Dear Otter Creek Neighbors, Friends, and Supporters,

Thank you for your support of Otter Creek Preserve!

Autumn is my favorite season. Everywhere I look at Otter Creek, I witness nature’s miracles: the awesome migration of birds, pollinators seeking refuge from the cold in hollow stems and under leaves, marsh critters burrowing into the mud to ride out the coming winter, and of course, leaves turning gold and auburn to herald the changing of the seasons.

Protecting places like Otter Creek makes these tiny miracles possible, right in your backyard.

We’re in the final stretch of mosquito management for 2026. Our licensed contractor will continue to monitor the preserve and treat the ponds as needed through the end of October. A huge thanks to Dave for what was a wholly unpleasant mosquito season!

Our first nor’easter of the season was a wild one. While this summer was marked by heat, humidity, and rain, our first nor’easter brought loads of wind to the mix. Once the inclement weather moved out, our Stewardship Team moved in and cleared trails, repaired deer exclosures, and assessed damage to trees. With a potentially record-breaking Super el Niño this winter, we’re keeping our eyes on the forecast. Extreme weather has potential budget, stewardship capacity, and project execution implications not just at Otter Creek, but across our entire preserve network.

Thank you to everyone for their patience and support in the care of Otter Creek Preserve. This year didn’t shape up the way we planned, but the community support proved not only that Otter Creek is special, but so are our neighbors. Thank you.

With gratitude for the land and people, 

Janelle Robbins | Vice President of Conservation, Westchester Land Trust
janelle@westchesterlandtrust.org | 914-234-6992 ext. 16

P.S. Speaking of leaves…Did you know that blowing or raking your leaves onto our preserve is not only potentially damaging to trees and other native vegetation, but it’s also illegal? Leave your leaves alone to provide critical overwintering habitat for bees or consider mulching or composting them on your property.

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About Westchester Land Trust

Westchester Land Trust works with public and private partners to preserve land in perpetuity and to enhance the natural resources in Westchester and eastern Putnam counties—a densely populated region under persistent threat from the pressures of development. Founded in 1988, WLT has preserved 9,622 acres of open space. More than 1,360 acres of land are owned by the organization which are free and open to the public year-round. WLT was one of the first land trusts in the nation to receive accreditation through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission.