Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore
October 3, 2011
| Midland Brown Snake |
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| This is a juvenile Midland Brown Snake. The average adult size is in the range of 9 to 13 inches. They eat slugs, earthworms, and soft-bodied insects. These are common but secretive little snakes. During mild weather they are diurnal, while in warm weather they are nocturnal. The snake was found on the Cowles Bog Trail. |
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| Cowles Bog Trail |
 Cowles Bog was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1965. It's a misnomer: there's no bog at Cowles Bog. Named in honor of Henry Cowles, the University of Chicago professor whose studies of plant succession among the Indiana Dunes helped develop ecology as a science, Cowles Bog is actually a fen — a related and equally unique wetland community. But the area was misnamed years ago, and the name stuck. In 2008, the park received a 3-year grant allowing the laborintensive process of restoring the Cowles Bog wetland to begin. While this grant is an important start, the total restoration will take between 10 and 15 years of continuous effort. |
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| Dave McGowan on the beach. |
