Finally, A Bear, And A Big One, In The State Game Lands 119 In Luzerne County.
This is the first year in over a decade a bear hasn’t showed up in my back yard in Hazle Township, Luzerne County. Industrial and residential development has destroyed much of their habitat near my home. I am still hoping for one to appear in my yard, but I decided to go looking for one on Sunday. I have seen quite a few bears in the State Game Lands 119 in Dennison Township, Luzerne County.
I usually drive to the parking lot for the State Game Lands 119 on Hollenback Road and hike a 7 1/2 mile loop through the Game Lands and past scenic Moosehead Lake on the D & L Black Diamond trail. However, because of the heat, and thanks to some friends I was able to access the Black Diamond trail through some private property closer to the lake. I was happy to hear from my friend that a bear was just seen in the area this past week.
I began my hike around 7:30 and followed the Black Diamond Trail trail north toward Moosehead Lake. The trail follows an abandoned railroad right of way. It was a warm morning and the strong July sun soon had the temperatures near 80 degrees. I was the only one on the trail, except for the birds singing in the trees, including red eyed vireos, 
gray catbirds, 
and eastern towhees. I would hear and see these birds all along my five mile hike. 
There weren’t many wildflowers blooming on this portion of the trail, where mature second growth hardwood forest grew along, but lush patches of hay-scented ferns grew under the shade of the trees. 
After about a 1/2 mile hike on the trail there is an old farm homestead. In the late 19th century there was a small town, named Moosehead, located near here. 
I believe this may have been the boyhood home of J. Mitchell Palmer, the 50th Attorney General of the United States. He served as Attorney General from 1919 to 1921. He was famous for his role he Palmer Raids during the Red Scare. He was born in the town of Moosehead on May 4 1872. On my hikes here I often imagine Palmer as a young man exploring and enjoying the beauty of these same woods I now hike. 
I continued my hike for another 1/2 mile when I came to a marsh and wetlands along the trail. There are two large beave lodges in the pond in the wetlands and I hoped by arriving early I’d see the beavers or some other wildlife activity. However, there was nothing stirring in the wetlands,
so I walked over to Moosehead Lake on the other side of the trail. I enjoyed the tranquil scene of the deep blue lake. 
Here I saw an eastern kingbird, also enjoying the scene, perched in a treetop above the trail.
I walked back along the trail,
to the wetlands,
where I now heard and saw some birds , including this yellow throated vireo
a few common yellowthroats, 
and chestnut sided warblers. 
A great blue heron also flew over the pond. Although there wasn’t a lot of wildlife activity I loved just being part of this beautiful Summer morning scene. 
The pond was covered in beautiful American white water lilies,
and yellow pond lilies. It was still early in the morning and their wasn’t a lot of insect activity yet, many of the insect are not active until the sun dries the dew off of their wings. 
I walked back to Moosehead Lake, and for the first time followed a trail along the shore of the lake. 
The trail, at times took me along the lake, and was muddy,
and then would take me through tickets of leather-leaf plants, and huckleberry shrubs. Her, for the first time this Summer I encountered a lot of ticks and had to pull a dozen off of me. 
I saw and heard a pair of belted kingfishers on the other side of the lake, and I also saw my first human too. a couple of bikers enjoying the peace and quiet of the trail. 
I followed the trail along the shore of the lake and discovered some folks like to canoe on the lake when I found this canoe along the shore.
It was getting hot and there was more insect activity besides the ticks. Many dragonflies were now darting above the lake, occasionally resting on a stump, rock or leaf, including this chalk fronted corporal dragonfly 
this slaty skimmer dragonfly
,
and this widow skimmer dragonfly. 
At the end of the lake the trail took me to another wetland were a small stream flows from the lake, it was muddy here with a lot of stumps.
There were some birds active here, including this red-bellied woodpecker, 
and this downy woodpecker. 
While photographing this black and white warbler, 
a looked across the stream and saw this large bear walking toward me. 
He stopped almost the same time I saw him. I immediately aimed my camera and we just stared at each other. After getting a few photos I realized he was only 35 to 50 feet from me.
I decided, rather than take more photos, and take a chance he may get closer, to yell and scare him away. I did and he turned and ran like a frightened child. I have encountered dozens of bears on my hikes, and so far, I have been fortunate that they have all ran when I would shout at them. Even mother bears with cubs avoid us humans. It is the unfortunate situations when a bear is startled and scared or you come between a mother bear and her cubs that bad things can happen. Thankfully I haven’t been any of these situations and I always enjoy seeing these magnificent creatures in the wild. 
After my bear encounter I continued my hike along the lake up and back to the Black Diamond Trail,
and followed another trail into the game lands that I hadn’t hiked on before. It took me through a mature second growth hardwood woodlands,
where, under the shade provided by the large trees, I saw this whitetail deer that was also curious and watching me.
This time I didn’t scare the deer away , but we watched each other while I took photos and it finally slowly walked away. 
Appropriately, I found this deer mushroom after my encounter with the deer.
I also saw an eastern wood pee wee in the deep woods along the trails. 
I followed the trail until it ended at the border of the game lands. Here I was surprised to see a couple of great crested flycatchers in the treetops. I usually see these birds on my visits to south Florida where I see them perched in bald cypress trees. 
I walked back to the Black Diamond Trail and followed the trail past the lake.
I knew large patches of milkweed grow here . It was now late afternoon and there was a lot of insect activity including butterfly attracted to the milkweed flowers including spicebush swallowtail butterflies, 
great spangled fritillary butterflies and.
this easter tiger swallowtail butterfly with a damaged wing. 
It was now after noon and I decided to end my hike. I walked past the lake and wetlands, admiring the beautiful native water lilies again and, also
some pretty Deptford pinks,
and ox-eye daisies. Both these flowers are invasive. 
The midday sun was intense and it was hot on my hike back. That didn’t stop dozens of bicyclists from enjoying the trail, a few were stopped on the benches and picnic tables taking a rest or having a snack. I was glad to get to the wooded areas of the trail, and under the shade of the tall trees. 
I saw many of the same birds I had photographed earlier, but only one new one this female cardinal that was active in the afternoon heat and humidity. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog website with some more photos of the bear, birds and other wildlife I saw on my hike. Moosehead Lake wildlife July 7 2024.
I finished my five mile hike happy to have seen the large bear. I stopped and visited some old friends before driving home. It was another great Summer hike in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I love Summer and I love Pennsylvania. Here is another gallery with some more photos from my scenic hike in the game lands. Moosehead Lake July 7 2024.
“Bears keep me humble. They help me to keep the world in perspective and to understand where I fit on the spectrum of life. We need to preserve the wilderness and its monarchs for ourselves, and for the dreams of children. We should fight for these things as if our life depended upon it, because it does.”
– Wayne Lynch
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