Out and About in Delaware's State Parks

Several weeks ago, my partner, Bob, and I found ourselves across the street in our neighbor, Brenda’s backyard. It had become something of a regular hangout spot for us on beautiful summer days. Her backyard is an amazing landscaped oasis full of a profusion of flowers and plants of every size, shape and texture. One of my favorite features is a large koi pond complete with a cascading waterfall. The sound of the rushing water and the sight of the colorful aquatic life are a highlight of every visit. The yard also features an in-ground pool that Brenda very generously opens to pesky friends and neighbors like me! I always try to thank her by helping out with "little" jobs around the yard. Typically, that’s all the independent minded Brenda will allow. However, on this visit, Brenda had a special favor to ask. It seemed some creature had died by her shed and was causing a horrific stench. I went to investigate and discovered the culprit was an extremely large and very dead black snake which had become trapped in some discarded pond netting. It took me awhile to gather up the netting and discard the carcass. The stench was so strong, I had to double bag the snake. Not a difficult job, but a rather smelly, unpleasant experience. It was quite a surprise when a week after this incident I found a message from an obviously upset Brenda on the answering machine indicating another black snake had become trapped and died…this time in the netting covering the pond. The message was from earlier in the day and I figured it was too late for me to do anything about it. I met Brenda the following morning. She was very disturbed that another innocent creature had died in her yard…even if it was a snake! She chose to retreat into the house while I ventured to the pond to remove the body. It took me a few minutes to find the deceased…another 5 foot black snake. I must admit, snakes are not one of my favorite creatures. I generally prefer to view them from a distance. That is especially true of black snakes. While they are not venomous, they do tend to be somewhat aggressive if cornered. I bent down to cut the netting from around the body and discovered the "deceased" was very much alive! Surprised, I gathered up my courage and grabbed the writhing reptile. It immediately wrapped itself around my forearm. With some difficulty, I cut the snake out of the net. However, the household scissors I was using were too large to cut the net off the creature’s neck. I carried the very unhappy reptile up to the house to find a better tool to more delicately remove the netting. Brenda was shocked to see me at the door and assumed I was there to "tease" her about the dead animal. She absolutely refused to come out. It took several minutes to calm the upset Brenda and communicate the fact that the snake was very much alive. Eventually, she understood my dilemma and found me a suitable pair of scissors. I safely freed the snake which I released in a nearby field. The snake took off without a bit of hesitation…as did I in the opposite direction!

Snakes in Delaware
My recent outdoor adventure got me thinking about snakes in Delaware. There are numerous species of snakes that make their home in our state including garter snakes, black snakes, and hognosed snakes. They play a valuable role in the environment, primarily feeding on small rodents. The only venomous species found in Delaware is the copperhead found only in western Sussex County and in the piedmont area north of Wilmington.

Be Responsible…Don’t Litter!
Recently, one of the local newspapers ran a letter to the editor complaining about litter on the resort beaches. The author expressed his frustration with dirty conditions in the water, as well as along the shoreline. Among the groups called to task concerning this situation was our agency, the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation. While I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, I couldn’t help but think the writer didn’t fully understand the issue or how our agency manages for the problem.

All Delaware State Parks operate as "Carry-in, Carry-out" facilities. This program was initiated in 1994 to help make our parks "trash-free." At that time, trash cans were removed from most areas and visitors were called upon to be responsible for the refuse they produce when visiting our sites. Bag dispensers were established at designated locations within the parks to help visitors to comply with the program. With no trash cans in the parks, logic would lead you to believe there would be more litter, but the fact is the state parks are actually much cleaner. This is especially true of our park beaches. Prior to establishing this program, it was a common sight to see dozens of overflowing cans at our designated swimming areas. Regardless of how many cans were put out, they would regularly be filled beyond capacity. Seagulls and other wildlife were lured to the trash cans and often help to spread the waste around the beach. Add to that the effects of the wind and you ended up with a very messy situation! The removal of the cans, along with the cooperation of park visitors, helped to make the "Carry-in, Carry-out" program an immediate success. Park sites, especially the beaches, were significantly cleaner and have remained that way. Do we still get litter on our beaches? Absolutely! But wouldn’t you expect that from any area which has thousands of visitors each day? The fact of the matter is the amount of litter we experience today is minimal in comparison to what occurred before the program was established. Could the situation be better? Absolutely! But with or without trash cans, the only way to have cleaner beaches is for each of us to do our part. People make the trash. It is up to people to clean it up!

Nature’s Best Bets
If you are looking for fun and exciting ways to spend your spare time, why not check out the Seaside Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park? The Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. throughout the year. The Nature Center provides programs designed for individuals and families. A highlight of any visit is viewing the five 1000-gallon aquariums that feature different aquatic habitats. For more information on park programs, contact the Seaside Nature Center at 302-645-6852 or check out www.destateparks.com