The peacefulness and beauty you find in Garrett County and its surrounding area can transport you away from the hustle and bustle of the busy world. Whether it be a beautiful open sky, a forest of trees, a meadow full of wildflowers, birdsong and chipmunk chatter, a grove of pines, deer grazing by the setting sun, or the lake water lapping gently at dusk, it can calm your senses. There are many places to find nature and wildlife here. This area is rich with trails, boardwalks, parks, state forests, lots of places to lose yourself in the natural beauty that surrounds us. Let your senses explore the sights, sounds, and smells of a day in nature.
I grew up in beautiful Mountain Lake Park. Where there once was a boardwalk and bathing houses and even a spillway at the old lake. The giant old oaks made homes for many types of birds, squirrels, and chipmunks. The old Mountain Lake had fish, salamanders, frogs, and snakes. The varied flowers, lilies of the valley, peonies, and mock orange bushes are a few of the fragrances that always remind me of the park.
I then moved to nearby Terra Alta, West Virginia. There, I’ve enjoyed watching the deer, squirrels, foxes, chipmunks, raccoons, birds of prey, songbirds, and even the black bear. The wild honeysuckle, mountain laurel, and woodland fern were a welcome sight each summer and spring.
In recent years, spending time on a picturesque tree farm in Crellin, Maryland, I have enjoyed many of the same things and added various fields of wildflowers and snapping turtles, who come to the pond daily to be fed with the bluegill and bass. The varieties of dragonfly that dart and dance along the water and sit among the pond grass are fun to watch as well. It wasn’t until I was a little older that I started to really appreciate what our area has to offer. I have found nature is a true source of solace.
The spring and early summer seasons are very busy times in nature. One of the first signs of spring is the robin. It’s exciting to see them disperse from their large flocks and appear on the thawing ground busily in search of worms and insects. The birdsong, warm sunshine, and gentle winds awaken our spring senses and keep our hope of warm, gentler days ahead.
Some of the first changes I’ve noticed at the birdfeeder are the goldfinch. The male goldfinch’s colors change from a drab brownish yellow to a most cheerful bright yellow. He seems to match the forsythia, daffodils, and the dandelions.
The purple finch brightens his feathers too. The chickadee’s “chicka-dee-dee-dee” call seems to be much brighter and cheerful. The cooing of the
mourning dove is always a welcome sound. The hoarse screaming “kee-eeeeee-aar” sound of the red-tailed hawk can be heard as they search for a tasty meal. You may even spot a bald eagle or a flash of an indigo blue bunting.
You don’t have to have bird feeders to enjoy the birds; take a walk in one of the many local parks, and you might be surprised at just what you see! Visit one of the lakes, ponds, or rivers, and you may see various types of ducks, Canadian geese, great blue heron, and green heron. There are many opportunities for you to see and hear wildlife in our area. Due to the rich habitat of woodland forests, swamps, waterways, and plentiful food sources, this area is the perfect destination to set up home.
Another of the first wildlife activities I have noticed are the chipmunks. They scurry around from the underground burrows and douse themselves in the bright spring sunshine. You’ll see them scurrying over green moss-covered logs, rocks, the woodland floor, digging in the leaves and around bird feeders too. Their diet is varied – seeds, nuts, fruits, fungi, insects, plant matter, and even small bird eggs. These stripped zoomers are members of the squirrel family. I’ve heard their chatter many times while walking in the woods. Chipmunks are protective of their burrows and use a range of loud chirps as well as body language to warn off intruders or danger.
The wildflowers, fern fronds, lichen, fungi, and mushrooms are plentiful too. You will see many colors and types of these in the forests. There are also many varieties of hardwoods and pine trees that tower above while seeming to reach for the sky.
Plan some time to enjoy and just lose yourself in the quiet natural beauty of our area. Take a walk in nature; you never know, it might be just what you need!
Written by Robin Clutter.
