Wildlife Wednesday at Treehaven: Dragonflies

Discover wildlife that calls Wisconsin's Northwoods home through Wildlife Wednesdays at Treehaven! Join us monthly for this FREE all-ages program series, and explore the natural history of each month's focus animal through interactive activities, guided walks, and/or specimen observation. From fur to feathers, woods to water, predator to prey, and more, experience the diversity of the animal world right outside our windows!

To the human eye, a dragonfly might lack the same presence as the mythical creatures they are named for—but in the world of insects, dragonflies and their damselfly cousins (all of which form the order Odonata) are some of the most fearsome predators imaginable! Enter the dragon's lair, a.k.a. Dragonfly Pond, on August 20th from 4-5 PM and find out how it gets its name by exploring the shoreline for evidence of its not-so-mythical dragons, including adults, larval nymphs, and shed casings (exuviae). Dragonflies serve as important bioindicators that can clue us in to pollution of aquatic ecosystems, and dragonfly-seekers of all ages and experience levels have contributed to a wealth of data that helps keep our waters clean. You'll have the chance to take a closer look at the dragonfly life cycle as we practice collecting and identifying nymphs to family, but come prepared to get your hands dirty since we must sift through pond muck to find them!

This event takes place during the Odolympics, a yearly challenge to record as many dragonfly and damselfly species as possible hosted by the Dragonfly Society of the Americas. Anyone can participate—you will receive information on this event alongside many other Odonata resources and volunteer surveys!

Meet in the main parking lot. There is a brief (less than a quarter mile) walk to the pond across the parking lot and down a short trail. We will walk to the pond as a group; attendees with mobility concerns are welcome to follow behind in a vehicle and park in a smaller lot near the trail entrance for a reduced walking distance. Trail is overall wide and even, but accessing the pond requires descending a hillside. Talk will occur outdoors and will be largely active, with frequent movement between the pond shore and hillside shelter as we collect muck samples. However, attendees who would prefer to wait at the shelter and observe are welcome to do so. All ages welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Registration will remain open through the start of the event. Please reserve a spot for each attendee.

Questions? Email [email protected] or call 715-346-2435!

Host or Publisher Treehaven UWSP