Hello from HHLT's Natural Resource Desk!

November is a wonderful time to reflect and give thanks, and I am thrilled to have this opportunity to express my deep gratitude for our volunteers and partners who donate their time and energy to restoring HHLT preserves.

This year has been especially rewarding at HHLT's Granite Mountain Preserve, where careful removal of invasive species gained momentum during several volunteer days over the summer. Then, this fall, we hosted three community planting days at Granite Mountain alongside HHLT partner Wild Woods Restoration Project and local volunteers, to introduce 1,901 native seedlings in an area once dominated by invasives like Japanese barberry, multiflora rose, winged euonymus, and Asiatic bittersweet.

The native species we planted included spicebush, Christmas fern, Virginia creeper, Pennsylvania sedge, and citronella horse balm. All were propagated from our own ecoregion to strengthen local genetic diversity and long-term resilience.

Our growing season is winding down, and soon we will welcome our volunteer hunters back to Granite Mountain (more info below). Each fall, their stewardship helps balance the white-tailed deer population -- a crucial step in protecting those native seedlings, and allowing our forest understory to recover naturally.

Each step I've described here is bringing us closer to a self-sustaining landscape at Granite Mountain, reflecting HHLT's ongoing commitment to restore native biodiversity and create habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife that depend on healthy forest understories.

HHLT couldn't do this vital restoration work without you -- our friends, supporters, and volunteers of all ages, including local scouts (see the Troop 41 images below!). Your commitment, dedication, and enthusiasm inspire us every day!

Giving thanks for your continued support,

Cory Tiger, Preserve & Natural Resource Manager

Hudson Highlands Land Trust

FREE Program This Saturday:

Join us this Saturday, November 8, for an eye-opening look at how climate change is transforming northeastern forests! Discover how climate change is reshaping local forests in real time during this free educational talk co-hosted by HHLT and Black Rock Forest, and led by HHLT board member Dr. Angelica Patterson, Curator of Education and Outreach at Mount Holyoke College's Miller Worley Center for the Environment.

For decades, Northeastern forests have quietly absorbed carbon from the atmosphere, regrowing after agriculture and logging declined. But today, rising temperatures are pushing some tree species northward, while familiar natives like northern red oak are struggling due to warming conditions. Combined with invasive pests and increasingly extreme weather, these shifts threaten to transform our forests and reduce their ability to store carbon.

What does this mean for the landscapes we love, and what can we do about it?

Dr. Patterson shares her journey into forest and climate research, reveals how different tree species are responding to our warming world, and highlights inspiring examples of how land managers and communities are cultivating more resilient forests for the future. To register for this free talk, CLICK HERE.

Our thanks to Putnam Valley Troop 41!

Granite Mountain Preserve Closed November 15-23

for Annual Controlled Deer Hunting Program

HHLT's Granite Mountain Preserve in Putnam Valley will close from November

15 through 23 for our annual controlled deer hunting program. Access will be limited to deer hunters who have (a) a valid hunting license from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and (b) a 2025 hunting permit from HHLT. Granite Mountain Preserve will reopen to all visitors on November 24. 

By collaborating with local hunters to help maintain the deer population, we are working to enhance forest health, which suffers from deer over-browsing. 

HHLT's annual controlled hunting program helps to safeguard vital habitats, decrease the number of wildlife-related car accidents, and suppress the spread of tick-related diseases. This program also fully complies with all applicable New York State laws and safety regulations.

We are grateful to all participating hunters for their assistance in managing the deer population at Granite Mountain. We also want to thank all of our community members in advance for respecting this temporary closure at the Preserve.

If you have any questions about the hunting program, please contact our Preserve Manager Cory Tiger at cory.tiger@hhlt.org. 

Thank you symposium participants!

HHLT, in partnership with Boscobel House & Gardens, Philipstown Garden Club, Cornell Cooperative Extension Putnam County, Mianus River Gorge, and the New York Natural Heritage Program, welcomed nature enthusiasts for a half-day symposium this past weekend exploring how to create backyards, gardens, and outdoor spaces that support, withstand, and thrive in a changing climate. Three expert speakers shared insights on wildlife coexistence, cultivating pollinator pathways, supporting biodiversity through climate-responsive gardening strategies, and sustainable composting practices.

The symposium featured Certified Wildlife Biologist Budd Veverka from Mianus River Gorge discussing practical strategies for coexisting with local wildlife, Dr. Matthew Schlesinger from the New York Natural Heritage Program highlighting the importance of supporting pollinators and beneficial insects, and Barbara Murphy, a Certified Master Gardener with Cornell Cooperative Extension, sharing composting techniques to enrich soil and reduce waste. This collaborative event reflects our ongoing commitment to connecting residents with the knowledge and resources needed to support our changing landscape and empower active stewardship across the Hudson Highlands region.

Four Ways We Can All Help Fight Climate Change

Small changes can make a big impact! Concerns about our changing climate and local impacts can feel overwhelming, especially when so many of the conversations are focused on global issues. However, some of the most effective action happens close to home. By engaging in local decisions, supporting community-based organizations, and making thoughtful choices on your own property, you can have a real and lasting impact.

Discover four ways we can all make a difference by fighting climate change right at home. Read HHLT's newest blog post: CLICK HERE.

Click on the links below for more information about these upcoming events.

Note: A double asterisk (**) indicates pre-registration or tickets are required.

Nov. 6: Desmond-Fish Public Library: Lyme Disease Author Talk **

Nov. 11: Putnam County: Free Fishing Day (No fishing license required) **

Nov. 15: Putnam Highlands Audubon Society & Philipstown Rec: Bird Walk **

Nov. 15: Desmond-Fish Public Library: Wild & Bright Reptile Show **

Nov. 15: Wild Ones Mid-HV: "Supporting Our Changing Landscapes" Talk **

Nov. 16: Putnam History Museum: "Algonkians of the Revolution" Lecture **

Nov. 20: The Nature of Nature: Biodiversity in the Hudson Valley" Screening **

Nov. 22: Hudson Highlands Nature Center: Leave It to Beavers Nature Walk **

HHLT conserves and cares for the lands and waters of the Hudson Highlands,

so that people and nature can flourish together for generations to come.



You make our work possible. Thank you for your support!

Photo credits, top to bottom: Banner (HHLT Staff Photo); Photo of Cory (Davis Connelly); Roots of Resilience Graphic (Nadia Azizi); Photos of Troop 41 (Cory Tiger);

All other photos provided by HHLT staff.

Hudson Highlands Land Trust

20 Nazareth Way, P.O. Box 226, Garrison, NY 10524

(845) 424-3358

info@hhlt.org

www.hhlt.org