Hempfield townlively.com
JANUARY 1, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XL • NO 39
Common fire The wonders of wintertime wildlife safety hazards to avoid this winter
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
I
BY ADRIAN ESCHENWALD
t’s no secret that most of the continental United States contains regions that are characterized by expansive wilds and stunning landscapes. Every corner of the country has a unique ecosystem that is teeming with distinct wildlife and native flora. For many centuries, the majesty of American land has been recognized by the indigenous tribes that first coexisted with
prancing past their garden shed. When it comes to garbage can burglaries and squatting under porches or in garages, smaller wild animals such as foxes and raccoons are the usual suspects. Communities such as Willow Street and Strasburg may have less forested land than their neighbors in the Hempfield area or certain parts of the Southern End, but other factors make wildlife sightings common. Hundreds of acres of rolling farmland and busy roads often force wild
Every season has its own customs and holiday traditions that are unique to a certain time of year. In summer, students vacate their classrooms to enjoy two months of leisurely days with friends and family members, and July brings barbecues and fireworks to nearly every neighborhood in America. Fall arrives with the promise of trick-or-treaters knocking at the door and Thanksgiving delights like stuffing and cranberry sauce. For many people, the winter season is the most anticipated time of year, and its cold months are full of festivities as revelers celebrate Christmas and greet the new year. Just as every season is accompanied by different holidays and traditions, different fire hazards and safety risks are more likely to occur depending on the current page of the calendar. C h r i s t m a s c e l e b ra t i o n s might have wrapped up until next year, but the holiday poses a variety of fire hazards that are most dangerous in the upcoming weeks. Some of the most common wintertime safety threats are stockings that hang above a fireplace and Christmas lights wrapped around flammable objects such as dry foliage in a front yard. Although this
See Wildlife pg 5
See Winter safety pg 2
wild animals and treated the natural world with sacred reverence. From the first European settlers to modern-day tourists, nearly every America-bound voyager has been humbled by the wonders that lie between the coasts. After centuries of colonization and industrialization, the wild inhabitants of the United States have less territory to roam, but animals’ adaptation to human expansion has allowed many species to survive - and many of them can be found right in your own backyard. Lancaster is no exception to North America’s array of distinct wildlife and scenic landscapes. The western side of the county borders the Susquehanna River,
Two mourning doves inspect a freshly laid sheet of snow in a yard in Ronks.
which includes several miles of striking vistas and tall cliffs that cut into thick forests. Although you’re more likely to spot a wild animal along hiking trails and protected habitats such as Shenks Ferry Wildflower Preserve in Conestoga or Kellys Run Nature Preserve in Holtwood, many critters reside in the more developed parts of the county. Certain hibernating species such as groundhogs, bats and jumping mice may not emerge from their cozy caverns until
spring, but winter weather often makes it more likely that you’ll find other animals in suburban yards and neighborhoods in Lancaster city. Lancaster’s non-hibernating , native creatures include foxes, raccoons, deer and multiple avian species. Many neighborhoods in West Hempfield Township are surrounded by wooded areas teeming with wildlife; residents of the suburbs need only to sit quietly in their backyards to have a good chance of spotting a herd of whitetail deer
Happy New Year!
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“I find winter to be a better time of year to observe wildlife.”