality of Pennsylvania from Erie to Philadelphia," said Jerry Feaser, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Game Commission. "There was even one seen within the city of Pittsburgh recently." Feaser said the coyotes, like other wild animals, use the corridors created by rivers and streams to travel into populated areas. "They're scavengers," said Feaser. "They feed on food left out in the trash or on the abundant small prey population such as squirrels, rabbits, and groundhogs." Feaser said while coyotes may appear frightening, …

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Seen Any Wild Turkeys in Pine-Richland Lately?

A hundred years ago, the bird had almost vanished from Pennsylvania. Then the Pennsylvania Game Commission took control.

These days, sightings of Meleagris gallopavo are practically everyday occurrences in and around Pine-Richland. But that certainly wouldn't have been the case for our great-grandparents. The wild turkey at one point almost suffered a fate similar to that of the passenger pigeon, the once-common North American bird that was hunted to extinction by the early 20th century. Fortunately, turkeys have made a substantial comeback, thanks in no small part to efforts by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Here is a timetable of the wild turkey's history in Pennsylvania, adapted from A Look Back by Joe Kosack, wildlife education specialist for the agency. _____________________ Keeping up with news in the Pine-Richland community is easy—simply sign up …

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Day Tripper

Day Tripper Goes Elk Spotting in Pennsylvania

You don't have to travel to Wyoming to view elk.

All three of my children were still in their teens the first time they saw an elk. The first words out of my daughter's mouth were, “This was so worth getting up at 4 a.m.” Pretty strong words coming from a teenager. Not to speak in a cliché, but elk are majestic animals. Huge in stature -- the male elk can weigh as much as 1,000 pounds, the female about 500 pounds -- they amble slowly as they cross fields and stop to munch on grass. As we watched two male elk search for their breakfast, we made a family memory that is stored with many others. We weren’t in Montana or Wyoming when we saw the elk. We were in Benezette in north central Pennsylvania, a drive of about three hours from the Greater Pittsburgh area. Elk were once native to the …

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PA Game Commission to Hold Additional Classes for Upcoming Hunting Seasons

The commission held classes during the summer but has scheduled more for October and November.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission will hold additional hunter-trapper education courses this fall to ensure all would-be hunters have the opportunity to complete the mandatory course in time for upcoming hunting seasons. Everyone who wishes to buy a hunting or furtaker license for the first time also must complete the course, commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe said. The commission held classes during the summer but has scheduled more for October and November for various locations around the state, Roe said in a statement. “Procrastination sometimes gets the better of us, but becoming certified through a basic hunter-trapper education course is mandatory for all first-time license buyers, regardless of age," Roe said. The classes are …

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County to Distribute Raccoon Bait Containing Rabies Vaccine

Allegheny County Health Department employees will start distributing the bait Aug. 15.

In a proactive move to fight rabies, Allegheny County will begin distributing raccoon bait containing rabies vaccine Aug. 15 .  Employees with the Allegheny County Health Department will distribute the bait by hand, on foot and from vehicles in all the county's municipalities. Two types of bait will be used: one in which vaccine contained in a plastic sachet is enclosed in fishmeal pellets and a second in which the plastic sachet is coated with fish oil scent. The vaccine, when consumed by the raccoons, helps them develop antibodies to the rabies virus.  The baits pose no threat to humans or pets, according to the health department.  Rabies is a viral infection that can affect the nervous system of any mammal, including humans. It is …

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Game Commission Officer: Bear in Richland Probably on Move

Give the bear space, conservation officer advises.

To hear the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Dan Puhala talk about black bears can be, well, reassuring. A black bear was sighted last week in Grandview Estates, a residential neighborhood in Richland Township that is replete with children and pets. Asked in a phone interview if he has received many calls recently about bears in Richland Township, wildlife conservation officer Puhala said "no." Actually, he said, he's gotten more calls from West Deer Township to the east of Richland. If you see a bear in a residential neighborhood, Puhala advises you to "give it space."  Bear attacks are extremely rare in Pennsylvania, he continued, adding that deer are more dangerous because they are the culprit in many automobile accidents that kill people…

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