Hey, it’s me–Arby, again.
Did you know that the US has over 3000 varieties of wildlife? Thank goodness many of my different buddies are protected by 562 wildlife refuge areas plus 58 national parks? Man, that’s a lot of choices if you love seeing critters in their natural habitat! So, how would you decide which are the best ones to visit? Well, I thought maybe a good way to pick would involve choosing by the animals that interest you most.
1. Butterflies are so pretty, aren’t they? I learned that the Monarch butterfly is the only species that doesn’t hibernate. Instead, they migrate to and from Mexico annually. Southern California offers some of the best places to see these beautiful creatures. They like the Monarch Butterfly Grove in Pismo Beach, for instance, and may be found there from October to February. December is the best month to visit. I also learned Texas named the monarch as their state butterfly and make “rest stops” for their migration through the state.
2. I’m happy my cousins, the coyotes are making a comeback. They like to roam around Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park. The Park even has a special place for them to hang out. It’s called the Coyote Valley Trail. While you are watching for coyotes, you might also see elk, bighorn sheep, and moose.
3. Want to get up close and personal with alligators and crocodiles? (Well, maybe not too close!) Visit Everglades National Park in Florida. Airboat tours lead to the best views and photo ops. You might also see the elusive Florida panther and the West Indian manatee.
4. I love watching birds, do you? The Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge in Mississippi was developed to provide resting and nesting areas to migrating birds. Experts estimate over 250,000 birds visit this refuge every year. I don’t read, but I hear Birder’s World also recommends Patagonia-Sonorita Preserve, Sauguaro National Park, and Madera Canyon in southeast Arizona. And for some really rare birds check out the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge in Texas.
5. I like to stay away from bears, myself, but I guess there are some humans that get really excited over them. Some of the best places to see black bears are in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Grizzlies in Kodiak Wild Life Refuge in Alaska, and more bears in Yellowstone NP.
6. People misunderstand bats They don’t bite or suck blood! They are clever, intelligent critters and help the environment. They are also fascinating. Scientists study their behavior and their ability to use a kind of radar to fly. You can see bats at the Luvee Bat Conservatory, Gainesville, Florida, but Texas has the most variety of bats. Visit Bracken Cave near San Antonio for one.
7. California boasts one of the largest mammals in the U.S., the elephant seal. Males can weigh as much as 4000 pounds! See some of these heavyweights at the Channel Islands NP.
So many places; so many types of wild creatures! From the exotic, like the Gila monsters in Snow Canyon State Park in Utah, to the “cute” prairie dogs in Badlands NP in South Dakota, or the iconic Bison in Custer State Park, South Dakota, it’s a tough choice.
I’m so proud that my country creates so many places to save our wildlife. I hope you will visit some of these places and see for yourself some of the wonderful critters of our world
If you have any questions about this or other topics or have an idea for a future blog post, please feel free to contact us!
Yours in writing,
– Arby
