Breaks Interstate Park Naturalist and Recreation Blog

Come Visit us for Halloween!

Jayd_Raines — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:41:05 -0700

One thing that is on every child's mind right now is the thoughts of all that candy that they will get from walking door to door in their costumes that they always look forward to wearing each October.I remember as a youngster there were few things that got me as excited as seeing the end of October roll around and the chance to go Trick Or Treating. I guess that some things never change, because even though I have grown too old to go out after candy, I still enjoy having children visit my front porch in their costumes, ready to get their handful of goodies!

Would you like to take a vacation without missing all of the Halloween festivities? Breaks Interstate Park will have plenty to offer those that wish to spend October 26th and 27th with us. Events will kick off Friday evening with a costume contest where you will get the chance to compete against others for prizes. Following the contest will be Movie Night, and we will be playing one of my favorite Halloween movies, Hocus Pocus. Saturday will offer a variety of events including Halloween Tye Dye shirts, hayrides, campsite decorating contest and Trick Or Treating in the Campground.

October is a beautiful time of year to visit the park, or any park that is close to you for that matter. Beautiful fall colors and mild weather makes it a great time to be outdoors. So regardless of your Halloween plans, make sure to spend some time this fall at your local State Park. You will be glad that you did!

For more information, contact Raines at 276-865-4413 ext. 3221, or by emailing me HERE.

Peak Color at the Breaks

Jayd_Raines — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 08:06:35 -0700

View of The Towers From Lover's Leap
What an Autumn we have had! Beautiful colors to be found all over the park, and all over Pine Mountain for that matter! Things have really sped up over the last several days. Peak was expected to hit on the 22nd, but here at the park I believe it actually occurred a few days earlier. A trip out to the Stateline Overlook yesterday showed a ton of leaf drop. Trees have been dropping their leaves heavily since the windy days over the weekend. I would estimate the leaf drop at about 20% in some areas. Many of the overlooks are still showing plenty of color, but I am now starting to see bare trees where you can see right down to the forest floor. What leaves are still on the trees are still showing great color and some of the most brilliant are Poplar, Maple, Oak, Beach, Dogwood, Sassafras and Hickory. To be honest, I haven’t seen a tree on the park that isn’t showing some color. Now is the time to come out and enjoy the sights. They won’t be here too much longer!

Coming up this weekend is the Halloween Celebration. Activities will range from Movie Night (showing Hocus Pocus), costume contest, hayrides, campsite decorating contests and Halloween Tye Dye T-shirts. The following weekend will mark our Annual Appalachian Heritage Festival, which local craftspeople will be displaying and selling their products. There will also be many demonstrations including applebutter making, gristmill demos, moonshining demos (we won’t be making the real thing), as well as Civil War and 18th Century living history demonstrations.

There is a ton going on at the Park this month and hope that you all will come out to enjoy what we have to offer. October is a great time to visit!

You can contact me at (276) 865-4413 ext. 3221 or by emailing me at jraines@breakspark.com

Autumn Birding at the Breaks

Jayd_Raines — Wed, 03 Oct 2012 07:51:33 -0700

Well, it is time to bid farewell to summer, and boy did we have one! After heatwaves, droughts and many other things, Autumn has finally decided to make her presence known. Temps are steadily dropping as we welcome October, and the brillaint, changing colors of the leaves are starting to take the place of what was once green. The Autumn migration is in full swing now, and many birds can be seen making their way south for the Winter.

A great variety of birds have been turning up at the park in different locations. Here is a brief list of recent sightings.

Cedar Waxwings
Hooded Warblers
Chipping Sparrows
Bay Breasted Warblers
Black Throated Green Warblers
Black and White Warblers
Blue Headed Vireos
Red Shouldered Hawks
Red Tailed Hawks
Ospreys
Black Vultures

As the season progresses many more birds will be out and about for viewing. Good locations at the park for bird watching have been the Stateline Overlook, Beaver Pond Trail, the Bike Trail and the Garden Hole.

If you are a birder and happen to be passing though, be sure to stop by. While you are here, grab a good meal and cup of coffee at our lodge. This time of year makes for a wonderful time at the park!

I can be reached by e-mailing me HERE.

Color Change at the Breaks

Jayd_Raines — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 10:51:09 -0700

Early October view from the State Line Overlook
Well, Autumn is here and for me Summer passed by so fast I hardly had time to enjoy it! It seems like just yesterday we were having the infamous heat wave passing though the east and were having to dealing with daytime temps up and over 100 degrees Fahrenheit! Next thing you know, our average temps are dramatically falling, with mid to upper 70's here on any given day.

