feb / march 2013

Some of What’s Inside:Winter Scenic Photo GalleryMaple SugaringBald Eagle WatchingQuiet Valley Celebrates 50 Years

Pocono Living Magazine©

Pocono Living Magazine© is published bi-monthly and distributed in north-eastern Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey. The editorial and opinions of independent columnists contained in Pocono Living Magazine does not neces-sarily reflect those of the pubisher and/or staff. The magazine may not be held liable for misprints or misinformation however unintentional. We do not endorse, warrant, or defend any editorial content and will not be held liable for any mis-representations or inaccuracies. Readers are encouraged to consult with their attorney before engaging in any matter of importance to themselves. All editorial submissions will be considered and may be edited due to size limitations, spell-ing, grammar or any content deemed inappropriate by the editor. You will not receive a proof of the edited piece prior to release.All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means without the expressed written permission for Pocono Mts Publications, LLC.

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A Pocono WinterPhotography by Vinzon Lee. To see more of his work, visit his website at www.vinzonleephotography.zenfolio.com

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 3

Bald Eagle

Photograph by

Marlana Holsten.

February/March 2013

What’s Inside 4 A Triumphant Return by brian Hardiman

10 Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm 50th Anniversary

12 What Makes Bald (Eagles) Beautiful? by KatHerine UHler

14 February & March at the Monroe County Environmental Education Center

18 February & March at the Pocono Environmental Education Center

20 Maple Sugaring in the Poconos

22 Winter Paw Care for Your Pet

26 Find the Right Tool for Fighting Winter Weather

28 Sweet, Sweet, Sweet by boots mccoy

4 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2013

A Triumphant

ReturnBY BRIAN HARDIMAN


I was beginning to have my doubts as I stood there in the cold and snow. We had been waiting and watching in this one spot for over twenty minutes but still nothing. Furiously wiggling my toes and fingers did

little to thwart the numbness setting in. A quick scan of the now restless group showed others stomping their feet and huddling together in a losing effort to stay warm. At least I’m not the only one suffering, I thought to myself.

And then it happened…I don’t remember who was the first to see it and call out, but suddenly all eyes were on the spectacular sight that appeared almost magically before us. Frozen extremities were quickly forgotten and the conversation about last weekend’s party abruptly ended. An adult bald eagle, with wings pumping slowly, passed by the hushed group of onlookers at eye level, held its course down the river, and disappeared, like a vision, around the bend. It was simply awesome.

This eagle sighting occurred in the Poconos on a field trip in February, 1984, when I was a student in Dr. Larry Rymon’s Ornithology class at East Stroudsburg University, and it was the very first bald eagle that I (and most of the class) had ever seen in the wild. It is one that will be forever etched in my mind.

Standing on the banks of a remote section of the Delaware River that day was in itself exhilarating and memorable— snow was falling and the flakes accentuated the green of the towering hemlocks around us. There were no traffic noises to be heard, only the soothing sounds of the rushing water below us. Yes it was cold, but the thrill and anticipation of possibly seeing a bald eagle trumped any hardship. Besides, Dr. Rymon said this was the best place to see a bald eagle, and everyone knew that Doc (as he was affectionately called by his students) had the bird gods on his side. After we actually did see that eagle (just as Doc had predicted), his legendary status only grew.

Eagle sightings back in 1984 were an uncommon event. At that time there was only a very small wintering population in the Poconos and no nesting eagles at all. Today, because of the increase of the local wintering and nesting populations, you don’t need a legend like Doc Rymon to find bald eagles. You just need to know when and where to go.

The best time to see bald eagles in the Poconos is during the non-breeding winter months when the small resident population is supplemented by wintering birds that are forced south to our area by the frozen waters up north. The eagle numbers are highest at this time and visibility is best with the lack of foliage. Wintering eagles start moving into our area in December, with peak numbers usually seen in January and February. These numbers drop off in March as the eagles disperse and move back north.

Among the best places to see bald eagles is along the Delaware River. Even in the coldest winters, stretches of the Delaware will have open water that provides fishing and other foraging opportunities for these birds. Locations in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA) offer excellent chances to see bald eagles. This 70,000 acre National Park Service site has outstanding eagle habitat that meets the needs of wintering and nesting birds. The river provides food, and the stands of large deciduous and coniferous trees provide perches for foraging and roosting and sites for nesting.

Some of the best viewing areas in DWGNRA are the river access sites at Smithfield Beach, Bushkill, Dingmans Ferry, and Milford. Eagles can often be seen perched at river’s edge or soaring overhead on

their large, flat plank-like wings. A really lucky observer may even see an eagle snagging a fish from the river or picking a duck off the water’s surface or from midair. Eagles are opportunistic and will take other prey as well. I once saw an eagle carrying a gray squirrel in its talons, and another time while leading an eagle field trip, my group and I watched an eagle grab a muskrat from the river, fly off with it low across the water with the muskrat’s tail dragging, and land on a rock where it ate the animal. Bald eagles are also scavengers and my groups, on more than one occasion, have seen multiple eagles feeding on a winter-killed deer.

