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A Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership survey found 92% of Pennsylvania sportsmen and women support designating streams for protections when they meet the right criteria. (Adobe Stock)

A push to update PA stream designations for wild trout protection

Pennsylvania's wild trout streams are getting some much-needed attention and outdoor enthusiasts across the state can voice their views on safeguardin…

According to the Insurance Information Institute, between July 1, 2022, and June 30, 2023, more than 1.8 million insurance claims involving animal collisions were reported. Pennsylvania had the most of any state, with an estimated 153,397 claims. (Bignai/Adobe Stock)

Actions urged to reduce, prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions in PA

Pennsylvania drivers have a 1-in-59 chance of being involved in an animal-related crash, third-highest in the nation. Wildlife advocates are …

Eleven species of native milkweed (Asclepias) can be found in Pennsylvania. (Paul/AdobeStock)

Experts Seek Help to Save Eastern Monarch Butterfly From Extinction in PA

A colorful orange and black insect commonly seen flying through gardens in the Keystone State is now closer to extinction. In recognition of Earth …

About 75% of the nation's flowering plants and more than 30% of the nation's food crops rely upon animal pollinators to reproduce, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Lamar Gore/John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge)<br /><br />

Urban PA Community Gardens Grow Food, Solace, Opportunity

Pennsylvania has a strong commitment to urban agriculture and community gardening, and some groups in the state are working to get more colorful …

Chronic wasting disease can be transmitted between deer, along with food and soil contaminated by bodily fluids. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Feeding Ban Proposed in Allegheny National Forest

WARREN, Pa. -- A temporary animal-feeding ban is being proposed for the Allegheny National Forest after a captive deer tested positive for chronic …

ATV environmental impacts include noise pollution, damage to vegetation, soil degradation, and disturbance to wildlife. (Adobe Stock)

PA Pilot Program Expands ATV Trail Connector Access

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- North Central Pennsylvania will soon have 70 miles of new roads open to all-terrain vehicles, connecting the existing Potter and …

A yellow-crowned night heron seen on a Harrisburg rooftop. State ornithologist Sean Murphy says a few years ago, a night heron nest was found in a sycamore tree on the Governor's Residence property. (Jen Hirt)

State-Endangered Night Herons Find Refuge in Urban Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Some rare birds that have called Harrisburg's tall sycamore trees home are taking flight this week. Yellow-crowned night herons …

The administration wants to review the Trump EPA's weakening of vehicle-emission standards. (Nady/Adobe Stock)

Biden's Clean-Air, Climate Actions Seen as Benefit for PA

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Environmental advocates say President Joe Biden's actions on clean air and climate will make a big difference for air quality in …

Hunters can help states with wildlife management plans by observing and reporting on the effects of climate change and other impacts on wildlife habitat. (Neil/Adobe Stock)

Conservation Groups Work to Recruit New Hunters

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Conservation groups say encouraging more people to go hunting and fishing is vital to keeping conservation efforts alive. Until …

Dam removal on Delaware tributaries helps migratory fish such as shad, sea lamprey, river herring and American eel. (ALAN/Adobe Stock)

Removing Dams Brings More Shad to the Delaware

NEW HOPE, Pa. -- A dam removal project is having a positive impact on the Delaware River's ecosystem, including a boost to the population of …

To benefit pollinators, the Giant Co.'s new solar farm has been seeded with flowering plants throughout the site. (Center for Pollinators in Energy)

Pollinator Solar Array Provides Dual Benefits

CARLISLE, Pa. -- A solar-array project unveiled in Carlisle on Monday will not only generate renewable power, but will also provide real benefits for …

An annual bird count has shown an estimated 76% decline in ruffed grouse populations in southeast Pennsylvania. (JohnCindy/Adobe Stock)

Report: Climate Change Putting Wildlife at Risk

HARRISBURG, Pa. — From torrential rains to raging wildfires, a new interactive map traces the devastating impact climate change is having on …

Forage fish attract larger predator fish, like striped bass, but they often wind up as the unintended bycatch in commercial fishing nets. (Reimar/Adobe Stock)

Bill Brings Hope for PA River Herring, Shad

HARRISBURG, Pa. — Forage fish have been declining in Pennsylvania rivers, but a bill now in Congress could help restore their numbers. Shad…

The largest amphibian in North America, an Eastern hellbender can reach 29 inches in length. (Mike Pinder/CBF)

PA Designates Official State Amphibian

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Tom Wolf will let the Eastern hellbender breathe a little easier, and help Pennsylvania's water …

New technologies and operational procedures can reduce the risk wind turbines may pose to wildlife. (Pexels/pixaby)

Wildlife Advocates Urge Caution in Siting Wind Farms

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Conservationists say the push to expand clean, renewable energy sources is a top priority, but it needs to be done in a way …

ORSANCO has managed pollution controls on the entire Ohio River system since 1948. (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers)

PA Could Affect Ohio River Commission Vote

PITTSBURGH – The Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission will vote this week on a proposal that critics say would weaken environmental pro…

