A Nature Mystery
This Halloween
we've found something scary
When they're on the scene
we ought to be wary!

Of saliva and wood
no two are the same...
Do you have a guess
for this month's mystery game?


[See "Nature Mystery Revealed" below for the answer!]
Attention Volunteers: Two Days Remaining!
Help us uphold the health and beauty of our public nature preserves!
All our volunteer events will maintain safe social distancing.
Fieldstone Farm Tank Creek Nature Preserve
(Cresco)
Wednesday November 4th
9 AM - 12 PM

Help us remove invasive shrubs to preserve the natural features and historic beauty of this photogenic preserve.
Pomeroy McMichaels Creek Nature Preserve
(Stroudsburg)
Wednesday November 11th
9 AM - 12 PM

Help us remove invasive Japanese barberry to protect an area of the preserve known for its spectacular spring wildflower displays.
Photo Credits
Neil Boushell: Fieldstone Farm Nature Preserve
Candace Roper: Pomeroy McMichaels Creek Nature Preserve
Want to help out, but can't attend these events?
Sign up for our volunteer list and tell us about your interests!
Show your support through a donation today.
Shout-Out to Our October Volunteers!
Pomeroy Nature Preserve

Volunteers worked hard to remove prickly invasive barberry shrubs (as well as privet, honeysuckle, burning bush, and multiflora rose) liberating space for many small trees, native shrubs and native wildflowers. We can't wait to see how it looks in the spring!
Glen Run Nature Preserve

Volunteers helped remove invasive multiflora, barberry and autumn olive, so the trail will no longer be a thorny gauntlet for hikers. Trees liberated from the python-like coils of oriental bittersweet will respire a bit more freely now. And we had some fun in the woods!

Cleanup on Route 940

Thursday, October 22nd PHLT hosted a cleanup event on Route 940 in Mt. Pocono, between Knox St. and Devils Hole Rd.
This highly trafficked area falls victim to heavy amounts of litter, which then washes down into the adjacent PHLT preserves, imposing harm to wildlife and the high quality, trout-filled headwaters of Yankee Run and Paradise Creek.

Ambitious volunteers spent their morning picking up litter and sharing some much-needed TLC along this stretch of Route 940, an amazing effort to help protect the important waters, wildlife, and beauty of PHLT's Kurmes Nature Preserve and Yankee Run Nature Preserve.
Thank you to all of you who volunteered last month. We are so grateful to be stewarding natural lands with the help and support of our community!
Trick-or-Treat: How to Have a Sustainable Halloween Clean-Up
Every year, costumes and decorations meet a fretful fate, winding up in landfills and costing American families close to $9 billion. Now, that is frightening!
(But it doesn't have to be this way!)
Learn how to properly dispose of your pumpkins, and check out these fun and helpful tips, for minimizing waste as you clean up, and making the most of this years' supplies for a more sustainable (and affordable) Halloween next year!
Let Go of Stress (with Nature)
Whether it's COVID-19, the upcoming election, or just the gloomy weather rolling in this past week, it's normal to be feeling a little stressed right now.

Wherever you are, we want you to take a moment, right now, to connect with nature. Ground yourself in the earth; connect to your roots. Discover oneness with the natural elements all around you, and let the autumn breeze gently blow your troubles away.
Heather Houskeeper at Delaware Highlands Conservancy shares a guided meditation and mindful walk at the Milford Experimental Forest, but you can join her in your own backyard. For the full video, click here.
We're Falling for these November Holidays and Events
Nov.15 - America Recycles Day
Nov. 17 - Take A Hike Day
(plan a trip to one of our preserves!)
Nov. 23 - Eat a Cranberry Day
(learn about cranberries in PA here)
Nov. 28 - #Grateful4theDelaware
(The Delaware River supports diverse ecosystems & provides clean drinking water to 13.3 million people!
For that, we should all be grateful).
Nature Mystery Revealed
The answer is... a hornets' nest!
This nest was spotted this month at Fieldstone Farm Nature Preserve.

Although the sting of a hornet can be quite painful, the presence of this nest isn't any cause for concern. According to Penn State Extension, the entire colony (except a few fertilized potential queens) will actually die by the first frost (so by now, the nest is likely inactive).
The queen emerges in spring, and builds this nest entirely herself before laying eggs to start a colony.
During their active time in spring and summer, hornets feed on other insects, which can help reduce populations of unwanted species such as yellowjackets. Hornets even provide some pollinator benefits as they search for nectar.
As long as the nest is left undisturbed, these hornets should pay you no mind!
Thanks for playing!
Pocono Heritage Land Trust | phlt.org