A fun story about some raccoons in our Mariners' Park!

The other day I was walking the Noland Trail as usual, and out of the corner of my eye I saw what appeared to be a dog off the leash! It is my duty as a Park Ranger to ensure that all canines and wild animals are safe within the Park, so naturally, I started to head that way. To my surprise, I realized that it was not a dog off the leash at all, but what appeared to be a white deer!

Mindfulness. What comes to mind (no pun intended) when you hear this term? Some might think of certain religions, or yoga, maybe meditation. For some, when this term gets thrown around, the first reaction is groaning and a roll of the eyes. For others, this term is like an unfathomable goal – something that they think they can never achieve.

Have you ever taken a visit to Lions Bridge and wondered why there are “No Trespassing” signs stopping you from sun-bathing on that oh-so-tempting perfect little river beach? The short answer is to prevent shoreline erosion and protect wildlife.

We’ve had our fair share of animal interactions in the Conservation Lab. With the Park surrounding the Museum, and the tank farm (outdoor tanks for storing large objects) so close to the woods, we expect to get the occasional turtle, goose, or squirrel coming to inspect our work. What we didn’t expect was to have a several-year-long battle with….bluebirds.

If you are planning to visit the Museum and Park and want to explore a fun place, please consider passing by our lovely Learning Garden. We chose plants that bloom at various times of the year (namely spring, summer, and fall), and many plants are in full bloom right now. One of the most impressive and wonderful bee attractors is the purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea).

Help us identify wildlife and foliage in our Park!

Participate in the City Nature Challenge and help us identify wildlife and plants who call Mariners' Park home!

Do you and your family have cabin fever? Do you want to participate in community science efforts in Hampton Roads? Do you love The Mariners’ Park and other natural areas around our region? Well look no further– we have the event for you!