Falling for fall

By SANDY LONG

Posted 11/13/19

With October in the rearview mirror and Thanksgiving looming on the horizon, signs of the season’s shift toward winter are all around. Take some time to tune in to the passing peculiarities and …

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Falling for fall

TRR photos by Sandy Long

Express your gratitude for our mighty and majestic Delaware River by taking and posting pictures on Thanksgiving Day and using #Grateful4theDelaware to proclaim your appreciation. Visit www.4states1source.org to learn more about the Delaware River Watershed Initiative’s work to protect the rivers and streams that provide drinking water for more than 15 million people across four states.

TRR photos by Sandy Long

Increase your connection to the animals we share our lives with by choosing a creature to learn more about—it can be especially interesting to pick one you may find unsettling. Many people fear snakes and sometimes harm them as a result. Most of our regional snake species—like this Eastern garter snake—are non-venomous and would like nothing more than to be left alone. Observe them from a respectful distance and appreciate them for the ways in which they contribute to our well-being, such as by reducing rodent populations.

TRR photos by Sandy Long

As trees lose their leaves in the final days of fall, other interesting features are revealed, like this drey—the nest of a tree squirrel, built from leaves, twigs and grasses.

TRR photos by Sandy Long

Watch your step! Caterpillars like the black and orange-striped woolly bear and this giant leopard moth caterpillar are on the move.

Posted Wednesday, November 13, 2019 12:46 pm

By SANDY LONG

With October in the rearview mirror and Thanksgiving looming on the horizon, signs of the season’s shift toward winter are all around. Take some time to tune in to the passing peculiarities and perfect imperfections of fall’s final days. Think about all there is to be thankful for here in the Upper Delaware River region as autumn casts its lingering spell over our senses.

Make every effort to enjoy the endless recreational opportunities here before snow and ice transform the water and regional landscapes. Go on the guided interpretive hike on November 17 at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) in Dingmans Ferry, PA. Grab a ticket to PEEC’s Game Dinner on November 16.

While out and about, heed the arrival of various hunting seasons in Pennsylvania and in New York. Take note of an expanded bear season in PA. And always wear fluorescent clothing when sharing the forests with hunters.

If you set out to enjoy Pennsylvania’s pristine waters, be aware of the mandatory cold-weather life jacket regulation in place from November 1 through April 30.

And when falling temperatures eventually drive us indoors, take the opportunity to learn more about regional wildlife and how they prepare for and survive the colder seasons soon to be here.