Lake Barkley Naturalist and Recreation Blog

silenceofthehamms.pdf

Back by popular demand Lake Barkley State Resort Park’s Dinner theater series presents another Murder mystery where you the audience try to figure out who –dun –it!
“Silence of the Hams” a murder mystery about a serial pig killer troubling the towns annual pig festival will be performed by Laughing Corpse Production Company out of Nashville, TN with lots of audience participation. So grab your magnifying glass and mystery solving skills and head out to Lake Barkley State Resort Park on Saturday, October 1st from 7p.m. until 9p.m.
While piecing the clues together you will also enjoy a themed all you can eat buffet. So, enjoy the feasting and the fun but keep your eyes peeled as we see who ends up a pork chop and who’ll be bringing home the bacon.
Tickets are on sale now for $45/person and that includes dinner and entertainment. Limited seating is available so get your tickets now! For tickets or additional information call the lodge at 1-800-325-1708 or email mary.schmidt@ky.gov

On an early morning drive through the park, I was delighted with the number of animals that crossed my path. The temperature has cooled slightly and animals seem to be out a little bit longer in the mornings. Leaving the lodge I spotted two twin fawns that have been seen on a regular basis around the park. Further up the road a White-Tail Buck proudly displayed his small rack as he trotted into the cover of the woods. As I made my way towards the camp ground a Gray Fox darted across the road, and I thought how lucky I was to be there just in time to catch a glimpse of him. I stopped to unlock a gate at the beach and heard a Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling nearby ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka- kow-kow-kowp, kowp, kowp. As soon as he stopped, another one answered further off in the distance. Amazed at what I had already seen in just a short time I continued to the beach to see nearly a hundred Northern Rough-winged, Bank, and Barn Swallows swooping and catching insects. As I turned to leave a skunk, almost entirely black with just a white patch on his head, scurried and raised his tail as my car encroached on him.
My early morning drive had been a treat, and with fall fast approaching and migrants on their way back through it is promising to be a wildlife filled September.
If you are interested in wildlife viewing in Lake Barkley drive the beach road, cottage loop road, or hike on anyone of our trails.

In the heat of the summer our dedicated volunteers and members of the Friends of Lake Barkley State Resort Park created a wildlife mural depicting the shoreline of Little River and the plants and animals that inhabit this area. Since it's dedication in July hundreds of visitors on foot and by boat have visited the mural. A scavenger hunt was also created for children to locate some of the over 100 plant and animals depicted in the mural. The mural is located on the lower pool deck near the courtesy dock and can be viewed from the water.