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Game Commission looking to reintroduce American Marten

…Wellsboro woman arrested for shoplifting…Two burglaries investigated by Mansfield state police…Texas driver cited following Tioga County crash….ID theft investigated in Elk County….Game Commission considers reintroduction of American Marten….

Tioga County

State police arrested a 33 year old Wellsboro woman for shoplifting. Troopers did not release the suspect’s name but claim the suspect stole various food items, including cookie dough and baby formula totaling $65.23 in value on January 28 at the Mansfield Walmart.

Mansfield State police have investigated two recent burglaries. Burglars forced their way through the front door of  a garage  on Route 49 in Westfield owned by a 56 year old Westfield man between Ebruary 18 and 20.Apparently nothing was taken but a lock on a filing cabinet was damaged. Would be thieves broke into the Tioga Little League Baseball concession stand between February 17 and 20.  It doesn’t appear anything was taken there but a door and garage door lock were damaged in the amount of $125.00.

A Wellsboro man has been arrested for DUI following a one-vehicle crash during the early morning hours on January 8. Cory Bowen’s 2019 Ford Ecosport traveled off the Kendrick Road in Delmar Township, hit a ditch and overturned. When troopers investigated they determined he had been driving the vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

A 17 year old Covington girl was arrested by Mansfield state police for possession of drug paraphernalia during a traffic stop on West Wellsboro Street February 20.

Drug possession charges have also been filed against a 28 year old Rochester,NY man who was stopped by patrol officers last Thursday afternoon  on Route 15N in Richmond Township. The name of the driver of a 2019 Chevrolet Trax was not released.

A Texas driver was cited for speeding following a one-vehicle crash last Wednesday in Richmond Township. According to state police Juan Cortes Ramon of Los Fresnos was going west on Route 6 when his Dodge Ram slid into a ditch and rolled over coming to rest upside down. The driver and his two out of state passengers were using seatbelts and were not hurt.

Elk County

DUI charges are being filed against a Kane driver following a one-vehicle crash early Sunday morning on the Montmorenci Road. State police said a Subaru Outback driven by 29 year Carter Luchs crossed the highway, hit an embankment and rolled over onto its roof before coming to rest. Luchs was found 1.2 miles from the scene traveling on foot with no injuries. The car had disabling damage and had to be towed away.

All three Tioga PA residents involved in an altercation last Wednesday on Park Street in that town have been arrested for physical harassment. The suspects were identified as two women, ages 50 and 61 and a 51 year old man.

Elk County

Ridgway state police are continuing to investigate the stolen identity of a 57 year old Kersey woman. Someone used the victim’s information to file an unemployment claim yesterday.

Statewide

As the Pennsylvania Game Commission continues to explore the possibility of American marten reintroduction within Penn’s Woods, the agency will be providing opportunities to learn more. Having disappeared from Pennsylvania more than 120 years ago, the American marten once was a common native species that inhabited forested areas within the state. The marten, belonging to the mustelid family, is the same size as the American mink having a similar length to a fox squirrel.Martens are true omnivores eating a large diversity of mammals, plants, insects, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. The largest portion of their diet is made up of rodents, plant material and insects. The Game Commission recently completed a Reintroduction Feasibility Assessment for American Martens, which is available at www.pgc.pa.gov. The assessment found that martens would have sufficient habitat and pose little to no risk to other species. Game Commission staff now are drafting an American Marten Reintroduction and Management Plan. This long-term plan would outline potential translocation and reintroduction efforts, and monitor populations if martens are reintroduced.

Much information about martens is available from the Game Commission. The Game Commission’s website  provides links to several maps, videos, webinars and the Feasibility Assessment. Several presentations also will be held across the state to give the public an opportunity to learn more about martens and speak to Game Commission staff. Presentations are scheduled on the following dates and these locations:

    Thursday, March 9, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.  – Game Commission Southeast Region Office, 253 Snyder Road, Reading, PA 19605

    Saturday, March 11, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. – John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, 8601 Lindbergh Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19153

    Wednesday, March 15, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. – Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, 100 Museum Road, Stevens, PA 17578

    Saturday, March 18, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Elk Country Visitor Center, 950 Winslow Hill Road, Benezette, PA 15821

    Monday, March 20, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  –  Tioga County Fairgrounds, 2258 Charleston Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901

    Tuesday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority, 253 Transfer Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823

    Thursday, March 30, 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Game Commission Northeast Region Office, 3917 Memorial Highway, Dallas, PA 18612

    Tuesday, April 4, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.  – Game Commission Southwest Region Office, 4820 Route 711, Bolivar, PA 15923

    Sunday, April 23, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. – Game Commission Southcentral Region Office, 8627 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon, PA 16652

    Saturday, June 3, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  –  Game Commission Northwest Region Office, 1509 Pittsburgh Road, Franklin, PA 16323

These events are free and there is no need to RSVP or sign up. They are open to all and are an important component of possible marten reintroduction.

Following the completion of the Management Plan, the Game Commission’s Bureau of Wildlife Management will present the plan to the agency’s Board of Commissioners for consideration. The board then could open the plan to a 60-day public comment period. The comments would help shape the plan’s final draft, which the board could vote to implement.

Tuesday’s high, 42; Overnight low23; .11” rain

WED-PARTLY CLOUDY, SHOWERS HIGH 51

WED NIGHT-LOW 36

THU-MIX OF CLOUDS & SUN, HIGH 46

THU NIGHT-OVERCAST, LOW 29

FRI-WINTRY MIX ,HIGH 34