Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary

This past weekend, Kevin and I went off the beaten path to Jug Bay Wetlands Sanctuary in Lothian, Maryland, where my friend Susan works as a park naturalist. The sanctuary encompasses about 1,400 acres of freshwater wetlands, upland forests and open meadows that are situated along the eastern shore of the Patuxent River.

Temps soared into the mid 90s the day of our visit. It felt like we were in a sauna as we strolled around the marshland sanctuary. Susan led us down a wooded path called the "Otter Point Trail." At the trail's end, we didn't find any otters, but we did see a pair of ospreys and a magnificent great blue heron as they flew overhead.

The marshland was a vast, panoramic stretch of aquatic vegetation. Susan pointed out that the lighter greenery we were seeing was actually wild rice. As we gazed over this wide expanse of lush plant life with the river snaking its way through it, a "flock" of bright yellow swallowtail butterflies flitted back and forth across the green background speckling it with their vibrant, shimmery forms.

Susan has many tasks as a naturalist, not the least is caring for the resident wildlife inhabitants. In the photograph above, Susan is checking in on an Eastern Box turtle. Susan's done extensive studies of the box turtle population in and around the Jug Bay Sanctuary. Her research provides a greater understanding of this dwindling reptile species and aids in protecting it.