On Saturday, June 2, at 9 am Central Time (10 am Eastern Time) in conjunction with National Trails Day, the Friends of Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge are sponsoring a nature hike at the Snakey Point/Columbia Mine Area. The hike will last approximately two hours.

The nature hike will feature stops at pollinator plantings and at a recently constructed pier at Snakey Point Marsh, discussions on an Eastern Box Turtle study at the Refuge and grassland habitat management activities, as well as bird watching. We will observe the results of a controlled burn and check out a Barn Owl nesting box. Wildlife biologist and current Friends of Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge vice-president, David Howell, will guide the hike.

The hike will start at Boyd’s Trail parking lot, just east of Snakey Point. Suitable clothing and shoes, as well as insect repellent, are suggested. Maps of the Refuge and over 11 miles of hiking trails will be available.

To get to the Boyd’s Trail parking lot, head east on SR 64 through Oakland City. Just outside the city, turn left (north) onto paved CR 1275 E. Continue about a half mile and bear left onto CR 1300 E, which becomes gravel. Continue about one mile to the Boyd’s parking lot on the left. Look for posted brown Refuge signs along the way.

For further information, contact Howell at 812-455-5256.  ​

The meeting of the Board of Directors of the Friends of Patoka River NWR is scheduled for the second Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. CT at Wood Memorial High School's Library in Oakland City, IN. All Friends are welcome as well as anyone who is interested in becoming a Friend of the Refuge. For more information, please contact Nancy Gehlhausen at 812.457.4859.