I remember as a youngster that when school started back and the temperatures started to cool down, it could only mean one thing. Time was nearing for the spooks, monsters and goblins to appear, and Halloween candy was everywhere! As a child with candy on the brain, one thing that I failed to notice was the beauty that surrounded my home in the mountains at that time of year because it was also at that time of year that the leaves' color change was at its' peak. It wasn't until I grew up and lost interest in Trick or Treating that I fully began to appreciate the magnificence of Mother Nature's artwork as the leaves would change to beautiful shades of yellow, red and orange.

Leaves changing at the State Line Overlook
October is a great time to visit Breaks Interstate Park. The various overlooks gives one the opportunity to really appreciate a good Autumn color change. And be sure not to wait too long! The leaves here at the park have already begun to change, and I would rate the amount of leaves changing at roughly 25%, although just a few more days to a week longer will have them at 50% or better. Maples, Ash, Walnut, Beech, Dogwood and Poplars are all showing color and will continue to increase as the weeks progress. Often considered a problem plant, Poison Ivy also produces brilliant colors that are showing and add a great deal of color to the area. Oaks still are waiting to turn, but I suspect with these cool night and daytime temperatures coming up they shouldn't take too much more time to change.

While here, be sure to stop by the dining room and get a good, hot meal. The dining room also offers a great view of the Towers formation. This rock formation, formed by the eroding power of the Russell Fork River, is a spectacular view all its own. Combine that with the beautiful colors of Fall and you have some of the prettiest scenery that you will ever look at!

This is truly a beautiful time of year. The green of Summer is coming to an end and Mother Nature is giving us one last breathtaking view before the leaves fall off and we get into the short, cold days of Winter. Don't miss out on the chance to get out and enjoy it!

I can be reached by e-mailing me HERE.

1st Annual Naturalist Weekend at the Breaks happening this weekend!

Jayd_Raines — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 12:42:19 -0700

Breaks Park will pay tribute to nature throughout this weekend, with programs focusing on such topics as ecology, geology, birding, wildlife, plants and wildflowers, bears, reptiles and amphibians and much more.

The first annual Naturalist Weekend is a great opportunity for people of all ages and knowledge levels to come together to explore the many natural resources of the park, said Park Naturalist Jayd Raines. Programs are planned beginning on the afternoon of Friday, September 21, and concluding on Sunday morning, September 23.

The planned schedule is as follows:

Friday
1:00 PM- 5:00 PM- Booking Signing with Tony Scales
7:00 PM- Greeting and Weekend Overview
8:00 PM- Grandma Kept a Buckeye in Her Purse- Learn the old-time way to “doctor” colds, warts, freckles, baldness, and all the others miseries known to mankind.
9:30 PM- Owl Prowl
Saturday
8:00 AM- Early Morning Birding Trip
9:00 AM-12:00 PM- Booking Signing with Tony Scales
10:00 AM- Plant and Wildflower Hike
10:30 AM- 12:00 PM- Introduction to Geocaching
11:30 AM- Herpetology Field Trip- A hike to search out native reptiles and amphibians.
1:00 PM- 4:00 PM- Lunar Samples on Display- On loan for one day here at the Breaks are samples from the Moon that we are allowed to display courtesy of NASA.
1:00 PM- Geology Hike
4:00 PM- Stream Ecology Fieldtrip- Visit a local stream and learn more about the species found in streams and the role that they play in determining water quality and pollution.
7:00 PM- Bears!
8:30 PM- Colors of the Mountains
10:00 PM- Moon Observation on Potter’s Knoll
Sunday
9:30 AM- Who’s Who in the Forest? – This woodland trek will highlight interesting trees, shrubs, and wildflowers; explore plant-animal communities, and consider Breaks geology.

Raines noted that there would be something for anyone interested in nature to enjoy, including adults, children, students, youth organizations and more.

For more information, contact Raines at 276-865-4413 ext. 3221, or by emailing me HERE.

First Annual Naturalist Weekend at Breaks Interstate Park. Sept.21-22

Jayd_Raines — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 07:12:52 -0700

The Appalachian Mountains play host to so many species of plants and wildlife. The biodiversity of this area is so unique and there are few places in North America where one can see as many species of plants and wildlife as what we are fortunate enough to live amongst here in the mountains.

The 1st Annual Naturalist Weekend is a great opportunity for people of all ages and knowledge levels to come together to explore the many natural resources of the park. Beginning at 7 o'clock on Friday, we will have a brief welcoming session to the event and you will be able to learn more about what programs are being offered. At around 8 o'clock, naturalist and historian John Tierney will be presenting his presentation "Things my Grandma Told Me", a presentation discussing the old ways of life of people from the area, and things that Mother Nature provided to cure ailments, feed the family and many other things.

