Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center

Sheldon, Park Investi-Gator, was out and about testing his photography skills when he heard some rustling within the brush. He snapped a picture quickly but was a little too slow to capture the critter’s face. Having webbed feet makes photography a little extra challenging for Sheldon, but he knows that he and his fellow investigators can determine what species of snake he saw with just this picture! Can you help Sheldon solve the case?

Registration for our July day camp, Sustainability Superheroes, is now open!

Do you have a camper interested in how they can help make the world a better place? This is the perfect camp for them!

Spots are limited and registration is required. Please email [email protected] or call (281)456-2800, x8281to get your young hero registered today!

Hey y'all, here is what we've got going on this month! We hope to see you there!

Sheldon, Park Investi-Gator, was on a stroll out on the Prairie and Wetland Trail when he saw a small butterfly. He noticed that is mostly a dark brown with a white band along the underside. The forewings are narrow, pointed and have a brown patch at the end. Meanwhile its hindwings have a white fringe on the outer margin.

Hey y’all, it’s time for Friday’s Featured Creature!

Looks like this sneaky assassin caught itself a mosquito!

Milkweed assassin bugs are fascinating predatory insects commonly found on milkweed and other plants. They’re equipped with a specialized piercing-sucking mouthpart called a rostrum. They use their rostrum to inject enzymes that immobilize and digest their prey externally before consumption. These bugs play an important role in controlling pest populations, feeding on a variety of herbivorous insects that might otherwise damage plants.

Look what the rain dragged in!

These stunning, pastel-colored clouds appear when sunlight diffracts through tiny water droplets or ice crystals in thin clouds like cirrocumulus or altocumulus. The result? A soft, shimmering rainbow that looks like it's painted across the sky. These little pops of color are often referred to as iridescent clouds. They’re not super common, but they can sometimes be spotted after a rainstorm, during sunrise or sunset, or when high, wispy clouds drift in.

Sheldon, Park Investi-Gator, was out on patrol when he was approached by a visitor. The visitor showed him a picture on their phone of an unusual substance they found on the trail. Sheldon knew right away that this was a type of s**t or the excrement of a wild animal, but he wasn’t sure what type of animal left this behind. Can you help Sheldon solve this case?

Hey y’all it’s time for Friday’s Featured Creature!

This fascinating grasshopper species belongs to the family Acrididae, known for their strong hind legs and powerful jumping ability. The "spur-throated" name refers to a small projection found between the front legs on the prosternum. This is a key trait used in grasshopper identification. It serves as prey for birds, reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. Many spur-throated grasshoppers are used as bioindicators, which are organisms that help scientists determine the quality of the environment.

A special thanks to Ranger Stahr for the awesome photo!

Caution: Road Work Ahead!🚧

Construction on Park Road 138 is underway. At this time, some sections of the park road are reduced to one lane. When planning your visit to the park, please allow for extra drive time when entering and exiting.

As the road work progresses, parking will be limited and we anticipate hitting capacity on the weekends. Please expect temporary closures.

Be sure to keep an eye out on our page for further road construction updates!

Happy Mother's Day!

This mother daughter duo of common gallinules is wishing y’all a happy Mother’s Day! Incubation of this species is done by both parents and usually lasts between 19-22 days. Just shortly after they hatch, the young are excellent swimmers. The youngsters usually depend on their parents and siblings to feed them until they’re between 3-6 weeks old, but sometimes the late bloomers will still need a little help. Whether the parents are ready or not, the young will be ready to take off in approximately 40-50 days and the chicks surely appreciate all their parents have done. Share the love with the special people in your life today!

A special thanks to Stephanie Trice for the wholesome photo!