Park Hosts First Annual Wildlife Weekend

Natchez Trace Parkway celebrated National Park Week and Junior Ranger Day by hosting the park’s first ever “Wildlife Weekend.” Almost a thousand visitors took part in the event over a three-day period. 

Local herpetologist Terry Vandeventer, aka “The Snake Man,” entertained and educated visitors with his engaging interactive live snake presentation. Vandeventer featured native Mississippi snakes, including the canebrake rattlesnake, cottonmouth, corn snake, and the rare eastern indigo snake.  

Over 300 students from six area schools came to the park visitor center in Tupelo to experience Vandeventer’s snake presentation and learn about native snakes and habitats. These students also had the chance to participate in the “Wildlife Discovery Walk” on the Beech Springs Nature Trail. 

Festivities continued over the weekend, with more participation from the Natural Resources Conservation Service,  the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Mississippi State University and the Tombigbee Pioneer Group.  National Park Service staff offered two interactive booths on Natchez Trace mammals and fire education. 

Junior Rangers completed the Junior Ranger day scavenger hunt activity and every child earned a Junior Ranger patch for participating. A few lucky children won a grand prize drawing of  books donated by Eastern National. Hundreds of families enjoyed walking the Beech Springs Nature Trail and learning about the wildlife, past and present, that could be found along the Natchez Trace. 

The park looks forward to building on this successful event and continues to search for innovative ways to reach out to the local community and parkway travelers.