MCR Monthly Newsletter
What’s Hatchn’ing at Merrill Creek Reservoir with Ranger Rich
About the Author: Richard Dansen Sr.
Rich has a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science with a concentration in zoology and wildlife management. Rich has been with Merrill Creek Reservoir since 1995 where he teaches environmental education.
You can find Rich each weekend at the MCR visitors center talking about the wonderful wildlife and habitats of MCR. Stop by to say hi!
“In writing this monthly newsletter, I hope to inform and educate readers about some of the wonderful and fascinating events going on in nature at Merrill Creek Reservoir each month. Enjoy!”
– Ranger Rich
April
Snakes and turtles and bears oh my! Warm rains and warmer temperatures provide signals for many of Merrill Creek’s animals to emerge from their winter sleep!
REPTILES: As the days are longer and the sun rises higher, snakes and turtles surface to feed and bask in the warmth of the sun. These reptiles are ectothermic and need to bask in the sun on rocks and logs to obtain heat to aid their digestion. 
Snakes could be safely observed basking on the rip-rap rocks of the main dam and dikes (hikers please stay off these rocks). Snakes do not hear the way we do. They keep their head and chin on the ground to feel vibrations and usually know you are coming before you get there. So, there is little chance of stepping on one!
Turtles can be seen competing for the sun on many floating logs along the shoreline. MCR provides critical habitat for several NJ turtle species. Some of these turtles, such as Box Turtles and Wood Turtles, are marked and have been the focus of biological research since Merrill Creek Reservoir was constructed! With some regularly found marked turtles on record originally found over 30 years ago! (they can live to be 60!). If you find a turtle at MCR, please note that they are not only wild animals, but they are RESEARCH ANIMALS…. PLEASE do not remove them from the preserve. We need them to reproduce to maintain a healthy growing population!
Mammals: Our bears have awakened and might be found eating skunk cabbage, the first leafy green plant
to emerge (even through the snow!). Skunk cabbage can actually generate heat to melt snow around the plant. If you encounter a bear, make noise and calmly keep walking away from it….(DON’T RUN)
Plants: Serviceberry AKA shadbush will be blooming soon…signaling the shad will be coming up the
Delaware river soon!
Environmental vocabulary:
ECTOTHERMIC- often referred to as cold-blooded….. The Regulation of body temperature
depends on external sources like sunlight or heated rock surfaces. Examples are: reptiles,
amphibians, insects and fish.
ENDOTHERMIC- often referred to as warm blooded….. Capable of the internal generation of
heat. Examples are: mammals and birds.
Happy hiking….Ranger Rich