DOVER, Del. (April 22, 2024) – The Delaware Forest Service hosted the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Col. John Haslet Chapter in Dover, and other volunteers to establish a memorial plot dedicated to former State Forester Walter F. Gabel, who served in this role from 1974 to 1991.

“We are excited about this DAR tree planting, not only because it is dedicated to Walt Gabel, but because the work by the Daughters of the American Revolution highlights the importance of the positive impacts of conservation efforts here in Delaware and throughout the United States,” said Delaware State Forester Kyle Hoyd. “This planting is a historical representation of penny pine plantings by DAR on the Headquarters Tract in the early 1900s. The same loblolly pine seedlings that we are planting today, only 85 years after those initial penny plantings, now cost a quarter each.”

One of DAR’s ‘service’ elements includes a conservation program devoted to improving the environment and educating the public on conservation issues. On June 3, 1939, members of the Delaware DAR (led by the Colonel John Haslet Chapter) planted the first DAR Forest of 10,800 “Penny Pines” in an area now the Redden State Forest’s Headquarters Tract. This National “Penny Pine” program initiative ($.01/tree) charged states across our Nation to establish at least an acre memorial forest by the 1941 National DAR 50th Anniversary. Donations of $5 secured 500 pine seedlings to be planted on that acre. The Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) was empowered to do the planting, although volunteers joined State Forest staff and CCC employees in Delaware to plant the site.

The Delaware Forest Service manages three state forests, including Redden, Blackbird, and Taber, covering more than 21,290 acres.

“I am thrilled Delaware Daughters helped make this event possible,” said Barbara Seningen, Regent-Delaware State Society, NSDAR. We recognize and support the planting of trees as they help reduce carbon dioxide and produce oxygen through photosynthesis, a process critical to mitigating climate-threatening forces.”

According to Dorothy Abbott, Conservation Chair of the DAR-Colonel John Haslet Chapter, “Walter F. Gabel dedicated most of his life to conserving and managing forest lands while pursuing his desire for American patriotism. Both his grandmothers and his three daughters are also DAR members.”

Establishing this memorial forest as a united effort celebrates Mr. Gabel’s passion for conservation and history. The memorial planting site on the Otis-Webb Tract was selected because the existing area is a prime location as an open field to convert back to trees, a process known as afforestation. Once the seedlings grow, this plot will help create forest diversity, including food plots for wildlife.

Former state foresters Bob Tjaden (1992-1994), E. Austin Short III (1995-2010) and Michael Valenti (2011-2022) were also invited for the tree planting.

The volunteers planted loblolly pine tree seedlings on an acre parcel within the 101-acre Otis-Webb Tract, south of Redden Road. This land was added to the Redden State Forest Complex in 2015. Funds for the purchase came from Delaware’s Open Space Program. Approximately one-half of the Otis-Webb Tract already supports a growing mixed hardwood/pine forest.

About the Daughters of the American Revolution
DAR was founded in 1890 as a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education. Today, DAR consists of over 190,000 members in 3,000 chapters worldwide. DAR members can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution and are dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism, via commemorative events, service to veterans, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, and community service. For more information, visit www.dar.org.

About Delaware Forest Service
The mission of the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is to conserve, protect, and enhance Delaware forests and their resources for the public through education, management, demonstration, promotion, and providing technical services in a timely and efficient manner. DFS offers a wide range of services to help Delawareans manage and improve their forest resources. These services are divided into three categories: conservation, protection, and education. For more information, visit the website de.gov/forestry and connect with DFS on Facebook, Twitter/X, or Instagram.

DOVER, Del. (October 19, 2023) – With hunting season now open, the Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service would like to remind our users of regulations as they relate to State Forest lands. This information can also be found in the Delaware Hunting and Trapping Guide. To view all State Forest Rules and Regulations, please visit the Delaware Forest Service website at de.gov/stateforests. Sunday hunting on State Forest lands are prohibited.

Hunting Stands and Equipment
No permanent deer stands, platforms, ladders, or blinds may be constructed on State Forest property. No screw-in steps, tree spikes, screws, or nails are allowed as they damage our resources and degrade the forest. Stands may be placed after August 1 prior to the start of the new year’s hunting season. Owners of deer stands left on Delaware Forest Service lands during the designated time period are required to tag and clearly identify their stand with the owners name and phone number. Failure to properly display a tag on your stand will result in its removal by the Delaware Forest Service at which time it will become property of the State of Delaware. All stands must be removed on the final day of the January muzzleloader season; any stands remaining after this date will be removed and become property of the Delaware Forest Service. Trail cameras are also prohibited on State Forest Lands. Any trail cameras found on State Forest property will be confiscated, and violators will be subject to fines.

No permanent deer stands, platforms, ladders, or blinds may be constructed.