To many the bald eagle symbolizes courage, freedom, and wilderness. It was selected by Congress in 1782 as the national symbol of the United States, despite the objections of Ben Franklin who felt the bald eagle possessed poor moral character (reflected in its behavior of pirating food from other species) and was a poor choice next to Franklin’s own wild turkey. In my humble opinion, I believe the appropriate choice was made.

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Eagles are birds of strength, beauty, and size, and different species have been chosen as the national symbols of countries around the world. The bald eagle is the only eagle species found exclusively

on the North American continent, and it would be difficult to imagine any other bird, wild turkey or otherwise, as our national symbol.

Majestic and regal, an adult bald eagle is unmistakable with its striking white head and tail contrasting against the dark brown body. This adult plumage is attained at about five years of age. Immature birds, on the other hand, are basically brown throughout with varying degrees of white mottling depending on age. Bald eagles are impressive birds in terms of size—they can stand thirty inches from head to tail with wingspans reaching seven feet. The weight of these birds can range from about eight to fourteen pounds, with females larger than males (the sexes, otherwise, are similar in appearance).

Once on the brink of extinction throughout most of its range, the bald eagle has made a remarkable comeback. Habitat loss, human persecution, and especially DDT contamination all played a role in eagle populations plummeting. At the time of European settlement, there was an estimated 100,000 bald eagles in North America. By 1963, less than 500 nesting pairs were known to occur in the contiguous United States. The bald eagle would soon be designated as an endangered species at the federal and state levels.

A number of factors were responsible for the recovery of our national symbol. The banning of DDT was crucial in this turnaround, as well as protection of the species and its habitat provided under state and federal Endangered Species Acts.


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Increased education efforts to reduce human persecution and the improvement of water quality were also boons to the eagle population. Another major contributor to the bald eagle recovery were reintroduction programs implemented by various states including Pennsylvania. These efforts gave the population a jumpstart in areas where historically eagles once nested.

Combined, these recovery efforts have produced dramatic results. As recently as 1980, there were only three known eagle nests in the state of Pennsylvania. Today the state’s nesting population is around 200 pairs, with a number of these birds nesting right here in the Poconos. Other states have experienced similar increases. As a result, in 2007 the bald eagle was removed from the federal list of endangered and threatened species. However, it is still afforded federal protection by the Bald Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as well as being protected by endangered species laws at the state level.

Once only a rare winter sight in the Poconos, now it is not surprising to see a bald eagle any day of the year in our area. Their presence is a testament to the outstanding quality of our natural environment here in the Poconos. Looking back on that day along the Delaware when I saw my first bald eagle with Doc and my classmates, I never imagined that 28 years later the bald eagle would make the triumphant return that it has. In that time I have seen literally hundreds of bald eagles, and every one is special, but I’ll never forget that first one.

Friday Eagle Watches with Monroe County Conservation District

On February 1, 8, and 15, 2013 (Fridays), one of our Environmental Educators will lead these popular field trips to the Upper Delaware River in search of the spectacular bald eagle. This scenic region offers a beautiful backdrop and excellent opportunities for observing eagles. Join us for this fun and educational outing and learn about the recovery of the bald eagle and other aspects of its life history.

Participants will meet at the E.E. Center at 8:30 a.m. and return approximately 5:30 p.m. Cost: $20/non-member, $14/EE member, and includes van transportation. Pre-registration and payment are required and limited. Refunds will be given only if notification is made at least one week prior to the trip. Participants should pack a lunch and binoculars, and dress appropriately for the weather. Stops will be made for coffee and snacks.

For more information or to pre-register for the program, please call the Center at (570) 629-3061, Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and most Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information on other programs we offer visit our website at mcconservation.org.

Directions to Monroe County Environmental Education Center: From Stroudsburg (or Exit 302 from I-80 West or 302B from I-80 East) go N. on Rte. 611, travel half mile to the second traffic light in Bartonsville, and turn left onto Rimrock Dr. Follow Rimrock Dr. for 0.4 mile, bear right onto N. Easton-Belmont Pike, go 0.2 mile, bear right onto Running Valley Road. The Center is 0.7 mile on left.


700 Main Street, Stroudsburg PA, 18360 • Phone: 570.517.0724www.sarahscornercafepa.com

Vinzon Lee, photographer

There is a subtle grace and gesture to be found in nature, if one will only pause long enough to see it. It is within that pause that Vinzon Lee focuses his camera, takes aim, and lends us his eye into the heart and harmony of nature.

