If you’re checking in to read this post, you’ll notice some things have changed around here. Since I last wrote, I’ve had a change of heart.
For some time, I’ve had this weird feeling where I’ve been trying to walk down two paths instead of focusing on one. I had one foot on one path, and the other on another, while the rest of me is being split right in half. Not really focusing on anything in particular, but scrambling in a million different directions all at once.
In November, I admitted to myself that I don’t have what it takes to be a social media content creator. Since about September, I stopped enjoying the creative process involved in making content. Plus, starting this Fall, I felt like every app and company was pushing Generative AI onto its users. (I’m aware of the irony that I use WordPress, which promotes and utilizes artificial “intelligence” in its work.) Regardless, all I wanted to do, all I ever wanted to do, was keep my little old-school blog and write about what I love.
To be honest, it’s a little embarrassing to admit “I hate this and want to quit” after trying out something new… especially after attending events, meeting new people, and putting one’s self out there on the internet for all to see. Yet, I would rather be honest with those that supported me than fade away without a word.
At this point, I have made up my mind that I will leave all the posts as they are, but simply continue blogging as I desire. I’ll be saying goodbye to the Facebook and Instagram pages and keep only the blog.
I appreciate the support of readers over the last year. I learned a lot through my interactions with you and others in person and online. The only reason I even considered continuing to try is because I have truly enjoyed meeting you and knowing there are others that love Pennsylvania as much as I do.
The summer after I turned 16, I developed a huge bull’s eye rash on my left leg. Shortly after, I started experiencing severe migraines, dizziness, and piercing joint pain. One trip to the doctor later, and I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease. With one bite, my summer was ruined, and how I explored the outdoors changed forever. I’ve learned since that it’s easy to protect myself from contracting Lyme Disease again.
First, learn when and where to expect ticks. Blacklegged Ticks are the most common carrier of the bacteria that causes Lyme Disease. When temperatures are above freezing, young (nymphal) and adult ticks emerge and start searching for a blood meal. Nymphal and adult Blacklegged Ticks will bite humans, animals, reptiles, and even amphibians!
Ideal habitat for ticks is forest edge habitats and understory vegetation. Think of places like walking, biking, and hiking trails- right along the forest’s edge. Other places, like streambanks and gardens, are also likely places for ticks. For me, I was bit by a tick while walking along the edge of a farm field!
Second, wear appropriate clothing and gear. Light colored clothing makes the dark, poppy-seed sized tick nymphs easier to spot. While it looks silly, tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks. This helps prevent ticks from crawling under your clothes. While shorts are great on warm spring and summer days, it’s easier for a tick to crawl under your clothes.
Clothes can also be pre-treated with appropriate pesticides. Companies like L. L. Bean, Columbia, and Insect Shield sell pre-treated clothing. I buy pre-treated clothing, saving me from struggling to apply insecticides at home.
Thick brush, like the kind surrounding this cherry tree, is prime tick habitat.
Third, use EPA-approved insect repellents every time you’re outdoors. Scientific research has proven that insect repellents with 20% to 30% DEET are most effective. Scientists also found that using only DEET is 85% to 89% effective at repelling ticks. The EPA has an online Insect Repellent Bot that can help users choose a repellent that aligns with their personal needs.
Fourth, conduct regular tick checks after being outdoors. The longer a tick is attached to you, the more likely you are to contract Lyme Disease. Ticks are usually found in moist, dark-skinned areas with thin skin. Focus in and around your hair and ears, armpits, belly button, waist, groin, and behind the knees. Some ticks will bite wherever, so also be sure to check your legs, arms, and between your toes and fingers.
Lastly, know how to remove a tick- if you find one. Removing a tick properly can help prevent Lyme Disease, even if a tick has been attached for some time. After finding a tick, use fine-tipped tweezers or a tick key to grasp the tick at the head or as close to skin as possible. Pull up with firm, even pressure, taking care not to twist or jerk the tick. After removing the tick, clean the area and your hands with rubbing alcohol or warm, soapy water.
The most important part to remove is the tick’s head. Ignore old wives’ tales about ticks. Removing ticks by burning them or smothering with Vaseline is not successful at preventing Lyme Disease. Slowly and carefully removing a tick with the correct tools is the best way to ensure the whole tick is removed.
Lyme Disease is preventable by staying aware and protected. Other tricks, like removing ticks completely, are also beneficial. By following these tips and tricks, I’ve not had Lyme Disease since I was 16. I look forward to many more years of tick-free exploring outdoors!
Works Cited
CDC. “Preventing Tick Bites.” CDC.GOV, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 May 2024, www.cdc.gov/ticks/prevention/index.html. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
US EPA, OCSPP. “Repellents: Protection against Mosquitoes, Ticks and Other Arthropods.” EPA.GOV, United States Environmental Protection Agency, 9 July 2013, www.epa.gov/insect-repellents. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
Welcome to The Keystone Naturalist! This is a blog about appreciating and conserving Pennsylvania’s natural resources. In a state with more than twenty physiographic provinces, there’s a lot to explore. I hope you allow me to be your guide and teach you how I see the world around me.
Who are you?
Let me introduce myself- I’m Autumn. I live in Northcentral Pennsylvania in the Appalachian Mountain Section. I graduated from Lock Haven University with a Bachelor of Science in Applied Geology in 2018. I studied the hydrogeology of small watersheds, presenting my research at conferences. Plus, I dabbled in sedimentology, stratigraphy, paleontology, and petrography. The only thing I love in this world more than rocks, soil, and water are my fiancé and books!
Aside from my education, I have lived in rural, small-town Pennsylvania my entire life. I’m lucky to live close to a State Park and grew up rambling through the Susquehanna River Valley. I descend from a long line of outdoorsmen- at least ten generations at this point! My roots run deep, and they are strong! I’m lucky to live here and have grown up in a small community.
Why a blog?
When I graduated from college, the type of geologist I had become had fallen out of favor. I focused on understanding the coaction of geology and meteorology using practical skills. However, my special skill was in public speaking and presenting new ideas and knowledge to everyday people… my dream job was being a park ranger for the NPS. When it came time to find a job, I couldn’t bear to move away from Pennsylvania. Instead, I put my dream on the backburner to change career paths and support myself.
For years, I continued learning about the natural world in my private, offline life. In Fall 2024, I started the Pennsylvania Master Naturalist program. The program introduced me to online conservation and scientific education. There were hundreds of people like me, using their passions to create and share online.
Despite the number of educators, very few had anything to do with Pennsylvania. My old dream began to reform into something new, this time as a naturalist focusing on the state that I love.
What can I expect?
While reading The Keystone Naturalist, you will start to understand the natural world. I want to help you identify plants, animals, minerals, and geological features. We will explore citizen science projects like eBird and CoCoRaHS together, too.
My goal is to open your eyes to the world around you; to show you natural wonders and curiosities. Out of everywhere in the universe, Earth is humanity’s home, and it is a beautiful place. The geological, meteorological, and biological systems of Earth fuel our lives. A natural education will foster empathy and care for Earth in your heart and mind.
Let’s get started!
From this point onwards, I hope you look forward to a weekly post about one of the topics I mentioned above. At first, we will establish a scientific home base and start to explore the Bald Eagle Valley. Over time, we will expand into the Susquehanna River Valley. At last, we will explore all Pennsylvania.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to reach out on the “Contact” page, or in a post comment. We are exploring Pennsylvania together, and I hope you will have as much fun as I!
autumn's country diary 