June 19th, 2018

Take a Breath of Fresh Air at

​Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge

By: Laurene Posego
​
Have you ever been on your merry way to get something in just the next room over, while humming to yourself, and you arrive in that room and absolutely cannot remember what you were going to get? If you are thinking yes, then continue reading! Sometimes in life we get so busy, we can’t even remember what clothes we wore the day before. How do you fix all these slip ups that we all begin to have?....... well the answer for me is nature, simply just nature. Hmm, well where can you truly experience wildlife and nature? It starts by coming to the refuge. The Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge is just one rejuvenating atmosphere, it is the perfect place to get out of your everyday mind set and just truly enjoy beautiful views, and wildlife of course.
            Has Grannie ever told you “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”? I know I have heard that so many times, if I had one dollar for every person that said that to me including Grannie, I would indeed be a very wealthy woman. Now has anyone ever said to you being in the outdoors will ease your mind? Hmmm… Imagine this scene I am about to make realistic for you. Today has been nothing but stress at work, you get home the house is a mess, the family is hungry, clothes need to be washed, and all you need is to take a breathier and relax. So instead of your normal duties you pack some food and head over to the refuge. You pull onto Wildlife Drive that brings you into the refuge and there is a wild turkey in the distance that caught your eye, but quickly enough your eyes are back on the road and you notice there is a box turtle crossing the street. Don’t worry you saw the turtle in time, and you drove around him. Phew, that was close. Just in case another vehicle was coming, you wanted to help the box turtle to safety. You remembered from reading a Facebook post on the Friends of Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge page, that the best way to help turtles out of the road is to keep them in the same direction they were going, but moving them out of the road. You think, “yayy! I can help this little guy to safety without harming him!”  But, the adventure is just beginning, there are birds all over on the pavement! They must be warming themselves and as you get closer you notice they are all Green Tree Swallows, and you were lucky enough to watch them all fly up and to the left really quick and straight back on to the pavement after you pass on by. “Wow, what would it be like to fly?” The feeling of excitement is really hitting at this point. Now it is time to hike on down the forest path towards the Kentucky Lake. The second you step into this beautiful mixed tree forest you hear so many different birds singing. It is like you are in a nature documentary or nature show you see on animal planet. Best part is, the forest meets up with the lake and now the waves are crashing against the shore, the birds are still singing their songs, the bees are buzzing, the boats are passing in the distance and suddenly you forgot all your troubles and stresses. Now that you are surrounded by the beauty of the refuge, it is time to eat that meal you packed with your family.
            Don't forget, us people, yes we live busy lives, but so do the animals living around us. If you take the time to stop, watch, and listen you start noticing how incredible wild animals are.

Author

My name is Laurene Posego, I am the Friends of TNWR intern. I went to the University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point and graduated in May of 2017. I like to believe my passion for the outdoors grows each and everyday, almost as fast as Common Milkweed spreads! Fun fact, I make sure I learn one fact a day about wildlife so my education never stops.