Conservation center marks 5-year anniversary

The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center celebrated its fifth anniversary Saturday at its facility in Cape County Park North, where 218 visitors were offered an interactive introduction to Missouri's natural landscapes and the wildlife that live within them.

"Our goal at the conservation center is to reconnect people with the land," said Sara Turner, the nature center manager. "No matter what someone's interests are, they can find a rewarding and educational experience at our facility. Whether it be with an outdoor photography course or attending one of our hunting or fishing courses, there's something people of all ages can enjoy while learning to become responsible stewards of the environment."

Tania Brugger said she liked bringing her Boy Scouts to the nature center because it makes it fun for children to learn about animals and fish native to Missouri. They can also learn about the effects pollution can have on

the environment.

"Some of our boys are nearing the hunting age, and at the nature center they can learn proper hunting techniques and receive their hunting license," Brugger said.

Cape Girardeau County resident Melissa Browning said, "The staff of the conservation society was invaluable when I had a pond dug at my property.

"Thanks to their expertise, I knew what kind of fish to use and how large the initial seed population should be," Browning said.

"I've come here for a long time and learned quite a lot," said Cody Kneir, a local teenager who made an unusual contribution to the nature center after finding and capturing a juvenile black rat snake that has two heads.

"Sometimes they fight over food and can't quite agree on where they want to go," Turner said with a laugh before adding that having two heads would make surviving in the wild quite difficult for a snake.

In addition to the Siamese twin snake, there are several other animals native to Missouri on display including fish, salamanders and an alligator snapping turtle, which is the largest freshwater species of turtle in the world.

The conservation center also offers visitors a glimpse into history by examining how life in Missouri was lived before the advent of the industrial age.

Liana Jenkins, a scholar of the lives of Missouri pioneers, wore a dress of the period as she re-enacted the life of a settler's wife while sitting within a replica of a cabin adorned with accoutrements pioneers used in their daily lives. Nearby, some parents and their children observed a three-pronged spear Native American fishermen used.

"It's been a great five years," Turner said. "We look forward to continuing to serve the community as a one-stop resource for anything relating to nature in Missouri."

The Cape Girardeau Conservation Nature Center building is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and

closed Sundays and Mondays, and for Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

The nature center grounds and trails are open from sunrise to 10 p.m. daily.

For more information on the nature center's scheduled events or services, call 290-5218.