Dog Canyon Experience - March 15-16 (Albuquerque, Alamogordo: university, live, safe)
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For those of you interested in learning some more about the outdoor denizens of central New Mexico, and about the humans who lived in the area during the past 6-8,000 years:
Experience Oliver Lee State Park March 15 - 16 at the Annual Dog Canyon Experience
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. - Oliver Lee Memorial State Park celebrates the natural wonders and rich cultural legacy of the Chihuahua Desert on March 15 - 16 at its annual Dog Canyon Experience. Visitors can spend the weekend immersed in interactive programs about lions, spiders and hawks, make rock art batik and discover the lifestyles of people who lived in the region 6,000 years ago.
"This will be a great opportunity to learn how the natural resources of Dog Canyon have enabled human occupation for the past 10,000 years," said Oliver Lee State Park Manager, Wendy Justice.
A schedule of events is as follows:
Saturday, March 15
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Arthropods of the Chihuahua Desert, Group Shelter
Entomologist Greg Forbes will present arachnids and arthropods from the New Mexico State University collection, some of which are important medical species because of the toxicity of their venom. While most arthropods are harmless, they often evoke terror in some of us - a response used to advantage by numerous Hollywood horror flicks. The museum display cases will allow visitors to get up close and personal with the real creature features.
11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.Moths of Dog Canyon, Group Shelter
Lepidopterist Eric Metzler currently is conducting a study of moth species at Oliver Lee Memorial State Park. Moths often are overlooked due to their somber colors and nocturnal habits, but they represent one of the largest groups of insects using the park's resources and are an important part of the desert food chain.
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Riparian Raptors, Visitor Center
Laura Simmons, a wildlife educator for HawkWatch International, will bring a live raptor and explain the importance of raptors as indicators of ecosystem health. Many of our raptors such as bald eagles, osprey and peregrine falcons are reliant on the state's watersheds like the Rio Grande for survival. These riparian habitats also are essential to human survival. Learn some easy actions to help preserve our watersheds.
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Rattlesnakes of the Tularosa Basin, Visitor Center
Lori King of the New Mexico Herpetological Society will present Rattlesnakes: An Insight into these Fascinating Creatures and the Albuquerque Rattlesnake Museum will provide a live display of three common rattlesnakes found in the Tularosa Basin, including diamondback, blacktail and prairie rattlesnakes in clear vision cages for your safe viewing pleasure. Society members also will display other common snakes, reptiles and amphibians of the area.
6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Cougars, Visitor Center
Southeast Region Interpretive Ranger Kevin Hansen, author of Cougar: The American Lion, will provide a program on the natural history and management of mountain lions. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session, along with a display of skulls, track casts, brochures and other information.
Sunday March 16
11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The Mescalero: A People and Their Plants, Visitor Center
Walk through the park with Interpretive Ranger Alex Mares from Mesilla Valley Bosque State Park as he taps into his multicultural heritage to enlighten us about the Mescalero Apache and the plants they used for survival, heath and well-being. View some Mescalero cultural items while learning the Apache and common names of the plants from which they were made.
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. The Fresnal Rock Shelter, Visitor Center
New Mexico State University Archeologist Pete Eidenbach will present a slide show on the excavation of the Fresnal Shelter, a well preserved Archaic period pre-historic site that was occupied by native people 6,000 - 2,000 years ago. It contained some of the earliest examples of domesticated maize and beans found in the Southwest. Also found were numerous baskets, sandals, stone tools and everyday items, providing a window into the daily lives of these people from our distant past.
3:00 - 4:30 p.m. Rock Art Batik, Group Shelter
The Jornada Mogollon are known for their amazing rock art at locations throughout the Tularosa Basin. Join Ranger Charles Wood to learn about conservation and protection of these sites. Develop an understanding and appreciation of these iconic symbols by creating a batik rock art bandana.
Charles W. Wood
Park Ranger Specialist charles.wood@state.nm.us[
Oliver Lee Memorial State Park
Ph # 437-8284
Fax # 439-1290 New Mexico State Parks - Celebrating 75 years in 2008
This Program of Events was forwarded from the New Mexico Herpetological Society. If you are interested in a particular part of the program, you might want to contact Mr. Wood for details.
That's just too cool. I never knew that they did this at Dog Canyon.
Another reason why Alamogordo and the Tularosa basin is my favorate area in New Mexico.
Yeap on the 8th day God did not rest........but he created the Tularosa Basin
You must be in the area where Grampa and his brothers settled when they came over from Tay-uck-suss a long time ago... around Ancho, Coyote and White Oaks. Buncha cousins and their clans are still around Capitan, Carrizozo, Corona, Claunch and that area... really, all over New Mexico now. I try to get back to visit around there as often as I can. At least once a year for the reunion in Carrizozo.
Two other features of that area I like are the malpais... and the rare little pupfish in that creek which runs down outta the mountain into the basin. Also the mountain country all around White's Peak (Sierra Blanca)... Three Rivers... Lots to see all around that part of NM... but kinda tough to get into some areas of WSMR now... Mockingbird Gap... But plenty of interesting places which are accessible and neat to revisit...
The old railroad line up to Cloudcroft had some interesting trestles...
Amazing how many places in that area have names that start with 'C'...
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