Off-Road Vehicle Restrictions
Due to safety, speed and conflicts with other users on multiuse State Forest trails and roadways, no off-road vehicles registered or unregistered are allowed. This includes the use of electronic bikes, also known as e-bikes. Electronic bikes are considered to be motorized under Forest Service regulations and violators will subject to fines and restitution for any damages that take place on trails and forest roads.

Electronic bikes are considered to be motorized and violators will be fined.

“Fall is in the air which means hunting, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking is taking place on state forest property. Our largest numbers of users per day take place during the next 2 months. This message serves as a reminder to adhere to the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service regulations, so that all users can enjoy the benefits of our sustainable resources on Forest Service property,” said Delaware State Forester Kyle Hoyd.

Visitors that come across unmarked stands or see off-road vehicles are encouraged to report such incidents to the regional offices:

Blackbird State Forest: Jim Dobson, (302) 653-6505
Taber State Forest: Chris Miller, (302) 698-4549
Redden State Forest: Erich Burkentine, (302) 856-5580

About Delaware Forest Service
The mission of the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is to conserve, protect, and enhance Delaware forests and their resources for the public through education, management, demonstration, promotion, and providing technical services in a timely and efficient manner. DFS provides a wide range of services to help Delawareans manage and improve their forest resources. These services are divided into three categories: conservation, protection, and education. For more information, visit the website de.gov/forestry and connect with DFS on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

DOVER, Del. (August 21, 2023) – The Delaware Forest Service has launched a new online portal for reserving campsites and other venues on state forestland. Applicants can make reservations for primitive tent camping, rent the Lodge at Redden State Forest and reserve the pavilions. Additional campsites at Blackbird State Forest and Redden State Forest are also now open to the public. In total, Blackbird has sixteen (16) campsites available and Redden has eighteen (18) campsites. Online reservations for all locations can be made at de.gov/forestcamping.

“The Delaware Forest Service is proud to offer new amenities and sites at both Blackbird and Redden State Forests. One of our main goals has been to provide a multi-use area dedicated to recreational opportunities around our actively managed forests. By providing camping opportunities, our users can see how we sustainably manage our forests for future generations,” said Delaware State Forester Kyle Hoyd. “By offering the Lodge at Redden State Forest, people can experience and view sustainably managed timber in a historic setting, providing a glimpse into Delaware’s past. I encourage Delawareans and visitors to engage with Delaware state forests to see how great and versatile they truly are.”

Forest Campsites at Blackbird and Redden
The campsites at both Blackbird State Forest and Redden State Forest offer a variety of amenities, including charcoal grills, fire rings, firewood, picnic tables and water spickets. Selected campsites are also compliant with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including wheelchair accessibility for visitors. Campsites can be reserved $25 per night, with a maximum 3 night stay. More information on reservations, rules, regulations, and fees can be found at de.gov/forestcamping.

Blackbird Campsites are located at the Tybout Tract of the Blackbird State Forest. Blackbird State Forest has ten tracts totaling over 6,000 acres and contains a mixture of oaks, yellow-poplar, maple, gums, and hickories. Its 40 miles of trails are used extensively for hiking, running, bicycling, and horseback riding. The trail system at Blackbird interconnects campsites and pavilions.

Redden Campsites are located at the Headquarters Tract of Redden State Forest. Redden has 18 tracts totaling over 12,900 acres and contains mixed hardwoods including oaks, maple and gum. The 44 miles of trails are popular for hiking, horseback riding, bicycling and bird watching.

ADA-compliant campsite at Blackbird State Forest

Campsite amenities at Redden State Forest

The Lodge at Redden State Forest
The rustic Redden Lodge is on the National Register of Historic Places and was built around 1903. The 11-room pinewood lodge was designed to serve the executives of the Pennsylvania Railroad as a shooting or hunting retreat, east of Penn Central Railroad line. The executives would arrive with horses and dogs at the Carriage House, now Redden Education Center at the Headquarters entrance.

The Lodge is available for conferences, special events, gatherings, etc. as a weekday overnight ($250) and weekend rentals ($500).  Special Use Permits required for events utilizing vendors. Reserving the Redden Lodge has a two-phase process. First, make your reservation online committing to policies. Second, call 302-856-2893 to schedule a site visit. Amenities include a basic appliance kitchen, 3 bathrooms, shower and tub, an open dining hall and sitting room, rooms for primitive lodging, a south hall and a screened porch.

Exterior photo of The Lodge at Redden State Forest

Pavilions at Blackbird and Redden
Blackbird State Forest has two pavilions available on a first come first serve basis at the Tybout Tract and Ennis Tract (near the Blackbird Education Center).

Redden State Forest has three pavilions available on a first come first serve basis at the Headquarters Tract, Ellendale Tract, and Jester Tract.

