Fort Indiantown Gap Photo

The public will have the opportunity to see the only viable colony of Regal Fritillary butterflies in the Eastern U.S. during free, guided tours beginning at 9 a.m. on July 4, 5, 14, and 21, and at 1 p.m. on July 13 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Annville.

"We take our responsibility as good stewards of the environment very seriously here at Fort Indiantown Gap," said Lt. Col. Grey Berrier, commander of the Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Site. "The viability of our Regal Fritillary butterfly population is an excellent barometer of the success of our ongoing natural resources conservation team's efforts. These guided tours allow the public to see this rare colony first hand, as well as the many other natural spectacles that we have on post."

The tours also will include information related to current efforts to restore native grassland habitat across Pennsylvania with the ultimate goal of returning the Regal Fritillary to landholdings having a historic occurrence.

Tours will leave from the Fort Indiantown Gap Community Club, located at the intersection of Fisher and Clement Avenues (Rt. 934), each day and will last approximately two and half hours. All participants must arrive at the Community Club for an orientation meeting prior to the start of the field tour. Participants are encouraged to wear appropriate clothing and shoes for a nature walk. No reservations are required and no rain dates will be scheduled.

In addition to the Regal Fritillary, which is considered a federal species of concern, Fort Indiantown Gap is home to 96 state species of concern. It also provides habitat for 36 species of mammals, 122 breeding species of birds, 34 species of reptiles and amphibians, 25 species of fish, 792 species of plants, and many notable species of invertebrates including 83 species of butterflies and 237 species of moths. This includes excellent populations of deer, turkey, bear, bobcat, rabbit, squirrel, wild trout, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals and songbirds.

The installation covers more than 17,000 acres, including over 3,000 acres of native grassland habitat – the largest in the Commonwealth.

Fort Indiantown Gap is the only live fire, maneuver military training facility in the commonwealth. It balances one of the region's most ecologically diverse areas with a military mission that annually supports 19,000 Pennsylvania National Guard personnel and more than 130,000 other states' Guard, military, law enforcement, and civilian personal each year.

For more information call the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Wildlife Office at 717-861-2449.

6/20/2008