Embarking on a journey into the heart of Pennsylvania's wilderness, I found myself strapped into the passenger seat of a Bureau of Forestry vehicle, eagerly anticipating the day's adventures.
As a photographer and communications intern for the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the opportunity to shadow Tuscarora State Forest Ranger Steve Shaffer promised a firsthand glimpse into the vital work of those dedicated to protecting our natural landscapes.
Bear Traps and Lost Hikers
After getting some not so glamorous work out of the way, one of the first assignments on our agenda was to drive out into a remote area to check a bear trap. Sadly, it had no bears, but Steve got to show me how the trap works.
The bear, attracted to the bait (a delicious pile of glazed donuts, believe it or not) -- wanders into the open trap to enjoy a sweat treat, but beneath the bait lies a pedal and when stepped on, it triggers the door to swing shut and lock in place.
On our way out, we bumped into a lost hiker and after helping him find his way, and we had a nice conversation about turtles and bear encounters before Steve gave him his card.
Checking on Rattlesnakes
Next, we opened the gate to a birding area on top of a hilly meadow before driving up a ridge to survey and photograph timber rattlesnakes.
If there are two things that Steve loves, they'd be reptiles and photography (check out the
Tuscarora Facebook page to see some photos). That makes two of us, so we were the perfect pairing!
After stopping on the ridge, Steve led me on a small trek through the mountain laurels to a small, open boulder field where the snakes like to sun and sure enough, we spotted our first rattler.
Then another one came out, and another, but before I could contain my excitement, I heard the unmistakable sound of a rattlesnake’s rattle right beneath my feet.
The very rock I was crouching on, had one underneath. They were everywhere! They came in many variations of colors from black to yellow, and the largest had a whopping fifteen buds on its rattle.
For lunch, we stopped at a nice Amish market in the quaint little town of Blain, where Ranger Shaffer was a bit of a local celebrity. He seemed to know everyone we passed -- it was difficult to get around anywhere without someone wanting to talk.
After filling our tummies by a peaceful, trout-filled creek, we continued our adventure to Bowers Mountain.
On our way up, we helped two black rat snakes cross the road. Steve handled the first one whose face was scarred from snake fungal disease and let me take care of the second. Both were very friendly and cooperative as we carried them off the road.
We then stopped at another one of Steve’s rattlesnake hotspots.
We only found one large, dark brown rattler there, sunning on the rock. I got down next to it to take some shots and that’s when he poked his head up and we went into a bit of a standoff, which resulted in my favorite shot of the day.
After locking eyes for a few minutes, he ducked back down into the rock crevice and I noticed a shed on the rock. I went to pick it up and found a copperhead in the same crack the rattlesnake disappeared into.
Exploring Tuscarora State Forest
Afterwards, we went up to Doubling Gap overlook and Three Square Hollow Vista to take some photography and found two Eastern fence lizards. Some grouse flew into the woods before I could nab a photo.
We also followed some bear tracks into a wetland and found a half-eaten water snake on its trail. Do bears eat snakes?
On my way home, I also made some pretty cool pitstop discoveries. The big radio tower at the Cliff Jones Field Station caught my attention -- so I got out, walked around, and found a secluded trail out back, down the ridgeline.
I followed it to see if there were any good lookouts and about a mile in, just when I was about to turn around -- I found an awesome shelter with a beautiful balcony over the view.
I also visited
Cave Hill Nature Center just because it was along the way.
Inspiring Experience with a State Forest Ranger
This journey into the heart of Pennsylvania's wilderness with Tuscarora State Forest Ranger Steve Shaffer was nothing short of exhilarating and enlightening.
Every moment offered a deeper understanding of the delicate balance of nature, as we traversed through picturesque landscapes and engaged with local communities.
It is evident that Ranger Shaffer is very passionate and dedicated to his work and enjoys what he does. On our drive back to the station, he described it as his whole persona. I want to thank him for inviting me out and can’t wait to tag along again someday.
Find more information about
internships on the Department’s website.
Connor Duncan is a student at Messiah University and a summer intern with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry.