Paunacussing Preserve

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Paunacussing Preserve

Paunacussing Preserve is a bucolic 102-acre property of meadows and farm fields in central Bucks Cou Learn more at www.natlands.org.

Once part of a larger 400-acre farm, the 108 acres that make up Paunacussing Preserve have been an important thread in the agricultural fabric of the area for several hundred years. Before European settlers farmed the land, the site was home to Native Americans. Many arrowheads and artifacts have turned up on the property, most notably the “Lenape Stone,” which is now a part of the collection of the Mercer Museum in Doylestown. The property is home to a restored wetland (once a man-made farm pond, which Natural Lands converted back to a flowing stream in 2009) that is teeming with flora and fauna. Paunacussing Preserve is owned and managed by non-profit conservation organization Natural Lands. The preserve is open by appointment by calling 610-353-5587 ext. 507.

10/07/2026

Alert: Deer management season is underway. Controlled hunting of white-tailed deer protects the ecological balance of our nature preserves. Only Natural Lands permit-holders may hunt the preserves.

Natural Lands has operated our controlled hunting program safely for decades. Hunters must apply to participate in the program, complete regular training and proficiency testing, and comply with strict safety protocols.

Preserve visitation and hunting do overlap, though our hunters are generally more active at dawn and dusk and they avoid hunting near hiking trails (as hikers often scare away deer). Some visitors chose to wear blaze orange during their visits. As always, dogs must be kept on leash and stay on trails.

You can learn more about our controlled hunting practice here: natlands.org/hunting

09/25/2026

American persimmons are absolutely beloved by our native wildlife! Skunks, foxes, black bears, turkeys, woodpeckers...all these critters (and many more) enjoy this fall fruit.

That’s why we kindly ask all our visitors not to forage. The wild fruits (and other foods) of our preserves belong to the wildlife who call our properties home.

State parks, however, do allow foraging for those who are interested.

📸: Rachel Rhodes

09/18/2026

This salamander is still just a baby, and will rely on the shelter, protection, and moisture of leaf litter to survive to see spring. Please keep this in mind as the leaves begin to fall, and make a plan to leave the leaves wherever and however you can this year.

Remember, one person can’t do everything...but everyone can do something 😊 Even just one extra square-foot of leaves in the yard is better than none.

📸: Preston Wilson

09/11/2026

The owls have some competition...this might be one of the most photogenic raptors we’ve ever seen 😍

📸: Red-tailed hawk by Bill Moses

09/04/2026

Catch bugs! Climb trees! Flip rocks! No, these are not new family-friendly curses. They're simple things anyone and everyone can do with their kids to keep them engaged in the outdoors amidst the chaos of the back-to-school season. And let's be honest...you could probably benefit from a little extra time outdoors, too.

Other fun nature-play ideas include:

🗺️ Treasure hunting. Hide a natural treasure, then make a map showing where to find it.

🧚‍♀️ Crafting a magical residence. Fairy house, gnome home, or toad abode, make a tiny house for the other residents of your yard...real or fiction!

⛵️ Building a natural boat. Is it a pirate ship? Vikings? Make two (or more) and race them down a stream.

🪵 Constructing something together. A swing, a shelter, or a simple hammock, it doesn’t need to be grand.

🛶 Kayaking. A classic!

Bonus tip: Just be present. Whether it's the playground after school or the sidelines of a soccer field, nature can be found almost anywhere by those who go looking for it.

📸: Kate Rash, Taproot Photography

08/28/2026

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) has evolved a long, deep, trumpet shape that excludes most insects. it relies almost exclusively on the Ruby-throated Hummingbird for pollination. Bonus: The plant is loaded with toxic alkaloids that cause deer to avoid it.

📸: Kristen Bower

08/21/2026

Enjoy the view! Protected open space is a defining characteristic of our region. (Of course, more than pretty places, protected landscapes offer essential services like absorbing flood waters, filtering drinking water, sequestering carbon, cooling and cleaning the air, and much more.)

📸: Kristen Bower

08/14/2026

Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) is a native ecological powerhouse, supporting more than 115 species of caterpillars in the eastern United States. Because it blooms through late summer and autumn, it serves as a critical late-season food source for many specialized larvae.

📸: Kristen Bower

08/07/2026

River birch (Betula nigra) is the only birch species that produces and drops mature seeds in the late spring instead of autumn.

📸: Kristen Bower

07/31/2026

All praise the pickerelweed! It stabilizes shorelines, prevents erosion, and filters excess nutrients from the water. It provides vital nectar for pollinators, shelter for fish, and seeds for waterfowl.

📸: Preston Wilson

Address

Doylestown, PA
18928

Website

https://natlands.org/support/donate-now/

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