Spring has arrived, the weather is growing warmer, and our native wildlife is beginning to appear again. 

Some species, like the eastern garter snake below, have spent the winter in an underground hibernaculum with hundreds of other garter snakes. The eastern garter snake is among the first snakes to emerge and become active in the spring.

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Other new arrivals recently seen by our natural resource manager include the meadow fritillary, having emerged after overwintering in its chrysalis; a broad-winged hawk, newly arrived from its winter habitat in Central or South America; and numerous red admiral butterflies. 

Red admirals are showing up in surprising numbers this spring, and earlier than expected. This generation will soon reproduce, and their offspring will likely migrate to subtropical regions in the fall.

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