Nature Notes
As we enter the busiest season of the year at Lake James State Park, it’s a good time to soak up the last few days of spring before diving into summer. The last two months have been kind to the plants and animals living in the part. The trees leafed out on schedule with the songbird migration, providing those weary feathered travelers with the caterpillars and spiders they need to fuel the rest of their journey north. Not all neotropical migrants continued onward. Several species stayed behind to nest and rear their young within the boundaries of the park. A morning hike will reveal them singing their territorial songs and though they are harder to find now that the canopy has leafed out, it’s still possible, with some persistence and keen eyes, to spot northern parulas, hooded warblers, Louisiana waterthrush, wood thrush and great-crested flycatchers.
White-tailed deer will begin dropping their fawns by early June, so motorists inside the park need to be especially careful driving the winding roads. Where there are does, there will be fawns, so be equally aware of the deer you don’t see when a doe crosses the road. Hikers should also keep baby birds and animals in mind during their treks through the woods. Fawns, turkey hatchlings, baby birds and froglets are out and about, learning how to walk, fly, hop, feed themselves and everything else that goes into being a wild critter. Every year, well-intentioned folks pick up unsuspecting babies with the idea they’ve been abandoned by their natural mothers or fallen from their nests. In some rare instances that may actually be true, but the majority of the time these babies are perfectly fine and simply waiting for Mom to come back with some food or emerge from hiding after the humans leave. It is always better to leave these babies in their natural environment where they belong, and it is in fact illegal to disturb, move or harm any rock, plant or animal within a state park.
Reptiles and amphibians are active this time of year and it’s not uncommon to cross paths with a black rat snake, eastern box turtle or toad when you’re out hiking the trails. These animals are living proof of the healthy environment we all enjoy at Lake James State Park. Make sure you’re being a good steward of the land and animals by packing out your trash, staying on the established trails and keeping your dog on a leash. Enjoy the season everyone. Hope to see you out on the trail.
