ATVs damage 'Alaska' site
Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo Dave Straub, treasurer for Habitat For Wildlife (HFW) points to a damaged food plot from the tires of two ATVs. The ATVs entered the HFW land Thursday and destroyed or damaged 150 yards of food plots and knocked down several apple trees before leaving the grounds that are off limits to motorized vehicles.
MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP - A Habitat For Wildlife (HFW) member attempts to track down drivers of two ATVs who may have damaged the "Alaska" site near Excelsior.
On Thursday afternoon, two ATVs were spotted by Treasurer Dave Straub on a HFW access road off-limits to unauthorized motor vehicles. When the riders realized they were noticed by Straub, they quickly turned around and drove into a newly planted food plot designed to feed animal life.
"When they saw me they turned into the food plot and got out of Dodge," said Straub. "They knew they weren't supposed to be there."
Straub yelled for them to stop, but they continued. Straub followed them in his vehicle, but the drivers turned their ATVs from the road and sped through another food plot on their way to the top of the mountain. Straub stopped his pursuit and began to examine the damage. Snapped apple trees and a 100- to 150-yard path of flattened flowers and bushes lay on the ground as evidence of the destruction of the ATVs' tires.
Although Straub got a good look at the riders, both wore "non-descriptive helmets." The ATVs were also forest-green, a common color, and not registered. Pennsylvania state law requires that all ATVs, except those used for business or agricultural purposes, be registered and titled with Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR).
Straub said full-sized vehicles cannot reach the site, but ATVs have no problem driving around in, and damaging, the area.
"It's the ATV'ers who make the noise or throw the beer cans and disturb the land," he said.
This is not the first time HFW land has been damaged. According to HFW President David Kaleta, in the past year, trees have been knocked down, tires thrown on flowers, and gates destroyed and even stolen.
"It's a continuous problem," said Kaleta. "We even had two large bags of trash left where we collect the Christmas trees."
Although police are usually called to the scene, the culprits are long gone by the time the damage is found and reported. Repairing the damage is then left up to HFW members. When asked about a solution, Kaleta said he would like to see Coal and Mount Carmel Townships purchase ATVs and participate in a joint venture, if needed. Kaleta thinks this may crack down on the damage done to HFW land and other popular riding areas.
Kaleta urges anyone witnessing an ATV or any other unauthorized motor vehicle on HFW land to call the Northumberland County Communications Center at 988-4539.
Even though it is closed to unauthorized vehicles, Kaleta said the site is available for anyone interested in hiking, bird watching and hunting.
"This isn't just Dave's land," said Kaleta. "We would like to see all kind of people up here."
For more information, visit www.habitat4wildlife.org.
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