Vinzon Roxas Lee’s fascination with photography began with the gift of a Brownie camera at the age of 14. Born in 1945, and raised in Manila, Philippines, he immigrated to the United States, settling in New York in 1972. After graduating from the New York Institute of Photography, Lee embarked on a varied and successful career in commercial photography until 1997. In his free time he pursued his love of outdoor photography and working in his own darkroom, exploring the development process from start to finish.

Inspired by the ever-changing diversity and beautiful countryside of the Poconos, Lee moved his family there from New York in 1979. Since then, he has traveled extensively throughout the USA—shooting on site, and developing the prints in his studio. Pursuit of his vision has led him to Yosemite, Death Valley, Nantucket, Grand Canyon, Acadia Mountain, France, London and Mexico. However, finding the harmony he seeks is, just as often, close to home.

Lee’s black and white photographs remove extraneous color, exposing the clarity of underlying relationships. Complementary contrast of relationships, texture, space, rhythm and shapes play against each other—creating a delicate tension within these often serene landscapes. As such, they subtly request the viewer to pause; to see and experience a small moment of beauty.


Quiet Valley announces the celebration in 2013 of the 50th Anniversary of the farm as a historic museum site.

Many special activities are being planned in honor of this significant occasion with the biggest festivities taking place on the opening anniversary weekend of July 13 &14.

The history of Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm begins in the year 1765 when the Depper family left their home in the Palatinate region of Germany to start a new life in America. They sailed from Amsterdam to Philadelphia in that year and eventually made their way north looking for land that they could farm. They settled in Quiet Valley near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. In 1780 their daughter Catherine married John Meyer, a traveling tailor who had originally come to America as a Hessian soldier during the Revolutionary War. The Quiet Valley property remained in the Depper-Meyer-Marsh family until 1913 when the farm was sold outside the family.

In 1958 Alice and Wendell Wicks purchased the property from the widow of Thomas Hess. Attracted by the beautiful natural setting, they intended to develop it. When they began to look around the farmhouse and barn, however, they realized the historic and cultural value of what they had purchased, and were inspired to preserve it and make it available to the public.

The original portion of the farmhouse, referred to as the ‘cellar kitchen’, dates from the late 1760’s. The farmhouse as it stands today was completed in the 1890’s with the addition of a parlor and ‘new’ kitchen. From the 1890’s modifications until the Wicks purchased the farm in 1958, there had been no further modernization to the property – no plumbing and no electricity. Much of the house remained as it had been in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, along with many of the artifacts and furnishings. Alice and Wendell Wicks along with their daughter and son-in-law, Sue and Gary Oiler, restored the farmhouse and

Quiet Valley Living

Historical Farm

50th Year Anniversary


on July 13, 1963, opened to the public as Quiet Valley Farm Museum. That first year the farm was open during the summer season only. Over the years additional farm buildings were renovated

and reconstructed. Later as the farm was used more and more for educational purposes, a modern education building and a picnic pavilion were built. In 1994 construction was completed on a circa 1893 one-room schoolhouse. An additional classroom was added to the education center in 2006.

The farm is open to the public throughout the summer as well as additional Saturdays in the spring and fall. Tours for school children began in the spring of 1966, and today you will find the farm busy with over 200 elementary students on any given day in the spring or fall. The tour of the farm is much more than an opportunity to see a museum, with ‘family members’ in period clothing reenacting life on the farm during the early to late 1800s time period. The actors strive to make their first-person interpretations as authentic as possible and they are always just as entertaining as they are educational. The barn, the Granddaddy cabin and original farmhouse are all seen during tours. Quiet Valley is a working farm as well as a historic site, complete with the appropriate farm animals and demonstrations of period farm equipment. Children love to try out the hay jump. A variety of 19th century crafts and skills are demonstrated daily with special demonstrations scheduled weekly.

Since 1974 Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm has been owned and operated as a non-profit, educational corporation governed by a board of directors. Gary and Sue Oiler retired as managers in 2005. Until her retirement in 2001 at the age of 85, Alice Wicks remained actively involved in the management of the museum. Many still remembered her as ‘Gram’ in the 1820 bedroom part of the tour. The farm currently operates with a small paid staff and many skilled volunteers.

These days the farm is busy year round. There are three major fundraising events each year that are open to the public, Farm Animal Frolic the last two weekends in May, Harvest Festival on Columbus Day weekend in October and Old Time Christmas the first two weekends in December. In addition to the summer tour season and spring/fall school tours Quiet Valley offers a variety of educational programs. There is an active program for about 50 homeschool students and parents in the spring. During the winter months there are smaller groups of school children participating in a variety of programs. In summer there are day camp sessions for grades K through 5th and apprentice programs for ages 10 through 15. A preschool program runs in the spring and fall. A variety of workshops for adults and children are offered throughout the year. There are also several activities that are available to members only - Ice Harvest in the winter, Maple Syrup making in the early spring and Membership Picnics in the summer. There are many volunteer opportunities available.

