Along the trails at Grey Rocks Conservation Area, signs of wildlife often appear where people least expect them.
Discovery Walk participants search for those clues with guidance from Dr. Mirka Zapletal, Education and Outreach Manager for the Newfound Lake Region Association. The relaxed walks invite visitors to slow down and notice the subtle shifts happening across the watershed and surrounding forest.
The upcoming walks will take place Monday, March 16 from 9 to 11 a.m. and Thursday, March 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Road in Hebron. More activities are planned for the spring and summer as well.
A Walk Guided by What Nature Reveals
Rather than following a strict routine, each walk responds to what is happening in the landscape that day.
“The goal with these is to take advantage of what’s happening outside right now, so it changes from day to day and week to week,” Zapletal said. “We typically find evidence of animal activity, whether that’s tracks or claw marks or the songs of birds, and we look for hints about what plants are up to.”
Attendees of an educational walk looking for spring wildflowers.
Past walks have uncovered signs of wildlife ranging from skunk burrows and river otter tracks to bear claw marks on birch trees. Zapletal said many participants leave with a new appreciation for how active the landscape is, even in colder months.
“Hopefully one of the big things that participants discover is how much there is to notice in nature all the time,” she said.
Seasonal Changes Along the Trails
Late winter and early spring can be especially dynamic along the trails. Longer daylight hours trigger rapid changes in the natural environment.
“Because our days are getting longer so quickly, there is a lot of change happening outside from day to day,” Zapletal said. “The snow can melt by a few inches, red maples can go from dormant to flowering, and some wildlife are putting a lot of effort into finding mates and establishing territories.”
As the snow begins to melt, visitors may notice unusual patterns across the landscape.
“Sometimes people notice lots of small tunnels appearing in the snow,” Zapletal said. “These are made by voles and other small animals that stay within the snowpack because it insulates them against the cold. It’s kind of amazing to see how much was happening right under our feet.”
Recent weeks have also revealed increased activity from mustelids, a group of mammals that includes otters and mink. Zapletal shared that these animals may be easier to spot now as they search for breeding partners and move more easily across packed snow.
Upcoming Discovery Walk Dates
The upcoming Discovery Walks will take place Monday, March 16 from 9 to 11 a.m. and Thursday, March 26 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Grey Rocks Conservation Area, 178 North Shore Road in Hebron.
The walks follow an easy pace along mostly level terrain, with about an hour spent outdoors. Participants should dress for snowy trail conditions.
After the walk, visitors are invited to warm up with coffee and conversation inside the Grey Rocks Conservation Center.
More Programs Planned This Spring
The Discovery Walk series continues throughout the spring with two walks scheduled each month.
Additional programs include a “Field Trip for Grown Ups” on soil science in April and another in May focused on spring flowers. The association also hosts a monthly article discussion group on the first Wednesday of each month.
More information about these programs is available through the Newfound Lake Region Association, at www.newfoundlake.org.
A baby snapping turtle spotted on the trail.
The native, spring-blooming wildflower, Rhododendron canadense.
A monarch caterpillar on a milkweed leaf.
A Great Blue Heron on the shores of Grey Rocks. They hold their wings out to dry feathers and regulate their body temperature.
A raptor, possibly a juvenile Broad-winged Hawk, in the trees at Grey Rocks.
A beaver swimming through the Grey Rocks channel.
