Michigan Wildlife

This Tuesday Talk was presented by Outdoor Discovery Center naturalist Katie Janecke Soltesz on August 6 at the History Center in Douglas.

This engaging program introduced the audience to four live examples of native Michigan wildlife: a painted turtle, a Cooper's hawk, an opossum, and a gray tree frog. Guests learned unique characteristics of each animal and how they fit into diverse ecosystems. The presenter also shared hands-on artifacts, including a snapping turtle shell.

The Outdoor Discovery Center (ODC) Network - https://outdoordiscovery.org/ - is a non-profit education and conservation organization with the mission to connect people with nature through outdoor education for the benefit of wildlife and conservation of the natural world. The Eldean Wildlife Exhibit at ODC offers outdoor viewing of animals that are native to Michigan. It is free to visit. Informational signs in front of each enclosure discuss interesting aspects of the animal's natural history.

The mission of the Saugatuck-Douglas History Center (SDHC) - https://www.mySDhistory.org - is to preserve local history and inspire learning to inform and improve our community. We were founded as the S-D Historical Society in 1986. Today, we are a volunteer-run organization 700+ members strong that saves and shares the stories of the greater Saugatuck-Douglas area.

This activity is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the National Endowment for the Arts. The SDHC also receives support from the Allegan County Community Foundation Legacy Grant program. Most of all, we rely on members for all we do; join us today at https://mysdhistory.org/join/