2 great hikes for meeting our wild neighbors

Illustration from “Coyotes,” a publication of the NC Wildlife Extension.

Naturally Wonderful, by Rich Haag - Feb. 7, 2012

The first time a coyote crossed my path I was riding my bike and it was running for cover.

We met on an old country road. The thin and furtive doglike animal with scraggly hair ran straight across my path, from an emu ranch (no joke!) to a woods. It was gone in a second, leaving me startled and curious.

I’ve encountered lots of wildlife in 30-plus years of riding bikes around Charlotte, but nothing like this. Then I realized I had seen my first coyote.

You’ll have a chance to meet one, too, this week, and perhaps some equally private owls, during two nature hikes for adults and kids being offered at McDowell Nature Preserve.

McDowell Preserve's a great escape

The 1,100-acre preserve on the Mecklenburg side of Lake Wylie is one of our region’s great natural treasures, especially as urban development pushes out into surrounding counties. The park also is close by – just 20-minutes south of the I-85/I-485 interchange. Visitors can enjoy several miles of hiking trails through woods and Piedmont prairie, camping, fishing, a nature center with educational displays and programs like these two guided hikes.

Coyote Hike - Thursday

The Coyote Hike will take place 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday. Here’s a chance to learn about a thriving newcomer to the Charlotte area. “Hike the prairie at dusk to find traces of the cunning predator within the McDowell Nature Preserve,” reads the hike description. “Two-mile hike covers moderate terrain. Dress warm, be prepared to walk through thickets, and bring a water bottle.”

Moonlight Owl Prowl - Saturday

On Saturday evening at 7, park rangers will lead the Moonlight Owl Prowl. “The nearly full moon will light the way as participants hike the preserve’s Creekside Trail and listen for owls. Dress for the cold and be ready to walk 2 miles over moderate terrain.”

Both hikes are free and open to adults and children ages 6 and up. You will need to register, however (details below).

If you go, I hope you will come back to this blog and leave a comment on what you experienced.

Many nature programs to choose from

If you can’t make these hikes, no problem. McDowell Nature Preserve and another great park along the Catawba, Latta Plantation Preserve, offer dozens of programs for all ages throughout the year, like the 9 a.m. guided nature hike for adults at Latta Plantation Park on Valentines Day (CLICK for details).

• Get email alerts about upcoming programs: You can get email alerts about upcoming programs by signing up at our Catawba RiverViews calendar. CLICK to view. I’ll write about some programs here, as well.

Register; learn more

• Program details: Call the McDowell Nature Center at 704-588-5224.
• Register: Call 704-336-7600 or 311 (Mecklenburg’s one-number help line), or CLICK  to register on line for Course 28250 (the Coyote Hike) or Course 28485 (Moonlight Owl Prowl).
• Park details: CLICK to visit the preserve website.
• Directions: CLICK for a Google map. From I-85, take I-485 to 5.5 miles to NC 160 (Steele Creek Road). Head south 4.6 miles, then turn right onto Hwy. 49 (South Tryon Street). Go 2.2 miles until you reach the park entrance on your right.

About Rich Haag -  Rich gained his love for the outdoors while roaming the woods and river gorge near his upstate NY home. He has spent many vacations – one lasting eight weeks -  camping with his wife, Karen, and their sons. Rich still roams the woods nearly every day, either walking with Karen at Reedy Creek Nature Preserve or cycling on the Mallard Creek Greenway. So far Rich has not spotted a python.