Farewell Bobcat

Farewell Bobcat

The Woodlands Nature Station bid farewell to our bobcat today. The female cat passed away earlier from kidney failure. Such illness is common in older bobcats. Rescued near Memphis, Tennessee, our bobcat arrived as a kitten. She came to Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in 1995. In her 22 years living here, she contributed to the learning and knowledge of almost one million visitors. Bobcats play a vital role in our environment. Weakened due to habitat loss, bobcat populations rebounded thanks to effective conservation practices. We estimate that over 200 bobcats reside on the inland peninsula today. The…
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Every Kid in a Park

Every Kid in a Park

By Jeff Laird, Customer Service Department Manager Dear Friends, I want to personally ask you to reach out to parents and youth leaders of fourth graders in your area about the Every Kid in a Park program. Please share this information to those you feel would benefit from this free program for kids. The Every Kid in a Park’s 4th grade pass offers FEE-FREE access to participating facilities in public lands for fourth graders and their immediate family members. At Land Between the Lakes this includes our... Homeplace 1850s Farm Where you travel back to a working farm and visit…
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Wolf Week Spotlight: The Endangered Red Wolf

Wolf Week Spotlight: The Endangered Red Wolf

Howl! It’s Wolf Week at the Woodlands Nature Station! Every October, we participate in this nationwide educational campaign to celebrate wolves and spread the word about how people can help them. From Saturday, October 3 through Friday, October 9, Nature Station visitors can enjoy all sorts of special programs and activities featuring our favorite canines! Wolves are near and dear to our hearts at the Nature Station.  We have been caring for the Red Wolf, one of the most endangered mammals in the United States, for many years. Since 1991, we have partnered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service…
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Increase Learning and Lifelong Memories:  Outdoor Classrooms

Increase Learning and Lifelong Memories: Outdoor Classrooms

About Brandon Spring Groups wanting to experience nature in a fun and safe environment while still enjoying all the amenities of home-- enjoy staying at Brandon Spring Group Center at Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area. Brandon Spring serves the area as a year-round overnight facility for groups of all ages. Nestled on a wooded knoll, it overlooks scenic Bards Lake and Lake Barkley in the Tennessee portion of Land Between The Lakes. The center provides the right environment for all of your overnight group gatherings especially when you want to get away from the distractions of town. Something…
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The Elk & Bison Prairie Story

The Elk & Bison Prairie Story

As adapted from a 1996 Elk & Bison Prairie brochure Many generations of animals and people inhabited this region long before the forming of Land Between The Lakes National Recreation Area in 1963. The Elk & Bison Prairie captures the world as it appeared to 18th century hunters. At the time, more than 300 years ago, vast herds of bison and elk blanketed the landscape, creating broad paths in the land as they migrated. Today, we travel many of those same paths—Interstate 24, for example, follows the path of an ancient bison trail. When native peoples used this land as…
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Armadillos Have Arrived

Armadillos Have Arrived

By John Pollpeter, Lead Naturalist at  Woodlands Nature Station People associate Land Between The Lakes with eagles, pelicans, white-tail deer, turkeys, and now – armadillos.  Our region boasts the largest population of the nine-banded armadillo in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. So let’s learn about our newest resident: How did they get here? Armadillos have been naturally migrating north from two southern populations --Texas and Florida.  Armadillos are native to Texas.  In the late 19th century a resident of Florida introduced a small population into Florida. These two populations later merged and have been marching north ever since. Rivers and streams…
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