For more information call 570-992-6161 or see the website at www.quietvalley.org.

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If you haven’t stood outside, with a bitter wind threatening to solidly freeze your ears and nose, scanning river and trees on the banks,

searching and watching, you haven’t felt it.

If you haven’t watched the massive raptor weighing up to 14 pounds with a 7 foot wingspan soar overhead, you haven’t felt it. Why do people spend money, time and energy traveling along the Delaware and Lackawaxen in the dead of winter to glimpse a bird? The first time you see a live Bald eagle you’ll know.

When I was in high school, we had no viable Bald Eagle population in Pennsylvania or New York. The pesticide DDT concentrated in the bodies of raptors, particularly fish-eating ones, and caused their eggshells to be so thin that they collapsed under the weight of the incubating parent bird. The few eagles that called our region home could not produce young. DDT had been banned, and its levels were diminishing in the environment, but these large top-level predators needed our help.

While I was a student at East Stroudsburg University, wildlife biologists in New York State began the ambitious and relatively new practice of “hacking” Bald eagles in an effort to restore the population. Hacking, or “hand rearing to independence”, is the practice of taking nestling birds from a healthy population, and raising them to release under conditions as close to wild as possible. Almost 200 eaglets over 13 years were raised and released in New York State by biologists and researchers. They came from Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Alaska, as well as birds at a captive-breeding facility in Maryland. Professor Larry Rymon and his students were doing the same with ospreys here. The question was not so much whether the birds could survive; that was known from rehabilitation efforts with orphaned birds for decades. What was not known was whether birds of prey “imprint” on their historic site or on the site where they were raised, to return and breed. Eaglets were also provided fostering by the state’s only breeding pair of eagles whose own eggs had failed.

What makes Bald (Eagles)

Beautiful?

BY KATHERINE UHLER, POCONO WILDLIFE REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION CENTER

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In 1980, the first birds released in 1976 nested near Watertown, New York. By 1989 there were 10 breeding pairs of Bald eagles in New York, and the hacking project ended successfully. During this time, New York’s Bald eagles would migrate south into Pennsylvania during the winter and could be spotted on the Delaware River north of Shawnee to Milford and on the Lackawaxen River. As a college student I was fascinated by the research and had the opportunity to help by hauling road-killed deer onto the ice-covered river (in those days the river was icier) to entice the scavenging eagles into the open where they could be studied. Picture the twenty year old woman hauling deer in the trunk of her 1968 Beetle….

I will never forget the first time I spotted a live Bald eagle. The bird was enormous, her wingspan longer than the deer I had placed on the ice on the Delaware about 100 feet from a boat launch. I was so cold I couldn’t feel my toes. My eyes were tearing from standing where there was no protection from the wind, but I couldn’t move. She was an immature bird, two or three years old, brown with white splotches. Just as I was ready to tear myself away to return to the “warmth” of my Beetle, an adult bird landed on the ice less than 10 feet from the younger bird. His head and tail were so white they nearly disappeared against the ice. I thought I was going to witness a fight, but instead, after some posturing by the older bird accompanied not by the screams we hear on television (which are sound-tracks of hawks) but “chirps”, the younger, but larger bird decided that discretion was the better part of valor, and shared his meal with the adult.

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Since those days, not only are we blessed with winter Bald eagles migrating south into PA from NY and Canada, we

have approximately100 breeding pairs of our own in the Commonwealth thanks to the efforts of our own biologists and strict protection. No doubt you have seen pictures and video of these impressive birds, but there is absolutely no substitute for seeing our national symbol in the flesh. My husband and I have had the opportunity to work with only a few of these magnificent raptors, and they possess, in addition to immense power, an inner strength and soul that is indescribable.

Looking into the eyes of a Bald eagle one can sense the supremacy held by this monarch of the sky. I urge everyone to take a drive up the Delaware before the ice recedes and the eagles return to their more secluded nesting areas. Information on best sighting areas can be obtained by contacting Monroe County Conservation District, Pocono Environmental Education Center, or The Eagle Institute in Lackawaxen (570-685-5960), http://www.eagleinstitute.org/. I recommend a visit to The Eagle Institute’s website because it includes maps, viewing areas, rules of eagle watching etiquette, and basic information about Bald eagles that will make your day more interesting and your experience richer and more successful. Now is the time for your trip. Bald IS beautiful!

www.poconowildlife.org

http://www.eagleinstitute.org/

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The Monroe County Conservation District’s Environmental Education Center, at Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary on Running Valley Road near Bartonsville, offers many educational programs year-round. Visit their website at www.mcconservation.org or call 570-629-3061 for more information.

