Ft Indiantown Gap is a 17,000 acre live fire training facility in the Appalachian Mountain valley between Blue Mountain and Second Mountain. On four days each year around this time the resident biologists treat the public to a guided walk into the live fire range at the Gap to see the butterflies and assorted wildlife that live and breed there. The walk is centered on the Regal Fritillary butterfly which is the main attraction.
From the press release:-
“As one of the busiest National Guard Training Centers in the country, Fort Indiantown Gap is also a leader on the environmental forefront because we place a very high priority on being environmentally aware,” said Lt. Col. Robert Hepner, commander of Fort Indiantown Gap. “These butterfly tours, given by our biologists, provide excellent insight on not only the regal fritillary butterfly but also on the flora, fauna, and wildlife that inhabit beautiful Fort Indiantown Gap and our dedication to safeguard these spectacular natural resources.”
Now the funny thing is that it's not the peace and quiet that makes this area so attractive to the Regal Fritillary it's the opposite. It's the disturbed ground which is favored by a species of violet which provide food for the Regal Fritillary butterfly larva.
Anyway, it was a nice 1 1/2-2 mile walk seeing lots of birds, butterflies, flowers and a Ring-necked Snake (no Rattlesnakes this year).
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| Range 22 |
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| Black-eyed Susan |
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| Butterfly Bush |
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| Great Spangled Fritillary |
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| Great Spangled Fritillary |
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| Great Spangled Fritillary on Thistle |
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| Regal Fritillary |
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