Fieldtrips will commence at 8 o'clock Saturday morning, with a variety of trips including birding, plant and wildflower hikes, herpetology (reptiles and amphibians) and stream ecology. Saturday evening will contain presentations from Johnny Wills from the VA. Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries on living with Black Bears, as well as Pine Mountain State Park's naturalist Dean Henson who is presenting on the Fall color change in the mountains.

American Black Bear (Photo courtesy of Park Naturalist, Dean Henson)
This weekend is one that is fitting for everyone from all walks of life. Whether you are a beginning birder, herpetologist, etc. or very advanced in your knowledge of plants and wildlife, this weekend will have something for all to enjoy.

For more information you can call me at 276-865-4413 ext. 3221 or by emailing me HERE.

Reservations for hotels, cottages, cabins and campsites can be taken by calling 1-800-933-7275 or by visiting RESERVE AMERICA.

For additional information about the park, visit THE BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK WEBSITE.

Cardinal Flower

Jayd_Raines — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 06:33:53 -0700

Cardinal Flower
Article courtesy of Ron Vanover, State Naturalist for the KY Dept. of Parks.

"What a beautiful plant?" Those are the words you hear most commonly from tourists and wildflower enthusiasts as it relates to the Cardinal Flower. While visiting Breaks Interstate Park last week, I found this plant blooming near a natural spring. With camera in hand, I took advantage of the natural moment.

Cardinal Flower, with its rich, deep, crimson red blossoms, is a member of the lobelia family. In late summer, you can admire the brilliant, tubular flowers in many parts of Kentucky along streams, boggy areas, lakeshores, riverbanks, marshes, and damp rich areas. Since it has tubular-like flowers, it is often pollinated by hummingbirds. It is rather common but digging the flower has resulted in scarce populations in some areas.

How did it get its name? Cardinal Flower is named for the brilliant red robes worn by Roman Catholic Cardinals.

On a side note and for those that are not aware, Breaks Interstate Park was created jointly in 1954 by the Commonwealths of Kentucky and Virginia. Known as the Grand Canyon of the South, it offers spectacular breath-taking views and myriad forms of wildlife. With about 4,600 park acres, one third of the park is located in Pike County, Kentucky (along Pine Mountain) near Elkhorn City.

For additional information, visit the BREAKS PARK WEBSITE

Elk in the East

Jayd_Raines — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 08:09:50 -0700

Elk grazing in small pasture.
Elk are a truly impressive animal species. A large member of the deer family, a male elk (called a bull) can tip the scales at over 700 pounds. They are brown and gray in color and have a white haired rump. The coloration of the rump is what gained this animal the name "Wapiti" which in the Shawnee Indian language means "white rump". They breed starting in September, which is when the male Elk "bugles", trying to attract the females of the species to mate with him. This bugle is very loud and carries a great distance, and will make the hair on your neck stand up! Males grow large, impressive antlers that they use to fight over territory during the breeding season. Late in the winter, these antlers will fall off and will grow back again beginning the following Spring.

I will never forget when I had first heard in 1997 that the KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife were going to be releasing Elk into Kentucky. I was the ripe old age of 12 years old then and being the young outdoorsman that I was, I was as excited about hearing this news as most kids my age were about Christmas! I was even more excited when I was told by my aunt that she had purchased passes to view the first Elk release in the State for her, myself and my grandpa. Boy was I disappointed when bad weather came in that day and we found ourselves unable to go watch. Since the first release that day and many more over the following few years, our elk population in KY has grown and now boasts the largest population of wild Elk East of the Mississippi River. Now that I live here in Pike County KY, which is at the center of the KY Elk's range, I am now fortunate enough to get to see these animals in the wild, sometimes as close as a few hundred feet from my front door!

Earlier this year, the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries has begun an Elk reintroduction of their own and last month, released the first of many Elk to establish a wild population in Virginia. This process will almost certainlty take a few years but the hopes are that as the KY Elk spread east, they will merge with the VA Elk and the range of Elk east of the Mississipp with continue to expand and grow.

Several Kentucky State Parks now offer guided Elk viewing trips that will give you the opportunity to see the majestic animals.

May I suggest that you visit KY Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Resources to learn more about Elk in Kentucky.

You may also want to visit VA Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries to learn about Virginia's Elk Management and Restoration Program.

I can be reached by e-mailing me HERE.

Drink Your Water!

