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105,638 acres (42,751 hectares)

Public (State), Private

Canoe Creek State Park – managed by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Parks

State Game Lands 118, 147, 166 – managed by PA Game Commission

Rothrock State Forest – managed by Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry

Private – Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve (National Speleological Society), numerous individually owned parcels (but no significant commercial interests)

Blair, Huntingdon

Ridge and Valley Province – Appalachian Mountain Section
Susquehanna River Basin

IA & IB – The site supports a diverse community of terrestrial and flying mammals, including significant populations of species with specific habitat requirements living in a unique environment.

IIA & IIB – The site supports high density aggregations of bats in both summer and winter, including an important core population of Indiana myotis (Myotis sodalis).

IIIA & IIIB – The site supports several regularly occurring species of conservation concern, including Indiana myotis (U.S. and PA Endangered), eastern small-footed myotis (Myotis leibii; PA Threatened), and Allegheny woodrat (Neotoma magister; PA Threatened).

IVA & IVB – Two species that regularly occur at the site are designated by the PA Biological Survey as Candidate (Rare) – northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) and silver-haired bat (Lasionycteris noctivagans).

VA & VB – The site is important for public education that emphasizes the importance of bats. Ongoing educational programs are provided by Canoe Creek State Park and bats are easily viewed in their (semi-) natural habitat.

General Location: 40° 30’ N, 78° 14’ W

The Canoe Creek Watershed IMA is defined in descriptive materials accompanying GIS boundary maps as including all lands draining into Canoe Creek. Although this is correct, it is an incomplete description of the IMA, which also includes (some but not all) lands within the larger watershed drained by the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River (Canoe Creek is a tributary of Frankstown Branch). This site, located along Rt. 22 east of Hollidaysburg, includes Canoe Creek State Park, most of State Game Lands 147, and 166, a small portion of State Game Lands 118, a small portion of Rothrock State Forest (south face of Short Mt., which is north of SGL 118), one privately owned nature preserve (Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve), and numerous other small tracts that are privately owned. There are no significant commercial developments within the IMA, which does not include the Altoona urban area. It consists of a valley and surrounding ridges and includes a variety of habitats, with approximately 30,000 acres of contiguous forest. Although dominated by deciduous woodlands, it also includes a lake, grasslands, cultivated and fallow fields, pastures, talus slopes, caves, wetlands, and riparian habitats.

Important focal sites for mammals are an old church (former Turkey Valley Mennonite Church) and the abandoned Hartman limestone mine in Canoe Creek State Park, which is located roughly in the center of the IMA. The old church building was annexed to the State Park in 1994 and is currently managed jointed by the Bureau of State Parks and PA Game Commission, with the Park being responsible for building maintenance and the Game Commission overseeing the bats. Hartman Mine is comprised of 1.2 miles of tunnels with a maximum depth of 300’ and four open pit quarries. The mine area (including 2 surrounding acres designated as Propagation Area No. 127 by the PA Game Commission) was designated a State Park Special Management Area in 1995. The mine was operated between 1915 and 1925.

Also located within the IMA is Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve, a 6.8 acre site in Sinking Valley approximately one mile from Arch Spring (purchased by the Western PA Conservancy and transferred to the National Speleological Society in 1997). This cave is said to have a small number of bats, with the only species specifically mentioned being little brown myotis.

The diverse mammal fauna inhabiting the area includes Indiana myotis and Allegheny woodrat. Of the 11 species of bats recorded in Pennsylvania, nine have been found within this IMA. Of these nine, one is endangered (Indiana myotis), one is threatened (eastern small-footed myotis), two are rare (northern myotis, silver-haired bat), two are uncommon (red bat – Lasiurus borealis, hoary bat – L. cinereus), and three are common (little brown myotis – Myotis lucifugus, eastern pipistrelle – Pipistrellus subflavus, big brown bat – Eptesicus fuscus).

Although the site meets all IMA criteria, the fact that it is home to a core population of Indiana myotis would be sufficient for designation. The former Turkey Valley Mennonite church is the first known maternity colony for Indiana myotis in the northeastern U.S. and the first such colony in a building. The old church building is equally important as a maternity site for female little brown myotis, with populations numbering approximately 20,000 – and might in fact be the largest maternity colony for this species in the northeastern United States. With its dark roof and southern exposure, temperatures in the upper areas of church reach 38.3° C, which is ideal for growth and development of young bats. An additional 3,000 bats occupy the "bat condominium" near the church.

Hartman mine, which is located about 2 km from the church, offers optimal temperatures for hibernation, and serves as a winter home for all six species of hibernating colonial bats (little brown myotis and big brown bats, in addition to the four species listed above). At present, all three mine portals are gated. The first recorded visit to the mine by a bat biologist was by the late John Hall, who reported in 1964-65 that it was inhabited by a colony of approximately 1000 Indiana myotis. Subsequent to this (probably mid-1970’s), two of the three entrances were bulldozed shut, but were reopened in 1978 when the possible presence of an endangered species was reported. When Dr. Hall next surveyed the mine in 1979, only 100 bats were found at the location where there had previously been 1000 (plus approximately 100 at other locations). The next survey was in 1984, when there were 65 Indiana myotis at the same site. Given that a recent survey (2003) counted 765 bats, the population appears to be slowly recovering to the levels reported in the late 1970’s.

