Upcoming Programs at
The Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, Salt Meadow Unit
733 Old Clinton Road, Westbrook, CT
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Walk on the Wild Side
Saturday, September 18th
Rain Date: Sunday, September 19th
1:00 P.M
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The beautiful Stewart B. McKinney refuge in Westbrook is the perfect location for Potapaug’s annual nature program. Spend some quality time outside with your kids or grandkids while learning about wildlife from experts with live animals.
As you walk the one-mile trail* you will encounter speakers along the way who will show and tell you about their LIVE ANIMALS. These animals will include a possum, a snake, turtles, frogs, a salamander, and various birds such as songbirds and shorebirds, plus TWO LIVE owls. There will also be a bird banding demonstration. Birds caught in mist nests are banded right there. A few lucky participants will get to hold and release the birds.
Some animals cannot be presented to the public as a live animal so there will be a taxidermy fisher (a/k/a "fisher cat"), a coyote and a raccoon.
There will be a nature quiz for the children. Clues will be found along the trail between the animal stations. Refreshments will be served after the program.
For more information, or to check to see if this program has been moved to the rain date, September 19th, call 860-710-5811.
This program is co-sponsored by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services (which also runs the refuge).
Directions: Exit 64 off I-95. Go South on Route 145 about 1,000 feet to the blinking light. Go left onto Old Clinton Rd. Go one mile. Refuge is on the right. From Route 1: Going south from Westbrook, take a right at Wesley Ave (intersection of Rte 1 & Seaside Ave). Left onto Old Clinton Rd. Go one mile. Refuge on the left.
* Note: Trail requires some physical stamina since one-third of the trail goes up a fairly steep hill. The entire program it will take approximately 2 hours to complete. Participants can limit their walk by only going to the stations at or near the top of the refuge.
