Wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania is a true success story. Our citizens are blessed with 480 species of birds and mammals.

There are over 100 nesting bald eagles in the state. Black bear are healthy and expanding their range. White tail deer are abundant and healthy.

Elk are thriving in the north central region of the state. Bobcat, fishers, and river otters are reproducing and providing recreation for many outdoor enthusiasts.

Game lands are home to uncommon bird species, such as Henslow's sparrow, great egret, black cap night heron and Cerulean warbler. The Eastern wild turkey is now found in just about every county.

This has not always been the case.

The Game Commission has just released Pennsylvania's Wildlife Conservation History by author and educator Joe Kosack.

The book covers wildlife and its conservation from the outset of European colonization to the 21st century.

The 600-page hardcover delves into the eras of natural resource abundance, exploitation and recovery.

Originally published back in 1995 as part of the agency’s centennial, the original 233-page book has been expanded to cover Pennsylvania wildlife conservation’s next 25 years, which happened to be one of the most critical periods in Commonwealth wildlife management.

In addition, nearly 200 pages of short stories – originally appearing in Pennsylvania Game News magazine – have been added to this volume to cover topics from Pennsylvania passenger pigeons, heath hens and Carolina parakeets to felling Penn’s Woods, Pennsylvania’s early conservationists before the Game Commission.

The book is the most complete Pennsylvania wildlife conservation history ever assembled. It’s a product derived from 30 years of covering wildlife conservation as a Game Commission writer/photographer and unofficial historian Joe Kosack.

To purchase a copy, visit the Game Commission’s Hunt Fish e-commerce website.

Visit the Game Commission website for more information on hunting and wildlife conservation in Pennsylvania.  Questions should be directed to Joe Kosack at kosacks@comcast.net.

[Posted: August 25, 2023]

8/28/2023