Newsletter of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR)
October 14, 2026
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How Working Forests Support Pennsylvania |
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National Forest Products Week, which is celebrated every year during the third week of October, highlights and acknowledges the value and benefits of a working forest.
What is a working forest? A forest that is actively managed to produce wood and paper products while also providing ecological benefits. The premise isn’t new, and support for the idea of working forests started with the Multiple-Use Sustained-Yield Act of 1960.
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| Governor Shapiro and DCNR Secretary Dunn Invest $81 Million to Improve and Expand Pennsylvania Trails, Parks, and Public Lands |
The Community Conservation Partnerships Program is supporting 306 projects across 60 counties in this round of funding to create new recreational opportunities, conserve natural resources, and help revitalize local communities.
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DCNR Marks 1 Billion Board Foot of Sustainably Harvested Timber, Underscoring Long-Term Forest Stewardship on Public Lands |
This milestone is the result of the DCNR Bureau of Forestry’s Harvest Allocation Model to guide sustainable forest use.
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Pine Creek Rail Trail Honored as Pennsylvania’s 2026 Trail of the Year |
The historic 65-mile trail connects visitors to a wealth of recreational and cultural experiences from Jersey Shore in Lycoming County to Wellsboro in Tioga County.
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As Halloween approaches and the pumpkins start piling up, there are plenty of ways to put them to good use without harming local ecosystems.
Instead of tossing them out or leaving them in natural areas, consider these simple, wildlife-friendly ideas to make the most of your leftover pumpkins while keeping your local habitats healthy:
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Don’t Dump Your Pumpkins -- Don’t leave pumpkins in state parks, forests, or anywhere you don’t have permission to do so.
- Compost Your Pumpkins -- If you’ve carved a jack-o-lantern, it may already be decomposing. Because pumpkins are mostly water, they are a great addition to your compost pile. Prevent unwanted pumpkin plants by removing the seeds first.
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Share Pumpkin Seeds with Wildlife -- Collect seeds from your pumpkins (before composting them) and let the seeds dry. You can scatter the seeds outside or put them in a platform feeder as a special treat (don’t add salt or seasoning).
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Cut Pumpkins into Pieces for Animals -- Cut your pumpkin into pieces and scatter outside as a treat for local critters. Birds will feed on the flesh of the pumpkins in addition to the seeds, as will squirrels, foxes, and deer.
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Make a “Snack-o-lantern” -- Re-use your pumpkin and turn it into a pumpkin feeder! Cut the pumpkin in half and fill with birdseed. You can use sticks, dowels, and rope to hang them from trees and create a custom feeder. This works best with fresh, firm pumpkins.
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Remember, not all pumpkins are safe for wildlife. Don’t set out pumpkins or gourds that have been bleached, are painted, or have fake foliage or plastic decorations for wildlife, which can be toxic and harmful.
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Spooky season is peaking in Pennsylvania! Check out these upcoming fall and Halloween-themed events happening in state parks:
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Few places rival Pennsylvania in the beauty of fall. From rolling hills to mountain valleys, our forests burst into color each year, painting the landscape in shades of gold, red, and orange.
Explore our weekly Fall Foliage Reports (updated on Thursdays) to find the best spots to see nature’s show.
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Josh Shapiro, Governor | Cindy Adams Dunn, Secretary
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
www.pa.gov/dcnr
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