Winter Bog Walk

Sunday, February 10. The Bog in winter is much different compared to any other time of year. Join an Environmental Educator at 1 p.m. at the Bog parking lot and take a 2 ½ hour journey into the winter Bog environment. Participants should dress for the outdoors and possible snow covered trails. Pre-registration is required for this program by Friday, February 8, 2013.

“Tapping Trees’

Saturday, February 16. Join Environmental Educator Jenifer Rituper to learn everything you need to know about tapping maple trees in your own yard and turning the collected sap into delicious syrup from 10 to 11 a.m.!

Owling at Kettle Creek

Saturday, February 23. Everyone knows that owls are nocturnal, flying about and doing what owls do under the cover of darkness. But where are they during the day? Learn where and how to look for these secretive birds on their daytime roosts during this hike at Kettle Creek from 10 a.m. to 12 noon with Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman. If we’re lucky, we may even find an owl or two!

Retain the Rain

Saturday, March 2, 10 – 11 a.m. Learn how to conserve water and minimize water pollution with MCCD Watershed Specialist, Trish Attardo. This free workshop will conclude with an unveiling of 20 rain barrels, which have been beautifully painted by local artists. One lucky participant will receive a free rain barrel! Refreshments provided.

Middle Creek Birding Field Trip

Thursday, March 7. Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is a major stop-over for tremendous numbers of snow geese. Their huge flocks in flight at times create a “blizzard” of birds. Join Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman on this trip to observe this stunning spectacle of nature. The area’s wetlands, fields, and woodlots also provide opportunities to see a host of other waterfowl, raptors, and bird species. Pre-registration and payment are required and limited.

Fly Fishing

Saturday, March 9. Join Resource Conservationist Carl J. Meyer and several members of the Brodhead Chapter of Trout Unlimited for a program on fly fishing. Equipment, casting, strategy, fly tying, basic entomology, and local fishing areas will be discussed. A film, slide program and several raffles are included with admission. The 3-hour program will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.Pre-registration is required.

Mystery Birding Field Trip

Friday, March 15. Join Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman on this popular and fun adventure where the birding destinations and target birds will not be revealed until the day of the trip. One of the mystery birds “revealed” on last year’s trip was a spectacular snowy owl! Participants will meet at MCEEC at 8:30 a.m. and return 5:30 p.m. Pre-registration and payment are required and limited.

Woodcock Watch

Wednesday, March 20. Timberdoodle and Bogsucker are just two of the strange nicknames for the equally strange American Woodcock. Join Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman for this 1 ½ hour program where you will learn about the life history and amazing courtship display of this fascinating and entertaining bird. Participants will meet at MCEEC at 6:30 p.m. for a brief classroom presentation before traveling to the Tannersville Bog area to observe the woodcock’s love-sick antics. Pre-registration is required.

February & March at the Monroe County Environmental Education Center


A Pocono WinterPhotography by James Chesnick. To see more of his work, visit his website at www.carzwellco.com


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Classic Movie Revival Series

570-421-6684 (BOXOFFICE)• 88 So. Courtland St., East Stroudsburg, PA •

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High Noon (1952 Gary Cooper)

Sun Feb 10th 7PM•

Its a Mad Mad Mad Mad World

(1963 Mickey Rooney) Sun Feb 17th at 6PM

• The Poseidon Adventure

(1972 Gene Hackman) Sun Mar 10th at 7PM

• KIng of Kings

Sun Mar 24 at 7PM

The Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is located at 538 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry, PA. You can call them at 570-828-2319, or visit their website at www.peec.org for more information on their programming.

Animal Tracking

Saturday, February 9, 2013, 10:00am - 12:00pm. Animals leave behind clues that give us glimpses into their lives. Explore our natural areas for signs of wildlife.

Winter Waterfalls

Saturday & Sunday, February 9 & 10, 1:00pm - 3:00pm. This is a great time of year to enjoy the waterfalls. See them as they cascade down through chunks of frozen ice and snow. Dress warmly, wear sturdy boots, and bring a camera! Call within a week of the program to reserve a seat in the van.

Family Ice Fishing

Sunday, February 10 – 9:30am-12:00pm. Learn the basics of ice fishing and try your luck on our ponds. We provide all of the equipment. Dress in warm layers. No fishing licenses required.

Introduction to Orienteering

Sunday, February 24 – 10:00am-12:00pm. Learn to use a map and compass on our orienteering course. We provide the equipment and teach you the basics.

