Stories from The Allegheny Front archived under
Wildlife
PA's New Breeding Bird Atlas Shows Big Changes in Bird Populations
The number of ruffed grouse has declined by 33 percent in the last 20 years--it’s one of a number of victims of
Rare PA Plant a Litmus Test for Climate Change
Scientists are using a new tool to measure the impact of climate change on wildlife in Pennsylvania. They found that rare, native Northeastern bulrush is highly vulnerable to climate change. It's also an indicator of how other species will fare as temperatures rise.
State Agencies Tangle Over the Health of the Susquehanna River and Smallmouth Bass
Pennsylvania's Department of Environmental Protection just announced the Susquehanna River is not going to be added to the state’s list of impaired rivers. The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is not pleased.
Reluctant Birder
Many people deeply connected to the natural world have always been drawn to birds. Not so our commentator, who came to her fascination only recently. The Allegheny Front's Karen Schaefer recounts how her new-found love of bird-watching came to be.
“For most of my life, I never paid much attention to birds.
Artists Remember the Dunkard Creek Disaster
In September 2009, a 43-mile-long creek that meanders across the West Virginia/Pennsylvania border suffered one of the most catastrophic environmental disasters in regional history. Two years later, artists have collaborated to pay homage to the animals that perished by the thousands in Dunkard Creek.
Ancient Sport of Falconry Continues in PA
Hunting with birds of prey instead of weapons like guns or arrows is known as falconry. It’s an ancient sport that has been lauded in literature such as “Ivanhoe” and “My Side of the Mountain.” But it lives beyond stories in Pennsylvania.
White Nose Fungus Still Killing Thousands of PA Bats
Nearly all of the ten thousand bats in one of the largest bat caves in Pennsylvania—the abandoned Durham mine in Bucks County—died recently. The decline is due to white nose syndrome, a fungus that has been kiling bats in the state since 2009.
Recreating a Breeding Ground for Salamanders
About five years ago, a group of what are known as Jefferson salamanders returned to the pond where they laid eggs each spring. But their breeding site was gone, so the creatures migrated to what seemed like a nice, new wet place. Unfortunately, what they found themselves in was a sewage plant.
Red Panda Ready for Visitors at Pittsburgh Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium's female red panda—the first one to call Pittsburgh "home"—made her first public appearance in the Asian Forest exhibit on April 5th. She has been behind the scenes for nearly two years after making her trip from the Red River Zoo in North Dakota.