Natural Lands

10/15/2026

Our friends at the Schuylkill Center's Wildlife Clinic recently returned some critters to the wild at Stroud Preserve, and the release went swimmingly! Pictured below are a few baby mallards, as well as a painted turtle that had been struck by a car near the property.

We wish these little creatures all the best, and are happy to provide the habitat for them to continue to grow and thrive in.

If you find an injured wild animal, please reach out to the the Wildlife Clinic. They provide professional care to sick, injured, and orphaned native wildlife so healthy animals can be returned to their natural habitat. Please consider donating or volunteering, too. Nature needs all the help it can get!

📸 Content captured by Sydney Glisan and Allie Cook
🦆 "Swimmingly" pun also by Allie Cook

10/14/2026

It's that oh-so special time of year again...time to leave the leaves!

Really, the entire food chain benefits from leaf litter come winter. Fallen leaves provide vital habitat to overwintering insects, small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles. Leaf litter also makes for wonderful nesting material and insulation for our den-dwellers like groundhogs. Then, of course, our larger mammals such as foxes and coyotes still need to hunt, and where are many of their go-to meals hiding out? You guessed it, the leaves!

Help a firefly make it to summer. Feed a fox. Do it for the salamanders.

Even if you live in a small space, leaf litter can be fastened to containers, window boxes, and raised garden beds with chicken wire. It's just one of those things where every little bit helps.

Happy fall, all!

P.S. Don't feel too guilty if you still need to mow some...leaves become excellent dirt!

📸: Image designed by hand and in-house by Brittni Hribar, Senior Graphic Designer

10/08/2026

Natural Lands is hiring! We're seeking a Stewardship Assistant for our Chester Springs preserves in Chester County, PA.

The Stewardship Assistant is responsible for assisting Preserve Managers and Building Stewardship staff. Duties will include land management and maintenance of equipment, roads, and structures. The position will primarily assist the Preserve Managers at Bryn Coed and Binky Lee Preserves but may work as needed at any Natural Lands locations.

Please share with your networks. To learn more about the position, check out the job listing on the Careers page of our website:

At Natural Lands, we are passionate about our work, united by shared values, and determined to make a difference. Search our jobs and apply.

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. 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

Please see individual preserve pages for types of hunting, dates, and possible preserve closures.

Populations of white-tailed deer in PA and NJ are 10 times greater than the land can support. Learn how hunting keeps nature in balance.

10/06/2026

Natural Lands' second annual Fall Festival returns to Stroud Preserve's charming barnyard for another afternoon of seasonal fun!

Enjoy family-friendly crafts and activities, browse through local vendors, and don't forget to dress up! There will be costume contests for kids, adults, and pets. Well-behaved, leashed pets only, please.

📆 Saturday, October 17th, 1:00-5:00pm at Stroud Preserve in West Chester, PA

🎶 Live music from 2:00-4:00pm by local acoustic guitarist Anna Spackman

🍻 Pours provided by our friends at Animated Brewing Company and Dressler Estate

This event is free to attend, but registering ahead of time helps us out a bunch! Check out our Events tab to learn more and register today. Whether you’re shopping, crafting, or enjoying some live music, there’s something for everyone. 🍁

09/30/2026

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

09/24/2026

Hey, folks. We know your love is eternal and all that, but the vitality of what you find out on our preserves is not. Carving trees is akin to inflicting a wound and increases the risk of infection. Pictured here is a beech, a species already facing a blight called Beech Leaf Disease. They need all the help and support they can get right now…certainly not any more stress.

Aside from the health of our beautiful trees, memorial benches are sincere, heartfelt donations to the preserve made by the loved ones of those that have passed. They deserve respect. This particular bench was restored not even a month ago.

We know we are likely not speaking directly to the culprits and that the vast majority of our visitors are respectful. We simple ask that you help spread the word, and if you see something, say something.

Thanks so much, and enjoy this beautiful start to the new season.

09/23/2026

Did you know spiders can make multiple types of silk? Unlike silk-making insects, spiders have specialized silks for different functions. One spider can usually make at least three different varieties of silk, while some orb weavers can make up to seven.

📸: Jake Vogler

09/21/2026

Meadows hold interest throughout the year, but they definitely have a moment in fall! Blooming goldenrod, ironweed, rudbeckia, and other perennials provide important late-season nectar for our pollinators, some of which are preparing to migrate, currently migrating, or otherwise prepping for the winter ahead.

But also...meadows in fall are just so gosh-darn pretty.

📸: Donna Galanti

09/16/2026

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

📸: Red-tailed hawk by Bill Moses