Nighttime brings a new slant to nature – and some national wildlife refuges are going out of their way to help you see and hear it. Several times a year, they’re delaying normal sunset closing times to host night star-viewings, swamp paddles, scorpion hunts and wolf howl serenades in settings hard to beat for natural scenery and iconic wildlife.
Of course, some refuges turn downright creepy at night, and that’s a part of their attraction, too. The thrill of seeing giant reptiles on the prowl draws hundreds of visitors a year to night boat trips at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia.
“It’s cool to see the bigger gators at night, when they do their hunting,” says Brittany Waryjas, a visitor services intern at the refuge. A reflective layer of tissue in the retina makes their eyes glow red at night – a good way to spot them, if you don’t hear them first. They hiss when threatened and bellow to call mates or mark territory. Refuge ranger Cynthia McIntyre recalls hearing the sound for the first time: “It sounded like a lion roaring in the jungle.”
Visitors who like their swamp adventures mild can take a guided sunset motorboat tour. The braver can opt for multi-day kayak or canoe trips that feature overnight camping on platforms that might have growling gators below.
Different shiver-inducing night sounds draw nature lovers to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, NC. Red wolf “howling safaris,” held on scheduled dates from April to December, feature the eerie calls of endangered red wolves, whose recovery through captive breeding began on the refuge in the 1980s. The refuge is the only place in the world where you can hear these wolves in the wild. Listening online can’t match being there, but here’s a taste: http://bit.ly/Zy74V8
Here are some refuge night events to plan for this summer and fall:
Night Sounds
- Red Wolf Howlings, Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, NC (KIDS LOVE THE CAROLINAS, pg 113)
Meet at the Creef Cut Wildlife Trail parking lot. Bring a flashlight and insect repellent. No pets allowed. 252-216-9464. Summer Howlings, $7 per person. Kids 12 and under free. No Registration Required. June – August, Wednesdays – 7:30-9:00pmFall Saturday Howlings. Free. No Registration Required
October 12 – Wolf Awareness Week – 6 -7:30 p.m.
November 16 – Full Moon Howl – 5 – 6:30 p.m.
December 7 – Holiday Howl – 5 – 6:30 p.m. - Owl Prowls, Patuxent Research Refuge, MD (KIDS LOVE MARYLAND, pg 23)
Saturday, June 29, 8 -9:30 p.m.
Explore the refuge at night while looking and listening for owls. Ages 10 and up. Patuxent North Tract. Registration required: 301-497-5887
Night Paddles
- Full-moon guided canoe trips, Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, FL (KIDS LOVE FLORIDA, pg 149)
Saturday, June 22, 7 – 9 p.m.
Saturday, July 20, 7 – 9 p.m.
Saturday, August 17, 7 – 9 p.m.
Meet at the Lee Road Boat Ramp. Wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants and bring a flashlight and bug spray. Canoe rental: $32; you may not bring your own canoe. Reservations required: Loxahatchee Canoeing: 561-733-0192 - Okefenokee Swamp at night, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, GA (KIDS LOVE GEORGIA, pg 179)
Take a two-hour sunset tour by motorboat ($27.50 per adult, age 12 and up; Kids age 5-11, $18; Kids under 5, free) or a four-hour guided kayak or canoe tour ($85 per person). Check ahead; tours are affected by water levels, availability of guides. Or sign up for a multi-day canoe or kayak adventure, with overnight camping. ($10 per person per night plus $25 per day canoe or kayak rental). Other options and more info: Okefenokee Adventures, 912-496-7156, www.okefenokeeadventures.com
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