Sports

By Tom Venesky tvenesky@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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DENNISON TWP. – Joe Lukashunas waded into an inhospitable tangle of weeds and thorns and saw potential.

Never mind that the old farm fields in Nescopeck State Park had been overrun with invasive plant species for decades, Lukashunas is hopeful the area can be transformed into fields of native plants and grasses that will be a boon to wildlife.

And he’s not the only one.

Several conservation groups have partnered with state and federal agencies to combat invasive plant species that have taken over more than 70 acres of the former Hoda farm located in the park. The only reminder of the farm is a lone silo standing along the road, while the fields behind it have reverted into jungles of invasives such as multi-flora rose, autumn olive and Japanese barberry.

Within three years, the groups hope to convert the old farm to an oasis of native plants and grasses that provide food and cover to game species, songbirds and insects.

Participating groups include the Honey Hole Longbeards Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of Pheasants Forever, Ruffed Grouse Society, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania Game Commission, Natural Resource Conservation Service and the North Branch Land Trust.

“It’s always been our intention to create more habitat, and right now these fields are basically invasives,” said Lukashunas, who is the special events coordinator with the Honey Hole Longbeards. “There’s greater potential here.”

By removing invasive species that crowd out native flora, the site will offer a more diverse habitat. That habitat will host a healthy population of insects, which in turn will serve as a food source for songbirds, turkeys, grouse and pheasants.

“The number one loss among wildlife right now is with grassland birds,” said PGC commissioner Jay Delaney. “This work will help those species.”

The diversity of plant life will also afford greater cover for a wider variety of wildlife.

But to get to that point, the groups are looking for volunteers to come out for one of two work days to help remove invasives.

Game Commission biologist Kevin Wenner said once the invasives species are removed, clusters of native shrubs will be planted, and existing native species, such as hawthorn and milkweed, will be allowed to flourish.

The groups have already started using a machine from the Ruffed Grouse Society that is capable of shredding enormous clumps of multi-flora rose and autumn olive.

“The machine allows us to be very site specific and use less herbicide,” Wenner said.

Funding for the work is provided by a $35,000 federal grant from the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program. The North Branch Land Trust applied for the grant, which was approved by the NRCS. According to NRCS conservationist Rich Maculaitis, the money will cover the cost to remove invasive species, plant eight to 10 acres of shrubs and 70 acres of warm and cold season grasses.

In addition, several hedgerows will be removed to create a contiguous 15-acre grassland field.

“We’ve been trying to tackle this work for at least five years and manpower has always been the problem,” said Dustin Drew, assistant manager of Nescopeck State Park. “Bringing all these groups together will help.”

On the web

Visit www.timesleader.com for video of DCNR forester Andrew Duncan identifying invasive and native plant species in Nescopeck State Park.

Additional volunteers are needed for the habitat work at the former Hoda farm. Workdays will take place the next two Saturdays beginning at 8 a.m. Volunteers can meet at the old silo along Honey Hole Road. For information, call Joe Lukashunas at 956-0951.