ANNVILLE - For three days this month, the Pennsylvania National Guard will offer free guided tours of a rare butterfly colony here at the Fort Indiantown Gap Training Center.
The training center is the home to the only viable colony of Regal Fritillary butterflies east of the Mississippi River, according to a release from the state's Department of military and Veterans Affairs. Although not listed as an endangered species, the Regal's total population is small enough that it is listed as a federal species of concern.
The butterfly is "pride and joy" of the Gap's environmental team, according to the release. It has flourished in the 17,000-acre training facility, and that is no accident.
"We've developed training scenarios and maps that identify the Regal's habitat as 'mine fields,' so the Soldiers know to avoid them," said Joe Hovis, the DMVA wildlife manager. "It's these kinds of efforts which have turned this installation into what amounts to almost a 17,000-acre nature preserve."
Known as one of the busiest training sites in the National Guard, the Gap team earned recognition earlier this year for being one of the top environmental science programs in the military.
Last month, the Gap was awarded the Secretary of Defense environmental award for natural resources conservation, and in May, it received the 2007 Secretary of the Army Environmental Award, the Army's highest honor in the field of environmental science.
The tours will begin at 9 a.m., on July 14 and 21 and at 1 p.m., on July 13. No reservations are required for the tours, which will last about 2 1/2 hours. Interested persons should meet the tour guides at the Fort Indiantown Gap Community Club at Fisher and Clement Avenues in Annville.