Sinnemahoning State Park

Watching Wildlife

Sinnemahoning offers the visitor a variety of wildlife watching experiences. Depending upon the season, one could encounter nesting bald eagles, elk nursing their calves in a small nursery group, hear the howl of a coyote as it advertises it’s territory or maybe catch a glimpse of a bobcat slinking through the thick spruce as it stalks the grassy areas for its evening meal.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagles are a common sight on the 142-acre lake. Since 2000, a pair of eagles have set up year-round residence. The pair has nested across from the boat launch area in a white pine tree. Orange buoys, restricting access to within 150 yards of the nesting pair, flag this area. January through March one can observe pair bonding rituals and nest building activity. March is when one to three eggs are laid and incubation commences. Eaglets hatch normally around the middle of April with fledging occurring usually in the month of June. During the winter months, watch for eagles fishing in the open waters below the dam or eating carrion along the roadside. Throughout the rest of the year, a good pair of binoculars and some patience will provide the casual observer with a spectacular display of eagle behavior.

Elk

Sinnemahoning State Park is home to a growing elk herd. Elk are mainly grazers preferring to feed on forbs, legumes and grasses, but will browse on trees and shrubs when adequate ground vegetation is not available. Look for elk near 40 Maples Picnic Area, and north to the Wildlife Viewing Area. The Viewing Area is being managed cooperatively between the PA Game Commission and DCNR, State Parks. The grassy opening near the viewing platform was planted in clover and trefoil, a wildlife favorite. Although elk prefer these open, grassy areas, other wildlife benefit from the food source as well.

Fall is the rut or breeding season for elk. Watch for a herd of cows being guarded by a dominant bull. Listen and you may hear the bugle and belly grunts of a bull as he defends his harem from other intruding bulls.

Remember that elk are wild and can be dangerous especially during calving (June) and rutting (September/October) seasons. Please view elk and other wildlife from the viewing platform at the northern end of the food plot and stay on designated trails.

Natural History

From a birds-eye view, Sinnemahoning sits on a high plateau. This area was carved from the melt waters of glaciers that massively eroded layers of sandstone and shale, hence the deep valleys of this area. Climb to the top of Brook’s Run Road and go right onto Ridge Road to the Logue Run Vista. The spectacular view shows uniform, flat-topped hills that rise 2,300 feet above mean sea level.

The deep valleys contrast with the heavily forested terrain of the mountains. The rejuvenating farm fields and riparian habitats of Sinnemahoning State Park are part a rich tapestry that support a variety of plants and animals.

Spring in the North Country is a time of renewal. A variety of wildflowers such as spring beauties, hepaticas and wood lily spot the forest floor. During an early morning walk one may encounter a variety of migratory songbirds winging their way back from South America to raise their young in the seclusion of the park. Common migrants include scarlet tanagers, ovenbirds, northern parula (look for them at the 40 Maples Picnic Area) and the black-billed cuckoo—one of the few birds that may even be heard singing at night.

Summer is the time of growth. Lush vegetation provides the needed nutrients for elk and deer to nourish their young. Look for spotted elk calves and fawns along the Low Land Trail. A variety of butterflies can be seen along the trails and near the Wildlife Viewing Platform at the northern end of the park. It is this area that one can scan the sandy banks along the First Fork for holes indicating the presence of nesting belted kingfishers, a fish-eating bird that inhabits the stream banks.

In the fall, the foliage reaches its peak as the reds, oranges and yellows are revealed in the leaves of the deciduous forests. Watch for the annual migration of bald eagles as they rest and feed on the lake before trekking to their winter grounds. A resident, nesting pair can be seen year-round at the boat launch area. Watch for small congregations of monarch butterflies in October as they prepare for their long migration to South America.

Winter is a good time to search for signs of wildlife. Look for strips of bark removed from trees indicating the presence of elk or tracks of coyote and bobcat in the snow. Resident bald eagles can be seen nest building and preparing for the upcoming nesting season.

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