The “Easy Does It” Hikers

Sunday, March 3 – 10:00am-12:00pm. Enjoy a nice leisurely walk through the woods. Join us for easy hikes, slow paces and interpretive natural history.

ECO book club

“The End of Country,” by Seamus McGraw. Sunday, March 3 – 1:00-2:30pm Free. Read a new book! Meet up to discuss the book and share thoughts. Bring some snacks and enjoy a delightful afternoon.

Sugar Shack Scramble

Saturday, March 9 – 9:00am-12:30pm. Take an orienteering expedition to the “Two Saps” Sugar Shack. Use a map and compass to reach the sugar shack and then enjoy hot cocoa and pancakes with fresh maple syrup! Sign up for a 9am or 9:30am start time. Spaces limited!

Black & White Photography Tour

Sunday, March 10 – 9:00am-3:00pm. Grab your camera and join us for a tour of the historic buildings in the Park. This is the perfect time of year to shoot black and white photos. Pack a lunch and dress warmly. Call to reserve a seat in the van. Carpooling encouraged.

Amphibian Search

Sunday, March 10 – 1:00-3:00pm. Warming temperatures bring out the frogs & salamanders. Join us on our search! Wear boots & clothes that can get muddy. Please call to register.

Fossil Trail Hike

Saturday, March 16 – 1:30-3:00pm. Take a hike in the woods. This 1 ¼ mile trail passes a vernal pool that is important for breeding amphibians and then descends into a mature hardwood ravine. Look at fossils along the way. Moderate-strenuous with a final, steep climb. Please call to register.

Woodcock Walk

Saturday, March 16 – 6:00-7:30pm. Join us for a walk to see the mysterious woodcock. These birds take to the fields this time of year for a spectacular mating display. Bring your patience and sense of wonder. Ages 10+ please. Please call to register.

Equinox Extravaganza

Saturday, March 23 – 1:00-4:00pm. Celebrate the end of winter and welcome the new growing season with our annual springtime celebration! Enjoy this family-oriented event full of fun and educational stations on a guided trail. Call for details & to register.

February & March at the Pocono

Environmental Education

Center

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No Matter What

I will be thereIn good and bad

In sickness and heartachesTurning your sad into glad

You can count on meWhen all turn away

No matter what the reasonI am here to stay

Though days are darkAnd no light is found

Just call my nameAnd I’ll be around

Helping you understandAll can be achieved

Taking one step at a timeWhen you believe

Patricia A. Grego (Patty the Poet)

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Maple Sugaring in the Poconos

BY THE STAFF OF THE MONROE COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER

The Monroe County Conservation District’s Environmental Education Center provides year-round environmental education programs for people of all ages. Our Center is dedicated to fostering community awareness through first-hand

experience of the natural environment of the Poconos.

Monroe County Conservation District8050 Running Valley Road • Stroudsburg, PA 18360

570.629.3061 • www.mcconservation.org

As winter arrives, the Meesing Sugarbush sits quiet and empty. It won’t be long, however, until the EE staff heads to the Sugarbush to begin the Maple Sugaring Season.

2012 was a wonderful year weather-wise to make syrup and at our Sugarbush it was a record breaker. We produced 30 gallons of sweet maple syrup and had great turnouts for all of our programs.

We hope you can make plans to join us this season and enjoy the sweet taste of pure maple syrup. Our 36th Public Maple Sugaring Day will be held Saturday, March 2, 2013, from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The day will feature a tour of the Sugarbush

including stops to learn about Native American and early pioneer methods of making maple syrup, our evaporator process and methods of identifying and tapping a maple tree. After the tour, everyone will get a chance to taste some of our syrup on freshly made pancakes. Cost: $5/adult and $3/children under 12; all members of the EE Center and all tree sponsors attend free of charge.

We’ll be sponsoring a special day for scout groups on Saturday, March 9, 2013. Programs can be scheduled between 9 a.m. -2 p.m. and are open to any level of scouts and their families. Cost: $5/adult, $3/scouts and children under 12 and

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includes our syrup on freshly made pancakes. Pre-registration is required by Wednesday, March 6, 2013.

Dates set for programs in the Sugarbush are Thursday, February 21 through Friday, March 15. All groups interested in scheduling a tour should call the Center to set aside a time block. Each program takes 1 ½ to 2 hours and includes learning about maple sugaring from the earliest methods used by Native Americans to present day collection/evaporation techniques. The group will also tap a maple tree and take home a sample of sweet maple syrup. Cost: $3/participant, spaces fill up fast, so please register early. The Sugarbush is located 5.5 miles north of Marshalls Creek on Creek Rd. For more information call (570) 629-3061, Mon. through Fri. from 8am to 4:30pm.

