Scat, Bones and Tracks - Our walk at Bell Slough Wildlife Preserve

Today, a medical appointment for Deb took us to Little Rock. On the drive home we decided to take a break and explore a Wildlife Preserve that was just off the highway. It is a 2,000 acre area that is used by all sorts of critters as well as the winter home to a diverse range of water fowl.

The entry was easy to find though not very promising. With just a parking lot, a couple of porta-potties, and an information board, it didn't seem that it could lead to the wonders that we were about to discover.

We parked and found the trailhead. It was well maintained and highly accessible. This is one thing that Arkansas does right - at least portions of all the preserves and nature centers that we have explored are designed to allow accessibilty.

It was a cold day but that didn't squelch the pleasure of finding that we were in beautiful natural surroundings.

The first stopping point is a blind (here is a shot that Deb took) that has been created to give visitors a view of a pond. At dawn and dusk this is a hub of activity as water fowl depart and then return. Unfortunately we were there in the middle of the day and the flocks were already gone.

We wandered on a little further, and while we did not actually see any critters other than small birds flitting about, there was plenty of evidence that lots of wildlife activity happens all around. Here is a coyote scat.

And the remains of a meal for many. It was likely a larger creature that had a first go at it, and then it fed smaller scavengers and then insects. The bones are picked clean.

We stumbled across this track and at first couldn't identify it. Then we both realized it was a partial bear print. Coming to that realization was an exciting moment for us both.

We didn't have alot of time for this first visit as the long drive home was ahead so we only explored a short way. There is a 2.3 mile loop that provides other blinds and observation points. It is recommended that folks sit and wait quietly in these spots, and that is exactly what we will do the next time we visit. Even with not much time, I couldn't resist seeing where these stairs led.

We walked a short way and were rewarded with this wonderful view.

I can never resist moss and so stopped to take this photo. We then headed back the same way we came.

When we reached that first blind we were rewarded with our only sighting of wildlife other than the smaller songbirds - a great blue heron.

The preserve is designed with boardwalks that span the swampier parts, and while highly practical, they also make for an interesting photograph.

Just as we were about to head out into the parking lot, I noticed a splash of red, and then another and another. There were a group of cardinals all in the same area. It was certainly a wonderful note on which to end our short walk.

We will definitely return throughout the year as each season brings its own unique delights, all of which we are eager to experience.