Did you know the oldest oak trees on the island are over 400 years old! How old are you? ______________________________
Raccoons, bobcats, deer, and birds all live here, but many creatures of the forest are small and may go unnoticed because of their size. See what you can find in an area the size of a penny or smaller and record your findings below!
—Dung beetles roll poop on the forest floor! It’s a dirty job, but somebody’s got to do it!
—Fungi like mushrooms break down dead things, making food for things still alive!
—A cocoon is a sign of a life soon to emerge. Butterflies spread pollen to help the flowers grow!
The sand dunes are important to barrier islands. They are the natural protection for the island from the wind, waves, and water of the ocean. They are important for nesting endangered shorebirds. Connect the dots below to discover another animal that needs dunes to nest!
Hint: I am a female reptile that comes ashore May through August. I lay almost 120 eggs in each nest, but only 1 in 1000 of the hatchlings will survive to adulthood.
The sandy path leading through the dunes is a great place to spot animal tracks. These footprints can tell a story of which animals have been through an area, where they came from, and where they were going! Match the animal tracks below to the animal that made it!
Attention Junior Rangers: we use the paths and stay off the dunes so we can protect the island and its animals!
For many people, the beach is the most popular spot on the island! Take a walk on the beach and see what you can find. See how many different items you can cross off below, and then draw your favorite find in the box provided!
Something Alive Something Rough Listen to a Bird Driftwood [_] [_] [_] [_] Find an Animal Something Wet Pick up Trash Something Soft Burrow [_] [_] [_] [_] Something Hard Watch Wind Move MY FAVORITE FIND [_] the Sand [_] [_] Something Dead Something [_] Squishy [_]
Often you will find broken pieces of sea shells as you comb the beach. Use your observational skills, Junior Ranger, and draw a line from each piece to the shell it came from.
{ Shell fragment} { Shell} __ A. Sand Dollar { Shell fragment} { Shell} __ B. Knobbed Whelk { Shell fragment} { Shell} __ C. Moon Snail { Shell fragment} { Shell} __ D. Ark Shell