Local student participated with the Pennsylvania Deer Research

   Carlos Cuevas, a junior at Susquehanna Community Jr. / Sr. high school, participated with Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Technician Matt Trick in wildlife research. The research conducted by the Pennsylvania Game Commission is measuring survival and response to hunting activity of female white-tailed deer.

 Mr. Cuevas had a life time experience on how PGC use’s methods to capture deer in the field using clover traps, drop nets, and rocket nets in the winter and early spring. These studies are used to monitor survival rates and harvest vulnerability of female white-tailed deer. These research study locations occurred in wildlife management units 2G and 4B in central Pennsylvania .

Picture on the left is the research team participants

                                                                                                                              Picture on the right is Carlos holding down a, rocket

                                                                                                                              net trapped, deer. (A mask has been placed

                                                                                                                              over the eyes of the deer to calm it down.)  

                                                                                                                              Photos by Al Cuevas 

 On Saturday March 8th, 2008 Carlos was able to capture two female deer on a rocket net over a baited field . He then wrestled with the live deer and restrained  it so Wildlife Technician  Matt Trick could take skin and health data samples of the deer. They also tagged the ear for future captures and harvest data. This will help to monitor the movements and survival of individual females. “This was the light of my life, I can see this as my future” Cuevas said. 

This was all part of Carlos continuing his education in wildlife research that he started last summer after attending Wildlife Leadership Adventures camp at the Raystown Field station of Juniata College. This field station is part of Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education. The mission of this camp is to empower high school youth with the necessary skills and knowledge to become ambassadors for conservation in order to ensure a sustained wildlife legacy for future generations. 

The Susquehanna Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association is once again helping youth to attend this camp by sponsoring scholarships to attend the camp. According to Branch Secretary Bob Wagner, "the Susquehanna Branch of QDMA has notified the PICE Wildlife Leadership Adventure Camp that we will sponsor a youth from NE Pennsylvania that meets its camp requirements. Our sponsorship last year for Carlos to attend the camp was one of the best uses of our funds that we have ever done. This camp has helped Carlos become a more complete outdoorsman and conservationist." If you know of any youth who are interested in the outdoors and may be interested in this camp go to the web address for PICE (Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education) www.piceweb.org . and fill out an application before April 15th.