Bats radio-tagged at the Canoe Creek mine have provided hard-won data on ecology and movements of Indiana bats. The fact that many bats captured in the mine have been banded in the church confirms that some bats from the summer maternity colony use the mine in winter. However, telemetry studies suggest that many Indiana myotis emerging from hibernation in spring travel eastward to presumed (but unknown) maternity colony locations. A female bat tagged in spring 2003 was tracked to a dead oak tree in Juniata County 36 miles away (on or near State Game Land 215). During current radio-tracking efforts, three of six bats that were tagged on 17 April 2005 left the Canoe Creek area and were subsequently found roosting along the same eastern flight pathway. By 26-27 April, one of these bats was roosting in a live shagbark hickory 84 miles from Canoe Creek near Taneytown, Maryland (total 63 bats counted emerging from roost) and the other was roosting in a dead mockernut hickory snag 92 miles from Canoe Creek near Wentz, Maryland (22 bats counted emerging from roost). For those bats that remain in the Canoe Creek area all year round, the area between Rt. 22 and the Frankstown Branch of the Juniata River is an important foraging area. The fact that the bats have to cross Rt. 22 to get to this area has resulted in some mortality as a result of collisions with vehicles.

In addition to the sites within Canoe Creek State Park, there are records of bats for various locations within the IMA on both State Game Lands and private properties. For example, hibernacula for eastern small-footed myotis (Myotis leibii) and northern myotis (Myotis septentrionalis) are located in caves on private lands in the vicinity of SGL 147 near Gannister. These species have also been recorded near SGL118. Silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) have been recorded on more than one occasion in SGL166.

This IMA is also important for the Allegheny woodrat. Woodrat site surveys of seven sites in April 2000 by the PA Game Commission indicated that there were animals present at five of the sites examined (40°34’58" N, 78°10’39" W – ownership unknown; 40°32’10"N, 78°13’34"W – ownership unknown; 40°34’08" N, 8°13’37" W – SGL 166; 40°28’26" N, 78°13’52" W – ownership unknown; 40°29’19" N, 78°14’06" W – ownership unknown). The two sites with only old sign were in Canoe Creek State Park (40°29’34" N, deg;16’52"W) and SGL 147 (40°27’56" N, 78°14'33" W). Woodrats have also been recorded on SGL 118. The section of Rothrock State Forest that is included within the IMA has a north-south band of habitat toward the western side (and two blocks on the eastern edge) designated as an "L" management zone (L = Limited Resource: site topography does not allow cutting). The area is steep and rocky, with an abandoned quarry and remaining rubble. Timber is approximately 100 years old, but growing in relatively poor soils. Although not visited for verification, this area is likely to include suitable Allegheny woodrat habitat.

In addition to being important for mammals, this IMA is important for public education about mammals. Canoe Creek State Park has had a full-time 12-month Environmental Education Specialist on staff since 1998 (prior to this, the position was for 9 months). Public education programs focused around bats are a major activity in the park and include a yearly "Bat Festival" in early August. During this event, there are bat-oriented games, scientific demonstrations of tracking methods, talks on bats, visits to the mine and church, and (sometimes) sale of guano from the church to be used as fertilizer. From April through mid-October, the hillside cemetery behind the church is visited by large numbers of human spectators who gather to watch the bats emerge each evening. Mammal programs have also focused on black bears. A beaver meadow and dam complex at the mouth of Canoe Creek within the Park, and a similar site in State Game Land 166, could be developed as "watchable wildlife" interpretive sites.

The Resource Management Plan for Canoe Creek State Park includes a Mammal Inventory List. Although the list is fairly conservative and most species listed are at least probable inhabitants (with the possible exception of the woodland vole, Microtus pinetorum), the list is largely unverified. Dr. Stan Kotala prepared a list of verified Park mammals that is undoubtedly incomplete. The two lists are compared, and annotated with comments, in the following table. An X indicates that the species appears on one or both lists. In the comments, C = virtually certain to occur, P = possible to probable, U = unlikely, and V = verified.

Long-term monitoring of bats by PGC has been ongoing for >10 years, with hibernacula surveys done every odd year.

Important Bird Area Status: The Canoe Creek Watershed IMA appears to encompass all or part of three IBAs. The Canoe Creek Watershed IBA (#76) is fully included within the IMA, as is a large portion of the Frankstown Branch/Lower Trail IBA (#75). There is marginal overlap between the Bald Eagle IMA (#32), which also includes Tytoona Cave Nature Preserve. These IBAs collectively include healthy populations of Neotropical migrants, forest interior species, and riparian inhabitants. They are home to several special concern species and represent areas of generally high bird diversity. For example, in the Canoe Creek Watershed IBA alone, more than 220 bird species have been documented, with 110 of those regularly breeding within this IBA.

