A former gravel mine in Erie County gets a second chance as forestland
The 100-acre site in Erie County is being reforested through a partnership between the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy and the nonprofit Bosland Growth.
Conservation
River otters in Western Pennsylvania: An environmental success story
Otters once inhabited every river system in Pennsylvania, but by the early 1900s, most of them were gone. Now, they’re making a comeback.
Grandma Gatewood’s epic Appalachian Trail hike
1955, 67-year old Emma "Grandma" Gatewood became the first woman solo thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail. She would go on to do it two more times.
How an author harnessed ‘bear consciousness’ in a new short story collection
In Sherrie Flick's lastest short story collection, "I Have Not Considered Consequences," bears mingle with people in surprising and thought-provoking ways.
Keeping Track of Pennsylvania’s Resurgent Black Bear Population
Meet Pennsylvania's bear biologist as she gathers data on one of the state's 16,000 black bears. The population has rebounded in the last 30 years.
Hellbenders share spotlight with Abraham Lincoln at new nature preserve
A new preserve in Ohio is named for the salamanders that live there also highlights the history of early American railroads.
How Trump rollbacks on water and species protection could impact Pennsylvania
Changes could remove millions of acres of wetlands from federal protection and push plant and animal species toward extinction.
How treated drinking water could be impacting local streams
A study looked at phosphorus levels in Pittsburgh streams before and after drinking water was treated with a chemical to prevent lead corrosion in pipes.
Inaugural ‘Pennsylvania Chestnut Festival’ promotes history and conservation efforts
The American chestnut is functionally extinct in North America. A new festival looks to celebrate the chestnut's history and raise awareness about its recovery efforts.
Essay: An empty nest leads a mother to the woods
As her third child started college, Debra-Lynn Hook spent two and a half weeks in a rustic cabin amidst 200 acres of Michigan forest—to experience the grandeur and subtlety of the woods.