Jayd_Raines — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 09:16:30 -0700

This year's weather has been crazy hasn't it! We started the year out with an early Spring warmup and if I recall correctly, we were having to endure days in the 50s and 60s as early as February. We have had reasonably normal warm weather since then and this past week the temps even dropped into the upper 70s during the day. Well, it isn't going to be that way much longer, with the weather man predicting temperatures over 100 degrees this weekend.

Now, growing up and still to this day, nothing was more enjoyable on a hot day than an ice cold Ale 8 (a locally made softdrink if you have never had it). But as these daytime temperatures continue to rise and you are spending more time outdoors in the heat, it is important to remember to drink plenty of water. Dehydration is a common ailment in the summertime and is a result of spending a lot of time out in the heat and not consuming enough water. Keep in mind that every drop of sweat that you produce is a drop of water that your body is losing, and you need to keep replacing that lost water by drinking more. On hot days while I am out and about the park working, I am constantly consuming water. In fact, on a busy day I will drink as many as 6 one liter bottles of water.

Signs of dehydration are really pretty simple and it is important to keep an eye open for the symptoms. When dehydrated, you may get a headache. You may also feel dizzy and stop sweating. You may also feel run down and tired. If any of these things occur you need to find a cool place to go and start drinking water. If the symptoms do not begin to subside in a short period of time, it is in your best interest to seek out medical attention.

Definately take advantage of your local state parks this weekend, as well as for the rest of the summer. The heat is no reason not to enjoy a nice, early hike in the morning on some nicely shaded woodland trail. Just use caution, take your time and drink plenty of water and this will ensure an enjoyable, safe time for you, your family and friends!

I can be reached by e-mailing me HERE.

After The Sun Goes Down

Jayd_Raines — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 10:39:56 -0700

Are you afraid of the dark? I know that as a small kid I sure was. Many of us as youngsters were scared to walk into that basement where the lights were off and you couldn't see anything, or that dark room where the light switch was all the way across the room, and you would have to feel your way across to get there. But did you know that there are many animals that actually enjoy darkness? Our park's wildlife takes on an entirely new form when the Sun goes down and the only light emitted is that from the moon. Many species enjoy the ability to sneak around in the darkness and not be seen by people. These animals are called nocturnal, which means that they are active at night.

Raccoon (Photo Courtesy of Thomas Barnes)
Of all of the parks species, nothing says "nighttime critter" like a Raccoon. These animals are the "bandits" of the animal world, complete with their little black masks. These guys spend most of the day hiding in hollow logs, trees, and similar places sleeping the day away. This sounds innocent enough, but just wait until the Sun goes down. It is then that they come out and their mischief begins! They have a very good sense of smell and and paws that are adept at opening trash cans, coolers and other places that they can find a free, easy meal. It is not uncommon for campers to wake up and find the coolers that they forgot to bring inside at night broken into and empty. Because of these smart little guys, it is always important to lock up anything that you have that may have food inside. Even if you think that your containers would keep any wildlife out, don't underestimate the smarts of a determined Raccoon!

Barred Owl (Photo Courtesy of Thomas Barnes)
One of the most mysterious animals to come out during the darkness of night is the Barred Owl, known by many locals as the "Hoot Owl". These birds are apex predators of forest and do most of their hunting at night. Their large eyes give them the ability to see very well in the dark and they have a terrific sense of hearing. Their hearing is so good that they are able to hear the things as small as mice scurry across the forest floor. They are also very unique in that they are able to see all the way around them without moving their bodies. They can rotate their head all the way around and even though their back may be facing you, they can still stare right at you! They are heard throughout the year and have the distinctive call that sounds like they are saying Who cooks for you! Who cooks for you all! Barred Owl are relatively common in many areas, but unless you hear them call, you probably will never know they are there!

Tri-colored Bat (Photo Courtesy of Jayd Raines)
Bats are cause for a lot of fear. Their odd appearance, many myths about them, and their secretive nature make many people afraid of them. Bats are extremely beneficial though, feeding on the most annoying nocturnal animal on the planet, mosquitos. On a good night they can eat twice their body weight in insects and when you add that up, it is quite a few! All of our bats here are strictly insectivores and not vampires, the nearest Vampire Bats are in Central America. Bats do very well after dark and it is a common occurrance to see them flying around lights outside, capturing and eating insects that flock to those lights. They will do this all night, retiring to hollow trees, buildings and caves to sleep the day away.

Being outdoors at night is a really neat way to view the outdoors and I haven't even scratched the surface of what you can see. As the Sun goes down, the Moon comes up and the day time creatures go to sleep as the nocturnal ones begin to wake up, the whole perspective of the outdoors change. Give it a try and spend some time outdoors in the dark! You will be glad that you did.

I can be reached by e-mailing me HERE.