Backyard Adventures

BACKYARD ADVENTURES 2019 PIKE PUBLISHING 7A Coming Home to Our Irish Roots FESTIVAL Sunday, June 23 • 11am-5pm (EDT) 800 East 500 South, Corning, Indiana • Daviess County Tours of Curran House & Celtic Hall www.corningheritagecenter.com FOOD • ENTERTAINMENT • FELLOWSHIP • GENEOLOGY ASSISTANCE CORNING IRISH HERITAGE CENTER Extraordinary experience Successful outcomes Your Best First Choice For Physical and Occupational Therapy 812-476-0409 RECREATION & GEAR Experience nature from a new antagepoint • Camping and hiking apparel and equipment • Footwear by KEEN and Merrell • Clothing by North Face, Patagonia and more • Bike Service and repair on all brands 204 E. 3RD ST., JASPER • 812-482-3757 HIKERS AND PLANT ENTHUSIASTS There are 11 miles of trails, the most difficult of which would be considered moderate by hik- ing standards, and Gehlhausen said it's possible to do all those trails in one day for the dedicated hiker. Early morning hikers might see river otters, but at the least, will be able to see the slip-and- slide runs they make along Otter Run Trails. Skittish bobcats will be known by their tracks, or for those lucky enough to see them, their stubby tails and 15 -20 pound bodies. Even barring that, a hiker will see a variety of habitats, and in the hottest part of the day, sun- ning turtles, lizards and butterflies are common. The refuge promotes the growth of the specific milkweed that Monarch butterflies seek out, and they're likely to be present midday. Other butter- flies include, for example, the zebra swallowtail. "If you're like, 'I like to sleep in' then come out for the butterflies," said Hamilton. One sight best captured in July is at Snakey Point Marsh, where lotus plants bloom and blan- ket the marshy area in a photo-worthy carpet. "Every day, they can see something not in their backyard," Hamilton said. At Indian Hill, a 1.5 -mile hiking trail, with a little elevation, heron and ducks are often visible, and the hiker can appreciate the view of the lake. ON THE WATER Fishing, kayaking and canoeing are all en- couraged on the refuge, and hunting and fishing are protected uses for the land. There are four boat ramps along the Patoka River for those who want to cast off in those areas, and the seclusion and wilderness of the refuge makes a paradise for a fisherman who wants to find his own secret fishing spot. According to Hamilton, what's unique about Patoka National Wildlife Refuge is that com- pared to other refuge areas, for example, Rocky Mountain National Park, the refuge is somewhat less discovered. The high profile refuges in the country are very populated by tourists. "It's a thing of beauty for people who want to have peace and quiet in their life," said Hamilton. Upcoming Refuge Events • June 15, participants can see the endangered least terns at Cain Ridge. • Sept. 21, the refuge will host a pollinator planting program for those who want to create a small size prairie planting in their garden. The best time to plant those pollinators is in the fall. • Oct. 5 is Refuge Appreciation Day at Wirth Park, where the full event is free. Guest present- ers will discuss endangered species, and attend- ees will be able to see a bald eagle, among other rare birds, in person • Check for stargazing and firefly programs on the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge page on Facebook this summer, these dates are not yet decided.

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