Cherry Springs State Park - Ecology

Ecology

Cherry Springs State Park and the surrounding Susquehannock State Forest have recovered from the clearcutting of the lumber era. However, the composition of the forests has changed, so that there are now more hardwoods, including Sugar Maple and Black Cherry, and fewer Eastern White Pine and Eastern Hemlock. The park also has apple trees from the CCC orchard. Over 400 species of birds have been found in Pennsylvania, including 186 that breed in the state. Birds such as Ospreys, hawks, owls, nightjars, and Bald Eagles have returned to the park and state forest, and Saw-whet Owls have been studied in the park.

Some animals which had been locally extinct have also returned or been reintroduced to the area, including White-tailed deer, Elk, Fishers (a type of weasel), and otters. Although banned in the park, hunting is allowed in the surrounding state forest, which regained its title as a "sportsmen's paradise" in the 20th century. Game species include Black Bears, White-tailed Deer, ducks, Ruffed Grouse, rabbits, Gray and Red Squirrels, and Wild Turkeys. Other animals present in the park and forest include chipmunks, Minks, Raccoons, Porcupines, Groundhogs, and the occasional Bobcat, as well as frogs, beetles, and moths.

A branch of Hopper House Run rises within the park, and flows east and then north into the West Branch Pine Creek. West Branch Road (or Branch Road) follows the valleys of the run and creek from Pennsylvania Route 44 east 10 miles (16 km) to Galeton. PA 44 roughly follows the line dividing the Pine Creek watershed to the north and the Sinnemahoning Creek watershed to the south. East Fork Road leaves PA 44 in the park and follows the East Fork Sinnemahoning Creek valley southwest 12 miles (19 km) to the village of Conrad. Both creeks are approved trout streams for fishing, which means they are stocked with trout in season.