Mother's Day at the Marsh

May brings warmer temperatures, spring wildflowers and a wonderful holiday: Mother’s Day. Observed on May 11 this year, we take time that day to honor and celebrate the mothers in our lives, whether our own or those who are relatives, friends and neighbors.

Motherhood requires dedication, love and a lot of patience. That’s true even in the animal kingdom.

Sure, there are those critters, such as frogs and turtles, who lay their eggs and hope for the best. But even that involves the mom laying eggs in the spot she things will give her offspring the best chance for survival.

Other wildlife, such as many birds and mammals, raise and nurture their young until nearly adulthood. The mom, sometimes with the help of the dad, often teaches her youngsters how and where to find food and how to avoid predators. With birds, the mom or parents often teach the offspring to fly.

Thanks to the efforts of LRWP staff and volunteers, wild moms settling in LRWP nature preserves have a healthy habitat in which to raise their families.

In celebration of Mother Nature, here are some photos from the LRWP archive showing past moms and babies at LRWP nature preserves. Enjoy!