The Pennsylvania Game Commission has recently updated hunting regulations for the upcoming season. PHLT has also revised its hunting access procedures to ensure safe, responsible use of our preserves. If you would like to hunt our properties, a reservation must be made in advance. To learn more about the changes to the program, visit the official site at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/pgc/landowner-resources/hunter-access-program or view our properties at https://www.phlt.org/nature-preserves ...

by Lizzie Higgins, PHLT Summer Intern Although the amount of rain this summer was not the best for outdoor fun, local fungi are now flourishing with the extra moisture. While some of these mushrooms might be safe to eat, it’s important to be absolutely certain of what you’re foraging. Many mushrooms look very similar to the untrained eye, and missing crucial differences could be a fatal mistake. An example of this is the safe meadow mushroom versus the “destroying angel” that causes organ...

by Lizzie Higgins, PHLT Summer Intern “Sploot” as a term has risen in popularity to describe the position animals are often seen lounging in with their hind legs spread out behind them to stretch and maximize contact with the ground. Etymology experts aren’t entirely sure where the word, popularized by the Internet, originates but some speculate it could be a combination of “splay” and “cute.” As the Poconos heat up for the summer, splooting becomes more common among wildlife trying to cool...