Sponsor a Maple Tree Program

In 2012 ninety three different groups, families or individuals sponsored trees in our Sugarbush. These sponsorships raised over $2,000 which was used to help pay the expenses for our group tours of the Sugarbush. We are hoping that in 2013 even more people will help us by sponsoring a tree. We tap around 200 trees each year, so there are plenty available.

For $25/tree each sponsor receives 1 pint of our fresh maple syrup, a handsome certificate, free admission to our Public Day Program on Saturday, March 2, 2013, for up to four people and a map showing the location of your tree in our Sugarbush. Don’t miss this opportunity to become involved with one of our most popular programs. Call the office at 629-3061 by Friday, February 22, 2013 to become a sponsor. A tree sponsorship also makes a great gift!

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Exposure to winter’s dry, cold air and chilly rain, sleet and snow can cause chapped paws and itchy, flaking skin, but these aren’t the only discomforts pets can suffer. Winter walks can become

downright dangerous if chemicals from ice-melting agents are licked off of bare paws.

Says Dr. Louise Murray, ASPCA Director of Medicine, “During the winter, products used as de-icers on sidewalks and other areas can lead to trouble for our animal companions, potentially causing problems ranging from sore feet to internal toxicity. Pet parents should take precautions to minimize their furry friends’ exposure to such agents.”

To help prevent cold weather dangers from affecting your pet’s paws and skin, please heed the following advice from our experts:

n Repeatedly coming out of the cold into the dry heat can cause itchy, flaking skin. Keep your home humidified and towel dry your pet as soon as he comes inside, paying special attention to his feet and in between the toes.

n Trim long-haired dogs to minimize the clinging of ice balls, salt crystals and de-icing chemicals that can dry on the skin. (Don’t neglect the hair between the toes!)

n Bring a towel on long walks to clean off stinging, irritated paws. After each walk, wash and dry your pet’s feet to remove ice, salt and chemicals—and check for cracks in paw pads or redness between the toes.

n Bathe your pets as little as possible during cold spells. Washing too often can remove essential oils and increase the chance of developing dry, flaky skin. If your pooch must be



Canfield’s Pet & Farm315 Main St. Stroudsburg, PA

570-421-1821

bathed, ask your vet to recommend a moisturizing shampoo and/or rinse.

n Dressing your pet in a sweater or coat will help to retain body heat and prevent skin from getting dry.

n Booties help minimize contact with painful salt crystals, poisonous anti-freeze and chemical ice-melting agents. They can also help prevent sand and salt from getting lodged in between bare toes, causing irritation. Use pet-friendly ice melts whenever possible.

n Massaging petroleum jelly into paw pads before going outside helps to protect from salt and chemical agents. And moisturizing after a good toweling off helps to heal chapped paws.

n Brushing your pet regularly not only gets rid of dead hair, but also stimulates blood circulation, improving the skin’s overall condition.

n Pets burn extra energy by trying to stay warm in wintertime, sometimes causing dehydration. Feeding your pet a little bit more during the cold weather and making sure she has plenty of water to drink will help to keep her well-hydrated, and her skin less dry.

Remember, if the weather’s too cold for you, it’s probably too cold for your pet. Animal companions should remain indoors as much as possible during the winter months and never be left alone in vehicles when the mercury drops. More information about pet care in winter can be found at www.aspca.org. If you spot wounds or redness on your pet’s feet, please contact your veterinarian immediately.

Winter Paw Care for your Pet


Find the Right Tools for Fighting

Winter Weather

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Homeowners are accustomed to using salt to clear ice from sidewalks and driveways in the winter. But you might be surprised to learn that there are different types of salt, and that each type has

different melting properties.

Rock salt is the old standby. It is the most economical choice and easily melts ice in temperatures down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Calcium chloride is another common ice-melting salt. It works well in colder temperatures, but it requires special handling to prevent harm to skin and delicate interior surfaces when it is tracked inside on shoes.

Magnesium chloride may be the best salt to use in very cold temperatures. It is effective in temperatures down to minus 15 degrees, yet it is gentle to skin, vegetation and concrete. It also produces minimal residue, so it is less likely to be tracked indoors, and if it is, it is easily cleaned up with water.

“All ice melters work in basically the same way, by using something known as ‘freezing point depression,’ basically meaning that the point at which water freezes


has been lowered,” says Jerry Poe, technical director for North American Salt Company, which markets a number of magnesium chloride products in its line of Safe Step residential ice melters. Poe says magnesium chloride works better in colder temperatures than traditional rock salt, making it the right choice in extreme weather. In fact, many highway departments rely on magnesium chloride to keep roads and highways safe and traffic moving.

Because magnesium chloride is a liquid in its natural form, it dissolves quickly to make a brine. The brine spreads through the melting ice, breaking the ice’s bond with the driveway or sidewalk. It also works for longer periods of time compared to many other ice melters.

