Rentschler Arboretum

Bugs in the Boonies: emerald ash borers. Efforts to control the spread of this invasive pest have included monitoring their presence, quarantining and cutting d...own affected trees, and the use of insecticides. Another and far more promising method is biological control through parasitoid species, including wasps and fungal pathogens. Woodpeckers, especially the pileated woodpecker, are known to feast on emerald ash borer larvae. (Source: Wikipedia) See more

Don't miss a special discussion from Linda Enders from the Rentschler Arboretum on June 22 for the next Arboretum Education! Rentschler Arboretum located in Ber...nville is the property of Blue Mountain Eagle Climbing Club. The land was farmland purchased by Dr. Harry Rentschler in 1925. The 34 acre tract was donated to the Climbing Club at the time of Dr. Rentschler's death to be used for the education of school children and the enjoyment of the public. It was opened to the public in 1959. It is protected from development by a conservation easement with Berks Nature. Register with Wendy at [email protected] https://www.readingpublicmuseum.org/arboretum-education

Seen in these pictures, our great horned owl gets a full body CT scan and ECG. The CT scan helps us get a 3D map of the bird's body and check for any anomalies ...that can't be seen with a regular check up. We check for several potential heart problems by utilizing an Electrocardiogram, as some animals can develop heart murmurs and other damage from diseases, old age, and other ailments. Both these tests provide an important preventive role for detecting diseases for our animals. See more

Bugs in the Boonies: emerald ash borers. Besides monitoring for and quarantining forested areas infected by this invasive species, there are other methods of br...inging them under control, such as using Insecticides, applied only by professionals. Unfortunately, they are not all that helpful, as their effectiveness only lasts for anywhere from a year to three years, depending on the product. Even so, they are viable only in urban areas and not feasible at all in large forests outside of urban areas. (Source: Wikipedia) See more

Cicidas have arrived! Be sure to look for these amazing insects when you hike on Monocacy Hill. We have been seeing them in sunny areas. Remember they are harmless. They may be big and noisy, but they will not hurt you or your plants. Please don’t kill or spray them.

The cool nights of the fall season bring an increase in camping, hunting, and home heating -- and burning wood for warmth. Did you know that tree-killing invasi...ve insects and diseases can lurk both inside and on the surface of firewood? While these insects and diseases don’t travel far on their own, transporting firewood allows them to move hundreds of miles and start infestations in new places! If you are going to burn firewood, be sure to follow these tips. #FirewoodMonth #iConservePA

Fowl in the Forest: woodpeckers. Few woodpecker species have been at risk of extinction, less than would be expected compared to other bird families. For the mo...st part, they are able to adapt to living in most environments, as long as there are remnants of forests or scattered trees. In fact, some species have even thrived where they have had to adapt to man-made habitats. (Source: Wikipedia) See more

We are already halfway through the autumn hawk count! Friday, Oct 15 was our official mid point of the season, and below are the current species tallies as of e...nd of day Friday. What are your second-half predictions? Have you seen any of these species in your own backyard? Keep up with this season's hawk watch at hawkmountain.org/count.

Some 'messiness' in our yard is important to sustain our birds in the winter. And luckily we see more homeowners becoming aware of the value of leaves, seed hea...ds and native berry- and nut plants. Let's try to convince our landscapers to offer us help to prepare our yard for the winter rather than than offering only, the often so damaging, 'Fall Clean Up' service. See more

This Devonian sandstone is popular for using both inside and outside of a home. Many small bluestone quarries can be found in Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, and surrounding counties. #EarthScienceWeek #PAGeology

Foggy morn at the Arboretum.

Steve Ziegler of DCNR Bureau of Forestry joins us to discuss wildfires in PA. Learn about the cause and prevention of fires.

Tree cleanup at the Rentschler Arboretum.