Private Landowner Assistance Program

Landowners - A team of Pennsylvania Game Commission biologists is ready to assist you in making your property more attractive for wildlife, particularly species of greatest conservation need. They even make house-calls!                                    

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for managing the state's wild bird and mammal populations. In May of 2004, the agency created a Private Landowner Assistance Program and hired a Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist to facilitate the program and aid interested landowners in developing habitat management plans in each of the state's six geographic regions. The Game Commission's goal is to improve Pennsylvania's landscape for wildlife species of special concern through developing detailed plans for interested landowners who want to help these at-risk species. These plans focus on creating or maintaining habitat for the state's 109 bird and mammal species of concern. Although the plans focus on species of concern, a wide variety of species often benefit from these habitat plans once they are implemented.

Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologists cover large areas statewide and will work with landowners who have an interest in Pennsylvania's wildlife and the property to make a difference. This program is custom-made for landowners who are interested in creating, preserving, or enhancing wildlife habitat. And remember, every habitat improvement made in support species of concern solidifies their future in the Commonwealth. Progress is made in the Private Landowners Assistance Program every time another landowner gets involved. The goal of this program is to make private properties better for these species, at the very least one property at a time.

The first step is to contact the Regional Wildlife Diversity Biologist or regional office serving your county. After a short interview, the biologist will send the interested property owner a landowner objective survey (PDF), which identifies the property by habitat features and ranks the landowner's interests and property uses. After reviewing the survey, the biologist will visit the property and walk it with the landowner. A detailed plan will be developed based upon the biologist's findings and landowner's chosen level of involvement.

There is no charge for participating in the program, nor is there a public access requirement. Biologists will follow-up their planning effort by checking with participating landowners to see if they have questions or need additional direction.

• If you're interested in participating in the Private Landowner Assistance Program, please contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission's Central Dispatch Center to get in touch with your RWD Biologist. 

1-833-PGC-HUNT or 1-833-PGC-WILD