The Pennsylvania Game Commission habitat improvement project on Ford Island is under way again.

Ford Island is just off Linesville Hartstown Road and houses the Game Commission’s Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center.

“Natural forest regeneration had been almost nonexistent at this site due to competition with invasive species, such as tartarian honeysuckle, multi-flora rose, bittersweet and grapes,” said Jerry Bish, the land management group supervisor who is overseeing the initiative. “The project resulted in removal of these species followed by herbicide treatment to retard regrowth. The effect was immediate and highly visible, with dead and brown vegetation last fall. Deer deterrent fence will be installed to protect the newly regenerating forest. The result will be a very open understory with newly emerging undergrowth in 2012.”

This project is funded in part by Pittman Robertson funds, which come from a federal excise tax on sporting arms and ammunition.

“Wildlife responds best to a diverse mixture of trees and shrubs,” Bish said. “This area will begin to see a significant response to this management technique as early as 2013.”