Safety

Lightning Strike

NPS

Conditons

ALWAYS check current conditions at any National Park Service site before visiting!

Weather conditions may cause trail closures, rerouting or close the site altogether. A pleasant afternoon hike could go very poorly if you are not adequately prepared for the conditions you'll find at a site. Wildfires, flooding and other natural disasters may require complete changes to your itentiary.

Sensible seasonal dress is recommended for your visit and depending on your planned activities, should include accessories such as sunscreen, bug spray, sturdy shoes or hiking boots, and extra water. When hiking in the park, make certain you have adequate water and a fully charged cell phone to use in case of an emergency.

All emergencies in the park should be addressed to 911.

 

Winter at Fort Necessity National Battlefield

NPS

Weather Hazards

In southwestern Pennsylvania...

Summer months can be extremely hot and humid, with occasional severe thunderstorms. High humidity paired with lower temperatures can still have the potential to lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Be mindful of the heat index, not just the temperatures!

Fall and spring are generally pleasant with cooler temperatures. The shoulder seasons can still have warmer days. Layers are always good in these seasons. Please report any trail problems or downed trees you find and never climb over or under fallen trees.

Winter weather occasionally forces the closure of some park roads and buildings depending on severity. Fort Necessity's location on the mountain means that sometimes the weather is different here than other places. Our goal is ALWAYS to keep visitors and staff safe.

All emergencies in the park should be addressed to 911.

 

Four of the life stages of Spotted Lanternflies

Iowa Dept of Ag and Land Stewardship

Avoid Ticks, Lanternflies, and Poison!

Be mindful while walking through or near tall grass and brush in many areas of the park due to the number of ticks. A mild winter means that there will be more ticks out in the spring and summer. Some carry disease such as Lyme Disease, which can be transmitted to humans after contact with an infected deer tick, a small species of tick common in Pennsylvania. Deer (blacklegged) ticks are just one of the species of ticks you can find joining you on your hike. Pennsylvania also has Seed, Dog, and Lone Star ticks.

Visitors who prefer to walk in such areas should be aware of this danger, use proper insect repellent, and be certain to examine their clothing and pets for these parasites. Long sleeve shirts and pants tucked into your socks make it hard for ticks to attach to your skin. Be sure you check weird places like your belly button, arm pits and hairline! For your safety we recommend that visitors stay on walking trails and paths.

Spotted Lanternflies, an invasive bug who kills trees by sucking out all of the sap, are becoming more prevalent in new areas all the time. If you see them, please eliminate them and their nymphs. A study has shown that native milkweed is poisonous to them, and VERY good for Monarch butterflies.

Poisonous plants like poison ivy, oak and sumac, wild parsnip and other invasive plants can be found throughout the park. We do our best to mitigate these, and keep them away from public areas, but it's not always possible to catch it all. Visitors should be aware of possible hazards while exploring the park on foot.

All emergencies in the park should be addressed to 911.

 

Whitetail Deer - state mammal of Pennsylvania

Wildlife Encounters

Please do not feed or pet any park wildlife! Fed wildlife is DEAD WILDLIFE!

Even the cute squirrels and chipmunks can be carrying diseases (prairie dogs regularly carry black plague) and bites can be very painful. Squirrels, corvids (ravens, jays and crows) and bears will help themselves to your coolers and bags, especially if you leave them unattended. They will go after anything that is scented, including toothpaste, deodorants, and soap.

This is their home that you are visiting, so please be respectful by not harassing any wildlife you find while enjoying your visit to the park. You may find that some animals have become habituated to having people and cars around, and don't always respond how you would expect them to. This does NOT mean that they are tame or approachable. Even if they do let you nine times, the tenth may result in serious injury to you, your family or the wildlife.

If you come across any wildlife that is acting in an unusual or alarming manner, please report it to a ranger immediately. We will get the proper authorities out to check it. Chronic Wasting Disease and rabies have been found in Pennsylvania.

All emergencies in the park should be addressed to 911.