Poe Valley State Park

Happy Halloween!! Come celebrate PA's most spooky, unique mammal with a short walk to the Poe Paddy tunnel. For more information about the program and registration please see: https://events.dcnr.pa.gov/ev/goin_batty_at_poe_paddy_9021

What's in the Wilderness? Wednesday This week we're taking a look at one of the only plants flowering this time of year: the American Witch-Hazel! The American ...witch-hazel is a member of the witch-hazel family and is native to Eastern North America. You can find this plant in woodlands, forest margins, and along streambanks, including along Honey Creek here in Reeds Gap and in Poe Valley and Poe Paddy! It is most often considered a shrub type plant, but can grow to the size of a small tree--reaching a maximum height between 20 and 30 feet, but on average stopping around 12-15 feet high. The arching branches form a dense mass of leaves together; the leaves are alternate and simple with large wavy teeth. This time of year is the best time to observe the American witch-hazel as it is a fall blooming shrub! As leaves fall off, the flowers emerge to be pollinated by moths. The bright yellow flowers have 4 very slender, ribbon like petals and they are very fragrant! Once the flowers are pollinated, they produce a green fruit sometimes called "nubbins" or "nutlets". As time goes on, you may notice the nubbins turn from green to a more woody gray or tan color. These fruits go dormant through winter and develop the following growing season until they pop out 2 shiny black seeds the following fall. Not only do they provide nectar for adult moths, but the leaves provide sustenance for the caterpillars through the summer season. The branches give shelter to cocoons and other insects looking to hibernate over the cold months. Some larger animals like turkey and grouse even feed off of the dispelled seeds. For humans, this plant provides uses in other ways. Historically, teas made from the leaves treat colds, sore throats, and lung ailments. Compounds made from the leaves and inner bark are used to treat itching and rashes, just as commercial topical witch-hazel products you find in grocery stores and pharmacies do. There is much speculation on how this plant came about its name. The Old English word "wych" means pliable, a word that describes the branches of this shrub very well. Early Europeans observed Native Americans using forked limbs from the witch-hazel to locate underground water sources. The sticks became well-known as dowsing or divining rods because of this flexibility! The end of the dowsing end of the branch would bend when the dowser detected underground water. This method was so popular it became an established feature of well-digging into the 20th century. You might be losing your traditional leaf peeping fall colors as the leaves fade and fall away this time of year, so when you find yourself out and about in Penn's Woods look for these patches of yellow to brighten your day! Feel free to give them a sniff and decide for yourself just how fragrant this plant is! See more

Looking to get out and enjoy the fall colors this weekend, but sad Poe Valley is inaccessible by car? Join the park naturalist over at Reeds Gap State Park as we take a fall hike to investigate what trees turn what colors and why! We will be meeting at Reeds Gap Pavilion 1 at 2 pm on Saturday 10/17. This hike is about 1-1.5 miles around Honey Creek. If you plan on attending, please be sure to wear comfortable shoes and *wear orange as we are in hunting season*. Hope to see you out there!

What's in the Wilderness? Wednesday This week we're taking a close look at a small creature you might be noticing around more this fall, the Woolly Bear Caterpi...llar! This caterpillar is the larva stage of the Isabella Tiger Moth. They are found throughout most of North America and can go by many other names including Banded Woolly Bear, Woolly Worm, and the Hedgehog Caterpillar (for how it curls tightly into a ball to "play dead" if picked up or disturbed). As you may already know, these are fuzzy looking caterpillars with black bristles on both ends and reddish brown in their middle section. Two generations appear every year, one in May and the other in August. This generation born in August is the most noticeable to us as they cross roads and paths in search of a little extra food or a safe place to stay. As many other caterpillars form their cocoons for the winter this time of year, the woolly caterpillar goes in search of secluded places like fallen logs or rocks to hibernate. They almost freeze solid while they hibernate; their bodies producing a chemical that works as antifreeze (cryoprotectant) to protect their body tissues and organs. In April/May as they emerge from hiding and thaw out, they eat for a few days before they cocoon and continue the life cycle to the adult moth stage. The moths, tan or orange in color with fuzzy heads and black dots on their wings, do not feed as adults, so they only live about a week. You may have heard the well-known folklore associated with this caterpillar and how they can predict the severity of winter! If the middle brown section is wider, we are in for a mild winter. The more black there is, the more severe the upcoming winter. Some even go on to say if the head end is longer, the beginning of winter will be more severe, while if the tail end is longer, the end of winter will be worse. If the coat of the woolly bear looks extremely woolly, it will be a severe winter. Or maybe if you good with your directions, identify which way the caterpillar is heading. If he's heading south, he is trying to escape the cold so it will be a more severe winter, but if he's heading north it will be mild. Much of this folklore has been de-mythed. This caterpillar's coloring is actually based on how long the caterpillar has been feeding, its overall age, and the species. The better the growing season, the more narrow the brown, and the caterpillars often molt 6 times before they become adults! Each time they molt, they become less black and more reddish brown. No matter if you believe in this folklore or not, have fun observing some woolly bear colors and their direction to make a prediction about the upcoming winter season! Be sure to write it down so you can check in the spring to see if they were correct!

The bridge at the Poe Valley entrance will be closed for construction starting today, October 13, 2020. The campground and office are officially closed for the season. The park will remain open, but will only be able to be accessed by foot or boat. Park staff will be through out the park as normal. We look forward to seeing everyone in the 2021 season!

What a great photo of the fall colors on Poe Lake! Thank you @stacyboyerphotography for sharing this with us.