Master Naturalists Monongahela Chapter

09/22/2026

It's officially fall in the northern hemisphere!

09/20/2026

09/20/2026

Spotted Lanternflies are a hot topic lately, and we love seeing the public take interest in invasive species! We are ALL citizen conservationists (yes, you too!), and we ALL are responsible for the ecosystems we live in.

This colorful leaf-jumper drinks sap from its host plants, which can damage native trees and woody flora that haven't co-evolved to handle the pressure from SLFs. They threaten crops such as cultivated grape vines, with some farmers reporting a 90% decrease in crop production due to SLF infestations. 🤯

Trees can suffer from leaf wilting, reduced crowns, and eventual death as a result of prolonged infestations. The sappy residue SLFs leave behind can increase the possibility of black mold growth, as well (but more research is needed here to understand the full implications!). Their eggs are well-camouflaged, making it hard to find and remove them.

Some stages of SLFs show a strong preference for the invasive Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). There is some evidence that removing the ToH can help combat Spotted Lanternflies, too!

Plus, researchers are beginning to observe several NATIVE species who are learning to eat SLFs! Several species of bats, spiders, the Carolina Chickadee, and the Red-bellied Woodpecker are slowly learning to treat the SLF as a food source. This could help keep their numbers from exploding too far out of control, but certainly isn't a cure for the problem.

Removal of SLFs is still encouraged, but not all methods are equal! For example, do NOT USE GLUE TRAPS! Sticky traps are indiscriminate and inhumane, even when they have a "wildlife guard" over them.

09/20/2026

Join us on Tuesday, October 20th at 6 p.m. at the Harrison County Recreation Complex to learn how to grow your own 🍄‍🟫Shiitake mushrooms! Dr. Dave McGill will be teaching participants how to inoculate logs and how to care for them up to harvest.
In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn how to inoculate and care for their shiitake mushrooms and will take a bolt home to grow their own.

Registration is $10 and is due by October 9. Call 304-624-8650 or email Jennifer Friend, [email protected] by October 9th to register. You can visit the link below to register (payment should be mailed or dropped off at the WVU Harrison County Extension Office at 1117 Good Hope Pike, Clarksburg, WV.

Registration 🔗: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/uuEBU8784h

09/15/2026

The Allegheny Trail stretches 320 miles across West Virginia, yet few hikers know it exists. Filmmaker Emma Crow-Willard hiked the route.

09/15/2026

he WV Economic Development Office is requesting comments on the draft Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). According to the Economic Development Office, the new SCORP retains the same LWCF funding priorities as the current SCORP, but its survey results prioritize trails, daily-leisure parks, and event-oriented parks. Regional variations in desired interests and improvements are a major difference between old and new SCORPs.
Emailed comments may be provided to [email protected]
or in writing at
John McGarrity, Senior Planner, West Virginia Division of Economic Development, Capitol Complex, Building 3 - Suite 700, Charleston, West Virginia 25305-0311
Review the SCORP-https://www.lovewvstateparks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/DRAFT_202027-31_20SCORP.pdf.pdf

09/15/2026

Volunteer opportunity.

Friends of the Tug Fork River, Inc. is still in need of volunteers for their Tire Tug-of-War cleanup this week.

𝗪𝗲𝗱𝗻𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭𝟲, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
𝟵:𝟬𝟬 𝗮.𝗺.
𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗽

Since starting this effort in 2019, they've recovered 19,634 tires from the Tug Fork River. This cleanup could push that number over 20,000! Learn more 👇
friendsofthetugfork.org/river-restoration/tire-tug-of-war

09/13/2026

🔸 We want to SEE you outdoors this fall! Archery season opens Friday.

Maryland hunting season calendar:https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/Hunting-Seasons-Calendar.pdf

Graphic: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

09/13/2026

Pawpaw Party time!! WVU Core Arboretum's Pawpaw Party will be Thursday, September 10 (tomorrow), at 6:00-7:30 or while supplies last!

Come to WVU Core Arboretum to taste wild pawpaws! Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) is the largest fruit native to West Virginia. Pawpaws have a delicious, tropical flavor that some describe as a combination of banana, mango, and pineapple and a smooth, creamy texture. Pawpaws ripen in fall, and the Arboretum’s trees usually produce enough ripe fruit to gather and share with the public.

We will have a table set up in the lawn area, and all are welcome to stop by and try a pawpaw. We will also have literature about pawpaws and how to grow the pawpaw seeds that you will be left with after trying the fruit. Pawpaw Parties are free and open to the public, and no registration is required.

Also, don't forget that the West Virginia Pawpaw Festival will be at the Arboretum on Saturday, September 19, 12-5 pm. We will have orchard-grown, specially-selected Peterson Pawpaw varieties at the festival along with live music, food trucks, pawpaw trees and other native plants, and more. It is great to compare the wild fruit from a Pawpaw Party to the fancy fruit of the Pawpaw Festival!