Cover crops promote soil health and control erosion and nutrient runoff, but support for them in a new Farm Bill is uncertain. (TheDigitalArtist/Pixabay)

Farm Bill Could Help or Hinder Clean-Water Efforts

LANCASTER, Pa. - The federal Farm Bill expires on Sept. 30, but different versions of its replacement could have a big impact on Pennsylvania's clean-…

Money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund helped create the Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe County. (National Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr)

Groups Call for Making Conservation Fund Permanent

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Environmental groups are concerned that a long-standing conservation program that has benefited every state could expire next …

Pennsylvania's state bird, the ruffed grouse, is among 314 climate-threatened species. (Lindsay Stedman/USFWS)

Native Gardens Are for the Birds - Literally

PHILADELPHIA – If you're tired of mowing lawns in the summer, the National Audubon Society suggests you could plant bird-friendly gardens …

The final tax bill keeps a provision opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)

Final Tax Bill Called a Blow to Environment

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Environmental groups say the final tax bill agreed to last week by the House and Senate Reconciliation Committee will be a …

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is habitat for migratory birds, polar bears, moose and herds of caribou. (LoveToTakePictures/Pixabay)

Wildlife Advocates Condemn Drilling Plan

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Conservationists say opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil drilling would be forcing wildlife to pay for tax …

The Eastern Hellbender is the largest salamander in North America. (Mike Pinder/Chesapeake Bay Foundation)

Student Hellbender Bill Passes Senate

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A bill drafted by high school students that would designate the Eastern hellbender as Pennsylvania's state amphibian has been …

More than 7 million acres of grassland and forest has been converted to agricultural production for ethanol production. (Ratfink1973/Pixabay)

Study: Ethanol Mandate Adding to Carbon Pollution

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The federal mandate to add ethanol to fuel has led to a big increase in climate disrupting pollution, according to new …

Populations of monarch butterflies and other pollinators have declined sharply. (bbarlow/Pixabay)

Child’s App Boosts Gardens for Pollinators

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Conservation and gardening groups are getting help from a nine-year-old Pennsylvania boy in their efforts to stop the decline …

Drilling in the Atlantic would threaten critical habitat for whales, fish and coral, environmental advocates say. (Wwelles14/Wikimedia Commons)

Suit Challenges Trump Reversal of Drilling Ban

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Environmental groups and Alaska Native Americans say President Donald Trump has exceeded his authority by reversing the ban …

Selenium from pollution released by the Brunner Island coal plant might explain tumors and lesions found on smallmouth bass in local waterways, environmental activists say. (Maxpixel)

DEP Draft Permit Extends PA Coal-Plant Pollution

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Environmental groups want Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection to reconsider its draft water pollution …

The executive order requires eliminating at least two regulations for every new one enacted. (pixabay.com)

Lawsuit Calls Trump Order on Regulations Unconstitutional

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Public interest law, environmental and labor groups are suing to stop the Trump administration's executive order to cut government …

Conversion of stream buffers to crop production has increased agricultural runoff, creating problems for wildlife and water quality. (JackTheVicar/Wikipedia)

Growth of Biofuels Threatens PA Wildlife

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The federal Renewable Fuel Standard has led to the destruction of millions of acres of wildlife habitat and has endangered water …

Pennsylvania bat populations have been devastated by human activity and disease. Now, they face another threat from oil and gas development. (Don Pfritzer/Wikimedia Commons)

Proposal Would Allow Killing of Endangered Bats

BRISTOL, Pa. – The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on a proposal to allow oil and gas companies to kill bats…

Conservation can preserve natural resources, restore wildlife habitat and grow the economy. (Richard Steven Levine/en.wikipedia)

Finding Common Ground for Saving the Environment

HARRISBURG, Pa. – With big changes on the way in Washington, D.C., environmental groups are saying conservation should not be a partisan issue…

Wetlands need to be able to migrate inland as sea levels rise. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Rising Sea Levels Threaten Wildlife

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Rising sea levels from global climate change are threatening wildlife, recreation and economies along the America's eastern …

Almost 60 municipalities have prohibited wild animal acts or training animals with bullhooks. (Steve Jurvetson/Flickr)

Pittsburgh Considers Banning Wild-Animal Acts

PITTSBURGH -- Clowns and animal-rights advocates crowded Pittsburgh's City Council chambers this week, speaking their minds about a proposed ban on …

More than a dozen circuses continue to use elephants, but Ringling Brothers has now ended the practice. (Laura Bittner/Flickr)

Ringling Brothers Retires Its Elephants

WILKES BARRE, Pa. – Ringling Brothers Circus on Sunday closed the curtain on the use of elephants in its shows with a final performance in …

The Clean Water Rule would protect small streams and headwaters. Credit: Brubakerslegacy/Wikimedia Commons

Clean Water Rule Challenged in Court and Congress

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water Rule has been put on hold by federal courts, but environmental groups …

Fueled by a warming climate, the woolly adelgid is wiping out hemlock trees. Credit: U.S. Forest Service/Wikimedia Commons

EPA Holds Hearings on Clean Power Plan

PITTSBURGH - Community leaders, environmentalists and public-health advocates are in Pittsburgh for a second day of hearings on implementation of the …

Conservationists say nature is a winner under the first-ever federal rules limiting carbon emissions from power plants. Photo credit: Greg Stotelmyer.