At both locations, our carry-in, carry-out policy is in effect. Groups of 10 or more require a reservation and permit.

Ennis Tract Pavilion at Blackbird State Forest

About Delaware Forest Service
The mission of the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Delaware Forest Service (DFS) is to conserve, protect, and enhance Delaware forests and their resources for the public through education, management, demonstration, promotion, and providing technical services in a timely and efficient manner. DFS provides a wide range of services to help Delawareans manage and improve their forest resources. These services are divided into three categories: conservation, protection, and education. For more information, visit the website de.gov/forestry and connect with DFS on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Once a federally-listed endangered species, the Delmarva fox squirrel now populates five sites in Delaware as it continues to rebound through DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife efforts. /Photo courtesy of Sandra and George Wiley

Translocations to Three New State Sites Increase the Total Populated Delmarva Fox Squirrel Sites to Five

Delmarva fox squirrels now have three new homes in Sussex County as a result of translocations during 2022 to the Assawoman Wildlife Area, Redden State Forest and Trap Pond State Park, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced today on the eve of National Squirrel Appreciation Day. The new locations coordinated by DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife add to known Delmarva fox squirrel populations within the state at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge and DNREC’s Nanticoke Wildlife Area.

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife began in the fall of 2020 translocating Delmarva fox squirrels captured from robust populations in Maryland to suitable habitats for the species in southern Delaware. Thirty-two Delmarva fox squirrels were translocated in 2022, 15 of them going to Trap Pond State Park and 11 to Redden State Forest during the spring and an additional six squirrels placed within Trap Pond last fall. Delmarva fox squirrels translocated to Assawoman Wildlife Area during 2020 and 2021 have established distinct home ranges and reproduction has been documented. Translocations of additional Delmarva fox squirrels from Maryland to Trap Pond State Park and Redden State Forest are planned for the spring of 2023.

While Delmarva fox squirrels are now abundant on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, these large, silver-gray squirrels remain rare in Delaware. Unlike many of its squirrel relatives, the Delmarva fox squirrel is very slow to expand its range and colonize new territories. Although the Delmarva fox squirrel was once a federally-listed endangered species, translocations, habitat management and land and species protection have helped their populations recover regionally in Maryland, resulting in the species being removed from the federal endangered species list in 2015.

Since Delmarva fox squirrels are no longer a federally-listed endangered species, landowners should not be concerned if they start seeing them on their property. Hunting of Delmarva fox squirrels is still prohibited, so it is important that hunters note the differences between them and the more commonly seen eastern gray squirrels, for which Delaware has a hunting season.

The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife developed a Delmarva Fox Squirrel Conservation Plan in 2014 in collaboration with stakeholder input to increase the number of Delmarva fox squirrels in Delaware. The plan is now being successfully implemented, as indicated by new resident populations in the state. Translocations have proven to be an important and effective tool for increasing the distribution of this species, and are the cornerstone of Delaware’s Delmarva Fox Squirrel Conservation Plan.

More information about DNREC’s Delmarva fox squirrel restoration project, including photographs differentiating the appearance between the Delmarva fox squirrel and the eastern gray squirrel, and answers to frequently asked questions about the Delmarva fox squirrel in Delaware, can be found at de.gov/foxsquirrel.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land owned or managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram,  Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contact: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov

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A Delmarva fox squirrel at the Assawoman Wildlife Area wearing a telemetry collar for remote tracking /DNREC photo

Gray Squirrel Hunting Season to Open Sept. 15

With the opening of gray squirrel hunting season on Sept. 15, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control reminds Delaware hunters to be vigilant and not to harvest state-endangered Delmarva fox squirrels. Delmarva fox squirrel populations are found in Sussex County at and near the Nanticoke Wildlife Area, Assawoman Wildlife Area, Trap Pond State Park, Redden State Forest and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge.

Hunting for and harvesting of Delmarva fox squirrels is prohibited. It is important that hunters note the differences between the fox squirrel and the more commonly-seen eastern gray squirrel. Delmarva fox squirrels are much larger than gray squirrels and have lighter silver-gray fur with little to no brown, longer, fuller tails and short, rounded ears compared to gray squirrels.

Delmarva fox squirrels remain rare in Delaware, with the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife working to reestablish the species by relocating Delmarva fox squirrels from robust populations in Maryland to suitable habitat in Delaware.

More information about Delmarva fox squirrels, including photographs comparing Delmarva fox squirrels and eastern gray squirrels, and answers to frequently asked questions, can be found at de.gov/foxsquirrel.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities, and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife conserves and manages Delaware’s fish and wildlife and their habitats, and provides fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and boating access on nearly 68,000 acres of public land. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Nikki Lavoie, nikki.lavoie@delaware.gov

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