A wildlife species that has been long missing in Pennsylvania is returning.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission released 50 bobwhite quail in Franklin County this week.
Officials say the bobwhites have short lifespans and are prone to dramatic population swings. They were a fixture in Pennsylvania in the mid-1800s and lasted in-part due to the abundant number of farms.
However, as farms decreased so did the number of bobwhites.
The Game Commission expects the recent introduction of the birds to help quickly expand their population in the state.
It’s a plan that has been in the works for the last decade according to the Game Commission.