A Wilderness in the City

By Jere Hough Meteorologist / Feature Reporter

Published: Wed, May 16, 2007 - 5:05 am
Last Updated: Sunday, August 05, 2007 - 3:52 am

Jere Hough

OUR PART OF THE GULF COAST IS KNOWN FOR ITS GREAT DIVERISTY OF PLANT AND WILDLIFE. EVEN IF YOU'VE LIVED HERE FOR A LONG TIME, THERE ARE STILL SURPRISES TO BE FOUND. METEOROLOGIST JERE HOUGH FOUND ONE...JUST DOWN COUNTY ROAD 5.

Did you see that snake- There it is again! Actually, it's a bird...known as a "snakebird"...or more properly, an anhinga. Unlike ducks, it has no oil on it's feathers so it has to dry them after an underwater fishing expedition. But if it gets hungry again it jumps back in the water and sinks like a stone.

The anhinga is only one of the attractions of the Nature Trail on the University of South Alabama Campus. This part, the swamp, is covered with water lillies in full bloom, and teeming with turtles...none of whom wanted its picture taken.

But you'll likely see some from the boardwalk built across the water. From the swamp the Nature Trail moves into the woods, with a lot of choices.

Dr. Mimi Fearn is Chairperson of the Earth Sciences Department at the University of South Alabama. She laughs and says, "It's a maze of trails back there. You can go around in circles for the whole day if you'd like to, or you can go in and out in ten minutes if you want to."

There are no markers or signs yet. But it's a beautiful place...we found some blooming trees and a lone butterfly weed. The wild orchids and mountain laurel quit blooming last month.

Dr. Fearn comments, "The students use it and the faculty use it both. We use it as an outdoor laboratory when we're teaching classes...If people don't learn something about the natural environment, they don't ever appreciate it."

Meterorologist Jere Hough is on the trail. "You know this part of the nature trail doesn't have any exotic trees, there's no beautiful flowers, or unusual bird life. Still worth the walk- What do you think- On County Road 5 at the University of Alabama Nature Trail, I'm Jere Hough, News 5."

THE GLENN SEBASTIAN NATURE WALK, NAMED FOR A USA PROFESSOR, IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC. EVENTUALLY SOME OF THE PROPERTY WILL BE USED FOR BUILDING, BUT WITH PRESERVATION AND CONSERVATION CONSIDERED.

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