[Reprinted from original]

On Saturday, January 26th, Sinnemahoning State Park
is offering a program on Winter Furbearers, from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm in the classroom of the Wildlife Center.

Presented by retired Susquehannock State Forest field forester, Paul Lilja, this program will give visitors a chance to learn more about mammals, such as beavers, otters, foxes and weasels, that have historically been trapped for their furs.

Participants will learn how these furbearers live and thrive in the winter woods of the PA Wilds and how to improve their chances of spotting these animals in their native habitats.

This conservation program will also provide participants insight into how Pennsylvania’s practice of the North American model for wildlife management has helped to maintain furbearer populations at healthy numbers while providing increased opportunities for songbirds and other non-game animals as well through wildlife habitat management.

Guest presenter, Paul Lilja, grew up in Elk County in a tiny town called Dagus Mines and can trace his interest in wildlife and the outdoors back to the age of 14 when he attended the Junior Conservation Corps, a program run by the local sportsmen’s club for youth ages 11-15. That year he also attended the Conservation Leadership School at Penn State, run by the Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and made up his mind to follow a career in wildlife and forestry.

Paul graduated from Penn State with a degree in Forestry and went to work for Susquehannock State Forest in 1971, and according to Paul, “Then I stayed here forever because I loved what I was doing.” Paul worked as a field forester, until his retirement in 2007. Paul still lives in the Coudersport area with his wife Mary. They have 6 kids and 17 grandchildren between them and run a landscaping business.

In 1981 Paul helped to start the Potter County Conservation School, a week-long residential camp, hosted by the Black Forest Conservation Association, that provides wildlife management, conservation education, and outdoor recreation opportunities for 13-15 year-olds. Paul and his daughter, Jackie Manno, continue to organize and run the Conservation School, because, according to Paul, “That’s how I got started. Giving back, and offering the same opportunities to these kids, it is the right thing to do.”

This free “Winter Furbearers” program will begin at 1:00 PM in the Wildlife Center at Sinnemahoning State Park.

For more information on park programs and events, please contact Sinnemahoning State Park at (814) 647-8401 or SinnemahoningSP@pa.gov or visit the online DCNR Events Calendar.

If you need an accommodation to participate in PA State Park activities due to a disability, please contact the park you plan to visit. With at least seven days’ notice, interpreters for people who are deaf or hard of hearing are available for educational programs.