Improving wildlife habitat has long been a major objective of the Game Commission almost since the agency was created in 1895. In fact, the agency annually spends millions of dollars on habitat work on State Game Lands to benefit wildlife. However, the agency's 1.4 million acres of State Game Lands comprise roughly five percent of the Commonwealth's landscape spread out in more than 600 parcels in 65 of our 67 counties. While this may seem like a lot, when viewed in context of the entire Commonwealth, it is easy to see how the agency's ability to provide the necessary habitat for all of the state's wildlife just on State Game Lands is impossible.
Many Pennsylvania landowners have contacted the Game Commission to express their interest in doing something in their backyards or woodlots, or on their farms to make their properties more attractive to wildlife. The habitat projects conducted on State Game Lands can serve as the model for other public and private lands. The agency very much would like to share this information with interested landowners to benefit wildlife, and that is why we have created this website.
The Game Commission offers or participates in a variety of state and federal programs that can help landowners make their property more attractive to specific wildlife species, or simply more appealing to wildlife in general and environmentally friendly. This land management advice is almost always free and available to all landowners through programs such as the federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program and Landowner Incentive Program. Other programs, such as the Game Commission's Cooperative Farm- and Forest-Game programs, and Steam-Bank Fencing Program, also provide great opportunities to landowners interested in taking a more active role in wildlife conservation. See the Landowner Programs listing below to find out more about these programs.
The Game Commission also recognizes that many Pennsylvanians who don't have large land holdings are just as dedicated to do something more for wildlife in their yards. This work includes wildlife plantings; hanging nest boxes, placing birdfeeders; and managing trees/snags. Homeowners seeking this sort of information should direct their attention to the Backyard Wildlife listing.
This land management section for property owners also provides a Habitat Corner column, Habitat Guides, Species Habitat Profiles and an Acres For Wildlife Newsletter that will offer casual readers and those looking for specific advice, information on how to plan and do habitat improvements for both specific species and species groups. Developed by the Game Commission's Land Management staff, these special sections and reports will provide both general overviews and specific projects landowners can implement to make their properties more attractive to wildlife.