This week, cleanup focused on the length of the Oak Leaf
Trail that runs behind the center. Except
for one UWM student, this week’s volunteers were completely different from the
previous group. The Park Ranger clean up
events give every volunteer the opportunity to give back to the community, and
it’s motivating to see new faces. We
cleared out trash that had accumulated around the community garden plots. The UEC has thirty-seven community garden
plots it rents to those who wish to tend a garden for the summer, but might not
have available space. Garden space is a rare find in a neighborhood dominated by apartment buildings.
One of the volunteers found a brown snake (DeKay’s snake) attempting
to sun itself on a rock. We thought the
snake was dead at first, but it began moving as it absorbed heat from the
volunteer’s hand. Temperatures were in the upper
30’s that morning, which is a little cold for a poikilotherm
to be very active. The team leader asked
the center if they wanted to keep the snake for its animal exhibit, but the UEC
has found brown snakes difficult to feed in captivity. Our brown snake was released near the
compost pile where it might take advantage from the heat generated by the
microorganisms decomposing the organic matter.
Brown snakes are at home on the ground in dense vegetation and debris. The snake was about eight inches long, so it was most likely an adult. Brown snakes will grow up to 9-13 inches long.
The UEC has a Native Wisconsin Animal Room, showcasing
creatures native to southeastern Wisconsin’s fields, forests, rivers and ponds. Residents include Marbles the mink frog and
Hobbes the tiger salamander, among other fish, turtles and snakes. This room is used as a classroom to bring visitors
face to face with local wildlife.
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| Favorite Find: A bicycle seat on the bike trail. |
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