Falling prices are keeping timber from being cut on state game lands.

Mike Kammerdiener, acting chief of the commission’s forestry division, said the commission typically gives loggers two years to complete timber cuttings. Recently, though, the commission has had to extend many of those contracts because hardwood lumber values have plummeted.

“Fulfilling these contracts — that were bid when stumpage prices were very high — would bankrupt many of our timber operators, whom we consider our partners in wildlife habitat management,” Kammerdiener said.

Some sportsmen, of course, have in recent years called for the commission to ramp up timbering on the game lands to create wildlife habitat.

Kammerdiener said the commission is cutting more — or at least trying to — than it has in the past. In 2002-03, the commission bid cuts on 4,751 acres. That climbed to about 6,000 acres in 2004-05 to 2006-07, and was still at more than 5,600 acres last fiscal year, he said. Timber removals involved with oil, gas and mineral work and right-of-way activities have increased exponentially, too, he added.

But to cut timber that might create habitat in the short term but be non-sustainable over time would be a mistake, Kammerdiener said.

In the past, for example, both the commission and the state bureau of forestry cut tens of thousands of acres of oak forest and allowed them to be converted to stands of black cherry, birch, maple and the like, “mostly out of ignorance of oak silviculture.”

“Now, thanks to extensive … research, we know how to regenerate oak. The question is, is it worth the considerable extra expense, effort and time• Due to the incredible value of oak to the wildlife resource, including deer and grouse, we say yes,” Kammerdiener said.

Sustainable forestry is expensive, though, he said. It requires up-front investment money for herbicide treatment, prescribed burning, fencing, and more, as well as manpower.

The commission is running low on the latter.

The commission has four vacancies in the forestry division, with a fifth possible by June. Gov. Ed Rendell’s hiring freeze — in place for the rest of the fiscal year — will keep the commission from filling those slots, and from hiring its normal crew of 14 summer interns.

Executive director Carl Roe has asked the Governor’s office for waivers, but there’s been no word yet on whether those will be approved.

Eagle sighting

Pennsylvania’s population of bald eagles is on the rise, but nothing beats the thrill of actually getting to see one of the birds.

County Shaun Werner of McMurray as one of those to have glimpsed a bird. Werner was standing along Waterdam Road in McMurray in the early evening of Nov. 2 when he spotted a mature bald eagle.

The bird stuck around long enough for Werner to get a good look at it, and even snap a few photographs.

Friends group

Cook Forest and Clear Creek state parks are forming a joint Friends Group to look after them.

Friends Group members hope to help the parks in a number of ways, including fund raising, park projects, event hosting, and more. A first organizational meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Gateway Lodge in Cooksburg. All are welcome to attend.

For information, call Sean Benson at 814-744-8407 or 814-752-2368.

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