What is Our Favorite New Year's Resolution?
"Spend more time outside"
Happy New Year from PHLT!
Who Goes Here? A Nature Mystery
"Who Goes Here" is a new occasional feature exploring little mysteries of the natural world. As you venture out on PHLT Preserves, you will find our trails are carefully designed to help you explore and learn more about the many natural features that make our Pocono home so unique and special.

A curious mind will often find the details all around us, and wonder,

"Who goes here?"
This first of our new “Who Goes Here” series is a mystery written in short parallel rows of six or more holes etched in the crusty bark of a variety of trees along trails everywhere. 

As the Autumn and Winter landscapes inevitably become more open with both “leaf off and snow on," these curious tree markings, once hidden by green leafy curtains, are now curiously more visible and observable.
Photo: Michigan State University | Written by Don Miller
Do you know who goes here? Read below for the answer!
Attention Volunteers!
New 2021 Workday Schedule
What’s the best way to shake off the winter blues? 
Get outside and get active!

We're already ramping up for a year of community stewardship events!
To view the complete 2021 Workday Schedule, please visit our website.


Learn Preserve

Wednesday, January 6th | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Tannersville

Join us to remove invasive shrubs and oriental bittersweet from the beautiful Learn Preserve. Invasive shrubs threaten the ecological integrity of the preserve and oriental bittersweet is an aggressive vine that can pull down large trees. 
 

Glen Run Nature Preserve

Wednesday, January 13th | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Stroudsburg
 
We will be removing and treating invasive burning bush and other invasive
shrubs to protect a beautiful part of Glen Run Nature Preserve.
 
 
Fieldstone Farm Nature Preserve

Saturday, February 6th | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Location: Mt Pocono
 
We will keep warm by cutting and treating invasive
shrubs at the photogenic Fieldstone Farm Nature Preserve.
 

Pomeroy Nature Preserve

Saturday, February 13th | 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 
Location: Stroudsburg
 
Join us to continue our work to remove invasive species from this nature preserve. We will be removing large invasive shrubs from the meadows. This will involve chainsawing large autumn olives, so bring ear protection if desired.
Many invasive plants are thorny, so please bring sturdy gloves to protect yourself and your own pair of loppers if you have them.

Social distancing will be required for these events. To ensure safe attendance capacities, please RSVP using the button below.
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.
Make the Most of Your Old Christmas Tree

Before you toss it, check out Arbor Day Foundation's eight creative ways to reuse and repurpose your holiday tree.

Create a wildlife sanctuary, provide protection and nourishment for your garden, or craft some home decor!

Explore these and other ideas here.
Who Goes Here? A Nature Mystery
Answer Revealed:
This first "Who Goes Here" Mystery Critter signs are the vertical rows of holes on the sides of trees made by the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, which allow the bird to survive an early return North in Spring before many insects are readily available. 

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drills these holes year after year in the same trees to open paths for sap to run out. The bird then comes back to these trees as the sun heats the bark and the tree sap begins to run, drinking this nutrient-rich sap to survive until insects are more active and available.

The sweet sap that flows out of the holes also later attracts small insects that the Sapsucker may then eat as it revisits these holes.
Photo: Denis Fournier | National Audubon Society
Thanks for playing!
Pocono Heritage Land Trust | phlt.org