Friends Of Prince Gallitzin State Park

Wild Wednesday! Pumpkin Did you carve a jack-o’-lantern for Halloween this year? If so, you more than likely used a pumpkin (though some carve other squashes o...r turnips), but what do you know about pumpkins? Now, when diving into the natural history of plants that are cultivated through agricultural practices, the taxonomy is often chaotic and debatable, and pumpkins are no different. Several species and many varieties are referred to as pumpkins, but we will refine our focus and discuss the species sold for carvings and autumn décor - Cucurbita pepo. Pumpkins are in the family Cucurbitaceae, which contains well known produce like squashes, watermelons, and cucumbers. C. pepo consists of a number of horticultural/agricultural varieties and cultivars including: zucchini, acorn, yellow, and spaghetti squash, and the pumpkin: subspecies pepo variety pepo. Originally found in southern Mexico, the pumpkin has been farmed for thousands of years by Native Americans, gradual introduced northward and eastward into present-day United States. Not only was the flesh inside the fruit eaten, but it was also used in remedies to ease swollen joints and sooth painful scratches from cactus needles. Being that the rind is durable, gourds were fashioned into such items as cups, ladles, musical rattles, and storage containers when hollowed out. Two other kinds of pumpkin you’re probably familiar with are C. moshata, which is canned and used for cooking into pies, and C. maxima, the giant pumpkins found in state fair contests. Just how heavy can these giant pumpkins get? The current world record was set in 2016 at 2,624.6 pounds in Belgium!

Photo Quiz Answer If you said this is a young Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), you've got it! Slightly bigger than a quarter, this snapper hatched ...this autumn and is looking for a quiet place to spend the winter. As youngsters, they can survive in small wetlands before moving into the lake as they grow bigger. See more

Thursday Photo Quiz Found this little guy crawling near the main marina the other day. Who knows what baby turtle this is? Tell us in the comment section and we'll post the answer tonight at 7!

Wild Wendesday! Barred Owl (Strix varia) Halloween is quickly approaching and several animals are tied in with the spooky holiday through myth and folklore. Thi...s week let's look at one specific animal, the Barred Owl. Our second largest breeding owl in Pennsylvania, this common inhabitant of our woodlands is more often heard than seen, easily identified by it's unique "who-cooks-for-you, who-cooks-for-you-all" call. Though owls are well-known to be active at night, it isn't unusual to hear one call during the day. But once night falls, owls own the sky. With their incredible sense of hearing, combined with highly sensitive eyesight, they keep a watch on the forest floor from their perch for any rummaging voles and mice. Once located, owls swoop down in a flight that the poor rodent never hears coming. How? Their large wings allow them to glide through the air with minimal flapping - no flapping means less noise. But owls go a step further. The edges of their primary flight feathers are serrated, much like teeth of a comb. As air flows over the wings, these feathers break up any air turbulence, reducing the "swoosh". Softer feathers on the trailing edge for their wing and on the bottom of their body absorb what little noise is produced, reducing it to near silence. Considering the nighttime activity, odd vocalizations (some owls vocalizations are chilling if you're not familiar with it), and secretive nature, it's easy to see how owls are tied in with Halloween. Even looking at old folklore, you find many cultures viewing these birds as omens of death or bad luck. Of course, those are just stories, but while you're trick-or-treating next week, stay alert for their "spooky" calls and ghostly flight!

What a difference a week makes in color.