What are the purple boxes in trees along Pennsylvania Turnpike?

The purple boxes you see along the Pennsylvania Turnpike are part of a bat house project. These boxes provide shelter for bats, which are important for controlling insect populations. Bats are a natural predator of mosquitoes and other flying insects, and can consume thousands of insects in a single night. By providing them with a place to roost, the Pennsylvania Turnpike is helping to reduce the number of insects in the area, and making the roadway safer for drivers.

In addition to providing shelter for bats, these boxes also serve as a way to monitor bat populations. The Pennsylvania Game Commission uses the data collected from these boxes to track the health and well-being of the state's bat population. This information is important for conservation efforts, as many bat species are threatened by habitat loss and disease.

The bat house project is a great example of how the Pennsylvania Turnpike is working to protect the environment. By providing shelter for bats, the turnpike is helping to reduce insect populations and conserve wildlife.