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Busy beavers bewilder
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Nathanael Warner dressed up as a beaver during Children's Nature Hour: Busy Beavers Sept. 6 at the Newport Wetlands in Mill Creek Park.
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Chris Ronde and Alli McKee attended Children's Nature Hour: Busy Beavers on Sept. 6 at the Newport Wetlands.
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Grace and Melanie Bodine went on a hike to look for signs of beavers during Children's Nature Hour: Busy Beavers on Sept. 6 at the Newport Wetlands in Mill Creek Park.
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Neighbors | Adrienne Crissman .Children attending Children's Nature Hour:Busy Beavers Sept. 6 created their own beaver lodges.
By ADRIENNE CRISSMAN
Beavers were the topic of conversation during Children’s Nature Hour Sept. 6 at Smythe Island in the Newport Wetlands. The program, put on by Mill Creek Metro Park, explores many different animals and topics, depending on the season.
Julie Bartolone, naturalist for Mill Creek Park, said the program was offered on Smythe Island because it’s one of the places in the park that the beaver calls home.
“If you ever want to see them, this is the place to come,” said Bartolone.
Bartolone said that beavers have become one of her favorite animals.
“There’s so many interesting things about them,” said Bartolone. “[I like] the fact that they mate for life, and how they build their lodges, because the entrance is only under water.”
Nathanael Warner got to dress up as a beaver with beaver adaptations, such as a paddle for a tail, a fur coat, goggles, ear muffs and flippers.
Warner looked at one of the wood pieces eaten by a beaver in amazement.
“I can’t believe they ate all of that,” said Warner.
The program ended with a hike, looking for signs of beavers, and a craft in which the children made a lodge, or a beaver house, by trimming pretzel sticks with their own teeth.
The next Children’s Nature Hour will be Who’s That on Oct. 4 and 5 at the Ford Nature Center, and will explore the world of owls. To register, call the Ford Nature Center at 330-740-7107.