Get Out!

Fun things to do and great places to discover nature.

• In December, snow geese fly south in huge, noisy flocks. Along the way, they swirl down to feed in fallow fields and wetlands, blanketing the ground. When startled, the flock bursts into flight, turning the sky above into an upside-down snowstorm. National Wildlife Refuges like Loess Bluffs, Swan Lake, and Mingo are great places to see a blizzard of geese.
• A warm winter afternoon is the perfect time to hook a rainbow — a rainbow trout, that is. You don’t have to travel far to find these flashy fish. 
  Many city lakes are stocked with trout in early November. For rules and where to go, cast a line to short.mdc.mo.gov/Zd5.
• Share the Harvest helps deer hunters donate venison to feed families in need. Simply take your deer to a participating meat processor and let them know how much venison you want to donate. For details, visit mdc.mo.gov/share.
• In December, female red foxes start looking for boyfriends. At night, lovestruck vixens give a shrill yowl, which some people think sounds like a spooky scream. Your best chance to hear it is just after dark in brushy, open land or along the edges of forests.
• Cedar waxwings are named for the waxy red nubs on their wing feathers. In winter, they gather in flocks to feed on cedar, dogwood, and hawthorn berries. Find them by following their high, thin whistles. To learn their calls, visit allaboutbirds.org/guide/cedar_waxwing.

Looking for more ways to have fun outside? Find out about Discover Nature programs in your area at mdc.mo.gov/events.