With Summer’s Arrival, Wildlife Once Again on the Prowl at LM Sites

Birds are a big draw at Fernald Preserve in Ohio and Weldon Spring Site in Missouri

Office of Legacy Management

July 23, 2024
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Frog
Gray tree frog like these are present at Weldon Spring.

In summer, visitors at the Department of Energy Office of Legacy Management (LM) sites may see more wildlife than they do in the winter months. A marked example of beneficial reuse can be found at the LM Weldon Spring Site in Missouri where Lia Raquel Bartnicki, an interpretive specialist, says the most sought-after sighting is the birds. 

“We’re in the middle of this larger green space that has a river and very large ponds, with the lakes that surround us, so we get a wide variety of bird species,” says Bartnicki. 

That ideal environment doesn’t just attract birds. It’s why local birding groups flock to the site to study the different species and, if they’re lucky, spot some unique species.

It’s not just birds that are out and about, though — frogs are abundant on the property and there’s the possibility that a snake will cross the path. However, it’s important to note that a garter snake slithering through the grass or a prairie king snake sunning on a rock is a sign of a thriving ecosystem. 

Killdeer Weldon
Killdeer like these are present at Weldon Spring.
Killdeer eggs like these are present
Killdeer eggs like these are present at Weldon Spring.

“It shows the biological diversity and ecosystem around the site is capable of supporting these food chains and food webs that the snakes are a part of,” Bartnicki says. "When we see them, it's evidence that we have created a healthy prairie and that nature is doing its job.”

Lisa McHenry, the ecological supervisor at Fernald Preserve Site in Ohio, shares that the site is home to an unexpected airborne animal: the southern flying squirrel.

“We have an area that we’ve set up as a habitat for the squirrels that has nesting boxes and a feeder. We have a program that first talks about their habitat and gives information about the squirrels and then they go out and do their hike,” says McHenry.

Fernald Preserve also hosts whitetail deer, geese, and another surprising inhabitant.

Weldon bluebird
Male eastern bluebird like these are present at Weldon Spring.

McHenry says that in the last eight years, colonies of beavers have been drawn to the site’s marshy areas where they build their dams. She also mentions that their construction is moving at quite a clip.

“They are currently building dams all over the site. We don't interfere with that unless it's going to impact infrastructure that we have.” McHenry says.

That’s happened before. McHenry says that as more beavers initially set up house at the site, their dams popped up in areas that affected the wetlands drainage areas or blocked trails for visitors. When situations like this arise, ecologists at Fernald evaluate the obstructed areas to “breach” the dams, a term that McHenry recognizes may sound alarming to some.

“What we mean by breaching is we just go in and make a little bit of a break in the dam, just to drop the water level a little bit so that it doesn’t flood our road or our trail.”

Since breaching the dam is only a temporary fix, during particularly rainy seasons site employees must visit these locations — sometimes daily — to clear the mud away and continue monitoring water levels and trail conditions. 

Turkey Vulture Weldon
Turkey vulture like these are present at Weldon Spring.
Buck Fernald
White-tail buck at Fernald Preserve. Photo by Jeff Sluder.

Whether it’s busy beavers, slithering serpents, flapping fowl, or soaring squirrels, LM’s sites have plenty of interesting sights to offer all year long. This summer is the perfect time to explore those trails and nature preserves around the country. For information and real-time updates on upcoming events and attractions, visit LM on LinkedIn.

Mink Fernald
Mink at Fernald Preserve. Photo by Brian Reed.
Eagle
Bald eagle at Fernald Preserve. Photo by Pat Bell.
Kinglet Becky
Gold crown kinglet at Fernald Preserve. Photo by Becky Kempf.
Fernald Beaver
Beaver at Fernald Preserve.
Blue Dasher
Blue dasher at Fernald Preserve. Photo by Leslie Keymborg Sluder.
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  • Environmental and Legacy Management
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