The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) recently carried out a significant “controlled” burn over more than 2,200 acres of State Game Lands using aircraft. This operation was confirmed by Rep. David Maloney, chairman of the House Game and Fisheries Committee.
According to a PGC Facebook post, “This week, the agency’s Southwest region conducted its first helicopter burn, covering 2,271 acres on State Game Lands 108 – making this the largest prescribed burn EVER completed by the agency.” The post explained that using a helicopter allowed for quick ignition in under three hours, which would have otherwise taken several days if done manually due to weather and smoke concerns.
However, Rep. Maloney expressed strong disapproval of the method used. He shared his concerns about the timing of the burn: “I cannot imagine a foolhardier approach to the PGC’s mission of wildlife management – ‘safe’ for what?” He highlighted that this period is crucial for ground-nesting wildlife such as turkey and grouse and mentioned that fawns rely on tall grass for safety while their mothers forage.
Maloney criticized conducting burns during reproductive cycles and argued that slow handset burns allow officials to monitor what is being burned. He stated: “What this post tells me is that they used a helicopter to set fire to 2,271 acres on a day with low visibility. This is reckless behavior and likely killed more game than the benefits of a ‘controlled’ burn will produce.”
He concluded by expressing hope that lessons were learned from this operation: “As the PGC admitted that this is the first helicopter burn ever, let us hope they learned a lesson and will ensure this is the last.”
For further information or media inquiries, contact Charles Lardner at clardner@pahousegop.com or call 717-260-6161.
