Wetland Day program set at local wildlife refuge

Everyone who enjoys wildlife is invited to come out and celebrate spring at the Wetland Day event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, 12985 E. U.S. 50, Seymour.

A variety of fun wetland-oriented interactive activities for children and adults will take place at the visitor center. Activities will include the opportunity to plant and take home milkweed seeds (plants are food for monarch butterflies), a wetland scavenger hunt with prizes and a guided wetland walk leaving from the visitor center at 1 p.m.

Volunteer interpreters will be present on the Chestnut Ridge Trail with “pond critters,” handouts for youngsters and wetland displays. Wetland, wildlife and conservation resource information also will be available during the event as part of a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

Mid-March is normally a great time to view migrating waterfowl at Muscatatuck, so photographers and bird watchers might find a good variety of birds along the auto tour.

Muscatatuck also will celebrate the 117th birthday of the National Wildlife Refuge System with birthday cake at noon (as long as it lasts).

Federal Duck Stamps, which fund land acquisition for the National Wildlife Refuge System (and purchased Muscatatuck), will be on sale during the event, too.

Muscatatuck is one of three national wildlife refuges in Indiana. The other two are Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge near Madison and Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge near Oakland City.

Information: Call 812-522-4352, ext. 12, or email [email protected]