Pennsylvania's wildlife fall food conditions are average or above-average in most areas of the state, according to a recently-completed survey of the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Department of Conservation and Natural Resources field employees.

In its third year, the fall foods survey polls natural resource agency personnel to rate the abundance and productivity of 28 fruit- and nut-bearing plants.

In the survey, respondents tended to rate white oak group acorn production higher than that of the red oak group, but both species were considered good. Some respondents, however, noted that red oak acorns were spotty in their areas. Beech was the only fall food to have widespread below-average ratings.

The best area of food availability, according to the survey, was the Northcentral, where multiple fall foods were rated as above-average.

For more details from the survey, which includes supporting maps and tables, visit the homepage of Game Commission's "Fall Foods Survey" webpage.

11/21/2004