March 22, 2011

The Wolf Lake State Fish Hatchery Visitor Center, located just eight miles west of Kalamazoo, is offering five nature programs in April. Families can learn how animals adapt to spring, how nocturnal critters find food and discover the variety of bird species migrating back to the north. Two programs are specifically designed for youth, including a youth fishing day and a reading of a story by a renowned children's book author.

April 9 and 30: Spring Fishing Days at 8, 9, and 10 a.m. Youth are invited to try their hand at catch-and-release fishing at the show pond on site. All equipment is provided and pre-registration is required. The 8 and 10 a.m. slots are open for youth ages 6 to 16 and the 9 a.m. slot is open to ages 3 to 5.

April 16: Animal Awakenings at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. After a long, cold winter, animals begin to wake up and get ready for spring. Find out how they survived the long winter and how they adapt to the spring season by changing their fur, their feathers and even their diet.

April 23: Spring Fling with Wings at 10 a.m. The hatchery grounds are one of the best places in the area to see waterfowl and other birds. Check out which species are on their way back north during this relaxing stroll on the nature trails.

April 23: Nature Stories at 2 p.m. Join interpreter Mike Creager as he shares tales about animals and their habitats by renowned author Thornton Burgess. Mike will be reading the children's book Mrs. Redwing's Speckled Eggs. All ages are welcome; however this program is best suited for ages 7 to 11.

April 23: Creatures of the Night at 8 p.m. The group will start by learning about the critters that make their living at night, including bats, owls and more. Then we'll go for a walk under cover of darkness and see how many of these creatures we can see and hear.

The Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center is located in Mattawan at Hatchery Road and M-43, six miles west of US-131. Unless otherwise noted, programs are offered free of charge and open to all ages. To preregister for a class, call the visitor center at 269-668-2876. For more information, visit www.michigan.gov/dnrvisitorcenters.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state's natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.