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‘Young forest’ habitat important at Moraine State Park

People watch a presentation by Jeff Herrick, of the Young Forest Initiative, about maintaining thicket habitats throughout Pennsylvania last year at Moraine State Park. Submitted photo

The loss of “young forest” habitats throughout Pennsylvania has led to the decline in population of up to 60 species, including the state bird, the ruffed grouse.

Moraine State Park staff members are working with outside agencies to grow back young forest, because according to Jeff Herrick, a habitat management biologist, only about 10% of the park is young forest.

“If you can easily see through it or walk through it, it's already too old for the species that need it,” said Herrick, who works with the Wildlife Management Institute. “Without those components, you lose those species. Young forest is looking to reverse those trends.”

The Young Forest Project covers 17 states, going as far west as Minnesota and as far east as the New England states, according to Herrick, and it aims to grow the habitat throughout those regions. Herrick is hosting a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at McDanels Launch Area in Moraine centered on the American woodcock’s need for young forest habitat.

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