Prince Gallitzin State Park

This orange and grey butterfly is the ( ), a species that is found across the Northern Hemisphere and south into western Africa. Their host plants include docks ( .) and adults sip nectar from a variety of flowers. Right now, don't expect to find any flying. American Coppers wait out the winter in their chrysalis stage, or sometimes as a larva (caterpillar). Due to the cold and lack of food, they enter a state of diapause: a period of suspended development when environmental factors are not in their favor. Some butterflies do overwinter as adults (Mourning Cloaks, Eastern Commas), and may be seen moving about on a warmer winter days. As for our American Copper, it'll have to wait to spring to finish developing before it takes flight.

Let's go back to warmer days for a moment and see if you can figure out this butterfly! Tell us what you think it is and we'll post the answer tonight at 7!

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 or 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!

Wild Wednesday Winter Décor For this week’s post, let’s be inspired by the materials found in the winter woods and fields to create home winter décor for our homes. With a hot glue gun (or super glue) and whatever your imagination brings to mind, these crafts are easy and fun for the family.... Examples shown here include: Dried fruit pods of , found in old fields. Remember to leave behind the seeds to provide for next year’s growth. Our conifer’s provide woody cones that can add an accent, or be the center piece after being painted or accentuated with beads. Different conifers provide different cone sizes and shapes, from the (3/4 long) to the (6 long). Twigs are great to use as different trees come in different sizes and colors. - has large buds that jump out. - The reddish twigs of can add some color and vibrance. - twigs are yellowish, very long, and very flexible. Be sure not to overharvest from any one tree, as the twigs and buds are holding next year’s leaf growth. Of course, other materials can be found outside and those more artistic can I can make much better examples. Just remember to collect materials responsibly and sustainably, and avoid rare or slow growing plants. If you make anything, post a pic in the comment section!

Anybody else dealing with these? Often referred to as tickseeds or beggarticks.

Did you know it? This is ( ), an evergreen fern that is easily found in the woods of PA. Ferns are not an easy group of plants to learn to identify, but this one is easy. Look at the leaflets (pinna) that make up the frond (the entire leaf-like structure). Notice how near where it attaches to the stem it has a "toe"? This gives the leaflet a stocking shape to it. And, if you remember "Christmas Stocking", you'll remember this fern!

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.

Tell us what birds of prey have you seen lately? If you have photos, feel free to post!

We had a bit of snow cover the ground here at the park this week, but there is still green to be found popping through. Do you know the name of this plant surrounded by white?... If so, tell us below. We'll post the answer tonight at 7! 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. This 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!

Wild Wednesday! ( ) Flipping over stones and logs can reveal things that we just don’t see often. Due to their small size and secretive behavior, an assortment of life can go by unspotted without a keen eye and a bit of persistence. But, before the soil temperature gets too cold, some critters, like today’s feature creature, can still be found.... Say hello to the Northern Slimy Salamander, a resident of the woods of Pennsylvania. Easily identified by its dark-grey/black ground color and flecks of silver, the Slimy earns its name from the copious amount of mucus it secretes from its skin that becomes sticky as it dries, a tactic to repel predators such as snakes and small mammals. If the slime doesn’t work, they will sacrifice their tail - voluntarily amputating along a preformed fissure and leaving it behind, twitching for the predator to find interest in. Known as caudal autotomy, this behavior does help the salamander get away, but is not without cost - they give up fat reserves that they now have to replenish (at the expense of normal development and reproduction resources), and the lack of tail can impair locomotion and reproductive fitness. Though resembling lizards, salamanders are amphibians, not reptiles. Amphibians are known for their two-stage life cycle: an immature, aquatic stage bearing gills (tadpoles), and a terrestrial adult stage, breathing with lungs. Northern Slimy Salamanders, and the taxonomic group they are found in (Genus : the Woodland Salamanders) ignore this rule and follow a direct development. Instead of eggs laid in water and the resulting aquatic young, a female lays her eggs beneath rotting wood or other moist and hidden locations. The Slimy guards her eggs as the next generation develops directly into miniature versions of herself. Once they hatch, they will fend for themselves, living mostly solitary lives. They will hunt millipedes, ants, and beetles, growing up to an average of 5 inches (record length 8 inches). After 4 years, they will reach maturity and be ready to reproduce, with females laying their eggs every other year in our area. What more, these salamanders don't even have lungs! Instead, oxygen and carbon dioxide permeate through their skin and mouth linings. [This is a good reason why not to handle salamanders. Any substances on our fingers (soap, lotion, our own secreted oils and salts) can be absorbed by their absorbent skin.] This individual was found on the last day of November, so mild winter days can still reveal critters beneath decomposing logs, but they will be retreating deeper into the ground as the soil temperature drops more and more. Come spring though, they will return for us to look for again!

It's a dreary day today at the park, but these American Coots didn't mind the drizzle while feeding on Hydrilla at the Turtle Cove boat launch.

Photo Quiz Answer These are the bursting fruit pods of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) spilling out their seeds with their attached coma (or floss). The coma is the silky fluff attached to the seeds. As the pod matures and dries, it splits open, revealing the coma to windy fall conditions. Like dandelion seeds, the milkweed seeds catch a ride on the wind to scatter across the field to lay dormant until next spring. The coma is comprised of hollow, waxy filaments. Due to this structure, they provide insulating properties and have been used in hypoallergenic pillows, blankets, and coats.

Thursday Photo Quiz Who can tell us what this fluff is from? Leave your answer in the comments and we'll tell you tonight at 7!

Wild Wednesday! Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) Walking along the trails in the park, you're bound to hear a rustle in the fallen leaves. You may pick up the bird-like chips and trills of this week's Wild Wednesday feature: the Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus).... Found through southeastern Canada and the eastern United States (expect for the southeast), this is a member of the Squirrel family (Sciuridae), a group in the Order Rodentia. A distinctive animal in our area - red-brown overall with a white stripe bordered by dark-brown on each side, and grizzled grey from its nape through the tail. Its face is marked with lighter stripes above and below its eyes. Like other rodents, it has five toes on its hind feet, but only four on its front. Chipmunk diversity is boring in the east - head out west and you'll find 23 other species! One other species is found in Siberia. Though a good climber, Eastern Chipmunks are well adapted for life on and under the ground. Capable of creating their own underground system (or taking advantage of pre-made holes left behind by other creatures or decomposed tree root systems), it will dig out tunnels with its front feet and carry soil away in its cheek pouches. By moving the soil away out of sight, it helps keep the entrances from being noticeable. They will also line the entrance with leaves, grasses, and rocks to the opening to blend in it even more. What more, they don't just have one entrance - they will have several to provide quick escaped into (or out of) the tunnel. Though quick on their feet, they do have their "paws" full with predators, including hawks, owls, coyotes, weasels, snakes, and domestic cats. Come winter, we won't see chipmunks as often, as they seek shelter below the ground. They aren't true hibernators, however. Below ground, they enter states of torpor, a state of low activity and metabolism, but they will wander around the tunnels or even above ground during milder days. Instead of packing on a layer of fat to get through the cold months, chipmunks will hoard food in caches in their burrows. They are particularly fond of beechnuts, stuffing them into their cheek pouches to be saved for when snow makes foraging more difficult. They will also eat other plant material such as seeds, tubers, greens, and bulbs. Chipmunks are omnivores though, and will add insects, worms, and bird eggs to their diet. If you're hiking our trails this autumn, keep an eye out for our only chipmunk, and watch it prepare for the oncoming winter!