It mostly covers lands to the south of Philipsburg, which have been lumbered or mined extensively. Little of this area has been undisturbed but a part of State Game Lands Number 60 has been relatively unaffected by such activity. Game Lands officials report that the site has extreme cold snaps, but no hard data is available.
Barrens are hardy, capable of surviving moderate cutting and fire.
Game Lands No.60 Oak Barrens was probably spared even this kind of disturbance, because of the apparent unproductiveness of the site. However, the associated insect communities, often consisting of dozens of specialized species that area restricted to barrens habitats, are highly sensitive. The application of pesticides, such as gypsy moth spraying, can also be detrimental to barrens insect communities. More research needs to be done in this barrens to determine which, if any, rare plant or animal species might be found here. Prescribed fire will probably also have to be reintroduced to manage the site properly.