Hildacy Preserve

Hildacy Preserve Natural Lands 55-acre Hildacy Farm Preserve contains a diversity of habitats that attract abundant wildlife. In 1981, Mrs. Learn more at www.natlands.org.

See our website for more information including our history, a trail map, and hours of operation. Hildacy Preserve is virtually all that remains of a 300-acre land grant from William Penn to a local tanner and his family. Once prized for its mature oak trees, the land was slowly cleared for timber and agriculture. By the late 1800s, only one small grove of trees remained. In 1936, Hilda and Cyril F

ox (hence the name “Hildacy”) bought the property. They lived here for nearly 40 years, and used the farm to raise race horses and German shepherds. As the surrounding area was developed, the Foxes were determined to keep their land open for wildlife. Fox donated Hildacy to Natural Lands, with instructions to continue the Foxes’ conservation work. Since that time, we have worked to restore the woodlands, meadows, and wetlands to a more natural state. Hildacy Preserve is owned and managed by non-profit conservation organization Natural Lands.

Don't worry! That lone fawn you spotted is probably not abandoned. Female deer hide their newborn fawns in tall grass or...
05/28/2026

Don't worry! That lone fawn you spotted is probably not abandoned. Female deer hide their newborn fawns in tall grass or brush and move some distance away to feed to avoid drawing predators to their offspring. The fawn simply waits in hiding until its mother returns. Soon, the fawns will be strong enough to follow the does and run from predators, and they no longer need to spend hours alone in hiding.

Though it seems that they are vulnerable, these young fawns are not totally helpless. Their spotted pelts look like dappled sunlight on the forest floor and offer great camouflage. They do not have strong scent that would attract predators. Fawns are also programmed to keep totally still and quiet when hiding while their mother forages. The combination of the physical attributes and the behavior of both does and fawns are remarkably successful at limiting depredation at such a vulnerable time.

📸: Jason Ferrell

Eastern Screech-Owls readily use man-made nest boxes. The female doesn’t hunt while on the nest; she and the chicks depe...
05/21/2026

Eastern Screech-Owls readily use man-made nest boxes. The female doesn’t hunt while on the nest; she and the chicks depend on food brought them by the male. Pairs usually are monogamous and remain together for life. Some males, however, will mate with two different females. The second female may evict the first female, lay her own eggs in the nest, and incubate both clutches.

📸: Mike Coll

Got deer browse issues? Wet soil? Look no further than golden ragwort (Packera aurea)! This native, semi-evergreen peren...
05/14/2026

Got deer browse issues? Wet soil? Look no further than golden ragwort (Packera aurea)! This native, semi-evergreen perennial forms dense mats of heart-shaped leaves and yellow flowers in spring. They thrive in soggy soils and are unpalatable to deer.

📸: Adam Hribar

The native American chestnut (Castenea dentata) was functionally wiped out by 1950 from Pennsylvania forests due to a fu...
05/07/2026

The native American chestnut (Castenea dentata) was functionally wiped out by 1950 from Pennsylvania forests due to a fungus introduced to the U.S. at the beginning of the century. It was first observed in the Keystone State in 1908 in Montgomery County. Chinese chestnuts like this one are not affected by the blight.

📸: Adam Hribar

Who else thinks Barn Owls look a little like the Porgs from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"? May the Fourth be with you. 📸: S...
05/04/2026

Who else thinks Barn Owls look a little like the Porgs from "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"? May the Fourth be with you.

📸: Steve Eisenhauer

Should you help a turtle across the road? YES! This is the only time you should interfere with turtles. Lift them by the...
04/30/2026

Should you help a turtle across the road? YES! This is the only time you should interfere with turtles. Lift them by the edges of their shell and place them on the grass along the roadside in the direction they were heading.

📸: Alex Eustis

04/29/2026

A young brown phase screech owl has been roosting in a nest box at Hildacy Preserve for the past few months. Starting this past week, he's been calling every night.

A second owl has recently been spotted nearby—a very promising sign! Keep your fingers and toes crossed that our little friend secures a mate 🤞

The Eastern Phoebe is a loner, rarely coming in contact with other phoebes. Even members of a mated pair do not spend mu...
04/23/2026

The Eastern Phoebe is a loner, rarely coming in contact with other phoebes. Even members of a mated pair do not spend much time together. They may roost together early in pair formation, but even during egg laying the female frequently chases the male away from her.

“Don’t you know what that is? It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, yo...
04/16/2026

“Don’t you know what that is? It’s spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you’ve got it, you want—oh, you don’t quite know what it is you DO want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so!”
~ Mark Twain, "Tom Sawyer"

📸: Judith Trojnar

American Bitterns are heard more often than seen. Their booming, clacking, gulping calls have earned them some colorful ...
04/09/2026

American Bitterns are heard more often than seen. Their booming, clacking, gulping calls have earned them some colorful nicknames, including "stake-driver," "thunder-pumper," "water-belcher," and "mire-drum."

📸: Mike Coll

Address

1031 Palmers Mill Road
Media, PA
19063

Telephone

+16103535587

Website

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