Pet owners may find magnesium chloride especially helpful when clearing ice and snow because it doesn’t burn paws that have become cracked in cold temperatures. Magnesium chloride flakes also dissolve so quickly that they don’t solidify, so the ice melter is less likely to clump in fur between your pet’s pads.

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“SWEET, SWEET, SWEET”

by: Boots Mc Coy

Hi Folks…..how’s it been goin’?

This is the time of year that things git pretty sweet here at the lake….sweet tastin’ that is.

You see, it’s time to head on out to the “SugarWorks” and start makin’ some of the sweetest stuff on earth…. “Pocono Gold Pure Maple Syrup”.

The sap in the maples usually starts a runnin’ in late February in these parts; triggered by the warmin’ days yet still cold nights. I think them trees can “feel” spring a comin’ and knows it’s time to get the sap a movin’.

‘Bout a mile east of the lake as the old crow flies lays my “SugarWorks”. That’s the name us old codgers give to a stand of sugar maples and all of the paraphernalia that goes along with makin’ up maple syrup.

The land out there does not belong to me, but is a part of Stoney Run Huntin’ Camp and borders my lands. Those fellas who own the camp gladly give me the permission to tap the stand of maples there in exchange for a few quarts of that fine liquor delivered to their camp at the start of huntin’ season every year. We’ve been doin’ it for years, and the tradin’ works out just fine.

As I said, it is about a mile straight thru the forest due east of the lake. It takes a good hour or two to get there on foot ‘cause the goin’ is pretty tough over the rocky, snow covered ground this time of year.

And, at the start of the season, it’s necessary to take some gear with to get the job done. But, this year I’m lucky because we do have a snow cover and Ginger can haul in the heavy stuff with her dog sled.

So, at the crack of dawn on a cold winter’s morn, we load up her sled with taps and buckets and hammers and saws and head on out to the works. She relishes in the task and enjoys the days spent a field in the woods. She is always the first to get a sample of the “Jack Wax” that is made by pourin’ some of the hot rendered syrup on the snow to cool and harden into sweet candy.

We spend about 2 or 3 weeks makin’ the sap into syrup so we have to hike out and back each day. Gettin’ back to the cabin after a hard day’s work each nite we find it warm and comfortin’ for a peaceful nite to follow.

We tap ‘bout 50 to 60 trees each year, gather up the sap twice a day when it’s a flowin’ good, and keep the fires boilin’ down the sap all day long. Our “cooker” or evaporator as some call it is nothin’ more that a couple of old iron kettles that we just leave hangin’ over the fire pits all year long. Nobody seems to ever bother them, but then again it is so far back in the woods that it is hidden like a bootlegger’s still. We know a little ‘bout that too!

Keepin’ the fires a goin’ all day is the biggest job. Sometimes we have to search far for deadwood to use. But as fast as I can saw the wood for the fires Ginger drags the loads to the kettles with her sled. After a long time of boilin’ down the sap, we git pure maple syrup, the sweetest stuff that Mother Nature can give us.

We make more than we could ever use ourselves, and it makes for some darn good tradin’ fare when we head to town to stock up on supplies each year. After it has boiled down to a light rich amber color, we put it up in empty whisky bottles that we have saved up all year long. Gettin’ those


Illustrations by Bruce Hutchison

Boots McCoy is a Pocono native and lives in a log cabin deep in the woods of Canadensis with his dog, “Ginger.” He spends most of his time hunting and fishing, but sometimes when he gets into the homemade whisky from his still, he takes naps that last for three days and nights.

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whisky bottles empty is part of the fun of makin’ syrup also. (hic, hic)

The bottles are then taken to Gary’s Market in town, and once there he simply takes the bottles and puts a label on the back side. The front of the bottle may say “Jack Daniels” or “Jim Beam”, but the back of the bottle says “Boots’ Pocono Gold Maple Syrup”. Gary says the tourists and flatlanders just love it and buy it all up fast.

Gary gets a darn good buck for the stuff and faithfully credits my tab for any goods that I might need from his store. Once again, we’ve been doin’ this tradin’ for years now and it works out just fine.

After the season is over, I keep a few gallons for me and Ginger to use all year round. I like to dump it on sourdough flapjacks for breakfast and Ginger likes it drizzled over her buttermilk biscuits.

Dam, living here in the mountains sure is good! You all take care and we’ll see ya soon.

And remember, if you’re lucky enough to live in the mountains, you’re lucky enough.

Boots


See ya then!

Look for More to Come in Our Next Issue… April/May 2013

Some of What’s Inside:Pocono’s Finest Trout StreamsCampground GuidePlaying in the DirtHistory of the Stroudsburg Library

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