Conservationists: Clean Power Plan Will Help Protect PA Natural Resources

PITTSBURGH – A plan for reducing carbon pollution in the U.S. has been finalized by the Obama administration. The EPA's Clean Power Plan…

PHOTO: Hunters and anglers in Pennsylvania are nearly unanimous in their support for a controversial EPA's clean water policy, according to a new poll. Pennsylvania stream photo courtesy of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Hunters and Anglers Favor EPA Clean Water Plan

CARLISLE, Pa. – A poll of national and Pennsylvania hunters and anglers has found overwhelming support, even among self-described …

A federal court has cleared the way for what conservationists say needs to happen to clean up Pennsylvania tributaries of Chesapeake Bay - including reducing polluted farm runoff. Photo courtesy Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Pennsylvania Farms Crucial to Chesapeake Bay Health

HARRISBURG, Pa. – A federal court victory has cleared the way for what conservationists say needs to happen on Pennsylvania farms to help meet …

PHOTO: A new rule clarifying which waterways receive protection of the Clean Water Act is drawing praise from Pennsylvania hunters, anglers and conservationists. Photo credit: Kelly Donaldson/Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

PA Hunters, Anglers Hail New Administration Water Rule

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Obama administration has released a new rule clarifying which waterways are covered by the Clean Water Act. Pennsylvania …

PHOTO: Conservation and environmental groups are harshly criticizing the first few months of a GOP-led Congress they say has done nothing to benefit clean air, clean water or wilderness protection. Photo credit: Beth Little.

GOP Congress Gets Environmental ‘F' Grade So Far

HARRISBURG, Pa. – The 114th U.S. Congress gets a failing grade from conservation and environmental groups for the lawmakers' first four months …

PHOTO: The acting head of the state's DCNR is receiving an award for helping Pennsylvanians connect to and protect the state's wild places. Photo credit: Beth Little.

DCNR Head Honored for Protecting PA's Wild Places

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Helping Pennsylvanians connect to and protect the state's wilderness has earned an award from a national conservation group for the …

GRAPHIC: Agricultural and conservation activities on Central Pennsylvania creeks, streams and rivers play a significant role in the overall health of Chesapeake Bay, according to the latest biennial report on the state of the bay. Image courtesy of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Update on Health of Chesapeake Bay: Fragile

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The condition of Chesapeake Bay is still very fragile, according to a new report just released by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation…

PHOTO: A coalition of 65 groups representing Pennsylvania hunters, anglers and outdoor recreationists have written the EPA in support of the agency's proposed Clean Power Plan. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Pennsylvania Sporting Groups Want Carbon Reduction for "Brookies"

PHILADELPHIA - A coalition of Pennsylvania outdoor businesses, outfitters, hunting and fishing groups, and outdoor-recreation advocates say the EPA …

PHOTO: As the Clean Water Act turns 42, conservation groups say it's time to strengthen and clarify the venerable federal law. An EPA revision of the act is one of the topics at a forum Oct. 21-22 about protecting the Delaware River watershed. Photo credit: Daniel Case/Wikimedia.

A Big Day for Anyone Who Drinks Water

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The last time you drank a glass of water or took a shower, you probably didn't think about the Clean Water Act, which is why …

PHOTO: The National Park Service says the impact of climate change is being felt around the park system. The department trying to deal with the effect on wildlife and visitors. Photo courtesy of the National Park Service.

Feds Plan for Climate Change Impact at National Parks in PA

HARRISBURG, Penn. - The National Park Service is making plans to prepare for and react to the effects of climate change at parks in Pennsylvania and …

Birds like the Blackpoll Warbler are among those who rely on the undisturbed qualities of the boreal forest to thrive and reproduce. Photo courtesy of the Boreal Songbird Initiative.

Pennsylvania's Winter Birds Need Protection in Warm Weather Habitat

Birds that called Pennsylvania home all winter long are back in their warm-weather retreat now. The North American boreal forest in Canada offers the …

PHOTO: Opponents of HB1576 warn it could be detrimental to species like the brook trout, by changing the way wild brook trout streams are designated in the Commonwealth. Photo credit: Daniel Mayer on Wikimedia Commons.

Striking a Balance to Protect Pennsylvania Wildlife

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Wildlife in Pennsylvania that needs special protection is the topic of discussion today for a state House panel debating a …

The Susquehanna River, tops on the American Rivers 2011 Most Endangered Rivers list, is not on the list at all this year. Photo courtesy of publicdomainpics.net.

Susquehanna River Not on ‘Most Endangered’ List

HARRISBURG, Pa. – How does a Pennsylvania river considered the most endangered in the nation in a 2011 report manage to drop off the list …

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PNS Daily Newscast - April 18, 2024

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PA: Endangered Species & Wildlife