Other Significant Fauna/Flora: There are a number of special concern species of plants within the IMA boundaries, and the following information is likely to be incomplete. Drooping bluegrass (Poa languida, PA Threatened) is found in SGL 166. Low serviceberry (Amelanchier humilis, PA Status Undetermined) and tall grama (Bouteloua curtipendula, PA Rare; normally a prairie species) are found in Canoe Creek State Park (both in Moore LDA Management Unit). Highbush cranberry (Viburnum trilobum – PA Rare) and a species of club moss (Lycopodiella margueritae, PA Endangered) occur in SGL 147.

Amphibian and reptile species of interest include one species of concern (timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus, PA Candidate) and several that are relatively uncommon (Fowler’s toad, northern fence lizard, eastern ribbon snake, eastern hognose snake, eastern worm snake, spotted turtle, and wood turtle).

The Canoe Creek IMA offers a unique resource for basic and applied studies in ecology and management of bats. Although the portions of the area within the state forest, state park and state game lands are relatively secure, there are potential threats from development outside these areas. For example, residential and commercial development of private properties within the IMA may affect bat foraging areas. Proposed modifications to Rt. 22 include renovating a 3.5 mile stretch of Rt. 22 that comes to within ¼ mile of the church. Included in this renovation would be replacing the current bridge over Canoe Creek with a higher structure (construction slated to begin in 2007). Unfortunately, the bridge crosses a primary flyway to foraging territory. If the bridge is raised, the bats are likely to fly over it and into traffic. Several measures have been suggested by Cal Butchkoski to avoid problems: 1) provide enough space below the bridge so that the bats, which tend to fly low to the ground, will fly under it; 2) put a fence on top of the bridge to discourage the bats from flying above it; and 3) plant trees in such a way that they will funnel bats under the bridge. Other measures being considered include eliminating the need for bats to cross the road by erecting another building similar to the church (or by moving the church itself – a spectacularly bad idea). In addition to the possible Rt. 22 modifications, road construction proposals include the addition of a truck lane to Rt. 453, which connects the towns of Water Street and Tyrone – and passes through the northeast corner of the IMA.

Two Canoe Creek State Park Management Units are significant for bat populations, with both being designated Low Density Area Management Units – the Moore LDA Management Unit (includes Hartman Mine) and the Sugar Loaf LDA Management Unit (includes the bat nursery building). The Resource Management Plan for Canoe Creek State Park includes several wildlife objectives that pertain to mammals: 1) To maintain gates and monitor the State Game Propagation Area at the J. L. Hartman mine in order to protect the hibernaculum for endangered bats; 2) To maintain and protect the bat nursery in the former Evangelistic United Brethren Church (= Turkey Valley Mennonite Church); 3) To closely monitor the deer population to avoid an increase that may have an impact on other resources; and 4) To maintain six mowed fields, 30 acres total, in the hunting area and mowed perimeter along park boundaries to provide habitat diversity for wildlife. Vegetative management objectives include maintaining a diversified habitat, with approximately 40% old fields, 3% coniferous cover, and 40% mixed hardwoods. In addition, the Park inspects and maintains a fence of single-stranded wire that surrounds the 2-acre Propagation Area.

A Natural Heritage Inventory for Blair County is currently being conducted by the Western PA Conservancy. The draft inventory report designates the Canoe Creek Indiana bat area as a Biological Diversity Area.

Current Efforts

Preliminary Recommendations

• survey Rothrock State Forest unit for Allegheny woodrats
• survey areas along path of Rt. 453 through the IMA for Allegheny woodrat habitat

Nominator

Mammal Technical Committee Consultant

Agency Personnel

IMA boundary map

Rothrock State Forest map

Maps of State Game Lands 118, 147, and 166

Canoe Creek State Park map

Canoe Creek State Park Resource Management Plan

PA Game Commission bat monitoring records for State Game Lands 166, Ganister No. 3, and Canoe Creek Hartman) Mine.

PA Game Commission woodrat site survey for 7 sites.

Canoe Creek Mine Survey Report (highlights), Bat Conservation and Management. October 2000.

Checklist of Birds of the Canoe Creek Watershed IBA

Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Canoe Creek Watershed

Newspaper clippings (various sources and dates)

Map of path followed by two bats radio-tracked from Canoe Creek Mine to Maryland roost trees in April 2005.

Butchkoski, C. M. and J. D. Hassinger. 2002. Ecology of a maternity colony roosting in a building. Pp. 131-143 in Kurta, A. and J. Kennedy, eds. The Indiana bat: biology and management of an endangered species. Bat Conservation International, Austin, Texas, 253 pp.

Schumacher, Jerilynn. 2004. Bats on the map. Westsylvania 8: 41-44. (popular magazine article)

Simon, Dan. 2004. Bat crazy. Pennsylvania 27: 32-35. (popular magazine article)