Yellow Lady Slippers in Bloom

Wildflowers are abounding all over the park. A wide variety can be seen on every trail in the park. Various colors of Violets, May Apple, Showy Orchids, Yellow Lady Slippers, Dwarf Crested Iris, Catawba Rhododendron are all in full bloom and showcase a spectacular display of color along our many trails and roads. Solomon Seal, False Solomon Seal and Jack in the Pulpit are also in bloom and can be seen on the Laurel Branch Trail in between the Ridge Trail and the Geological Trail.






Rattlesnake Plantain Leafing Out

Rattlesnake Plantain can be seen along the Lake Trail and Cold Spring Trail and although it still has some time before coming into bloom, its’ beautiful leaves are always a treat to see poking up through the forest’s leaf litter.

There is still more to come so stay tuned. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by the park on Saturday, May 18th for National Kids to Parks Day. There will be fun for everyone!



For additional information on the flowers currently in bloom at the park, you can reach me by emailing me HERE

May's Animal Profile- The Northern Pine Snake

Northern Pine Snake displaying defensive posture. (Photo courtesy of Will Bird)

Snakes have inspired many a chill on the back of the neck, or a scream from a surprised man or woman and people have over time developed an ingrained fear of these slithery creatures. However, snakes are very beneficial to the ecosystem and to humans by consuming rodents and other pests that plague our daily lives.

The Northern Pine Snake (Pituophis melanoleucus) is one of the largest snakes that occur in the state of Kentucky. This species averages six feet in length and is capable of attaining lengths of over seven feet.  Often known as the " Yellow Bull Snake" it once occurred throughout the southern portion of the state, but slowly began losing ground. It is now found in three isolated populations within the state of Kentucky, and occurs in exceptionally low numbers. It is an unmistakeable animal. Very few snakes attain as impressive a size as the Northern Pine Snake and even fewer put on a defensive display like the Pine Snake does. When threatened, this snake will engulf large amounts of air to appear larger. It was also exhale and hiss so loudly that you can hear it from quite a distance away. Buzzing its tail in dry leaves and grass gives the illusion that it may be a Rattlesnake. In fact, this snake is killed when encountered often because it is believed to be a large rattlesnake. However, this snake is completely harmless and possesses no venom.

New Exhibits at the Breaks Park Visitor Center and Museum

New display featuring four snake species from the area.

Museums are a very special place. They are a place where people can visit and learn at their convenience. Museums are a vital instrument used to teach, learn and expose people from near and far to the rich cultural, historical and natural history of any given time or place. In many cases, one can learn as much in a given day in a museum than they would otherwise learn in a year. And in most cases, a museum is not just a building full of things and "junk", they tell a story. And to those that pay attention to that story will be rewarded.

Aquarium displaying fish of the Russell Fork, as well as frog and toad exhibits.

We here at Breaks Interstate are now very pleased to announce the addition of a new set of exhibits in the Museum, located at the Park's Visitor Center. Since I began working here in January of 2012, my thoughts began to wander toward getting new displays in the museum that would fill in a gap that I had noticed. We are very fortunate in that through our museum we are able to tell the story of Native Americans, Daniel Boone, the Civil War, the Hatfields and McCoys, moonshining, logging, coal mining and the large animal species found on the park. But one thing that was missing was the story about the importance of the smaller fauna that can found on the park. Reptiles, amphibians and other

International Migratory Bird Day and Earth Day at Breaks Interstate Park

Cedar Waxwing (photo courtesy of Prof. Thomas Barnes)

Breaks Park will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) and Earth Day on April 20 with special programming, community service, and conservation activities planned throughout the day.

Birding events will begin at 8 am with a Birding Field Trip led by local birding enthusiast David Raines. The trip will begin at the Park Visitor Center, and participants will drive to a number of different areas throughout the park in search of a variety of birds.

At 6 pm, a special Birds of Prey program will be hosted by Mitch Whitaker, of the Letcher County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Raptor Rehabilitation Program. Whitaker will have a live demonstration with an assortment of rehabilitated hawks and owls. This event will be held in the park amphitheater.

Finally, at 9 pm, Park Naturalist Jayd Raines will lead an Owl Prowl, allowing participants the opportunity to call in wild owls. The Owl Prowl will begin at the Park Visitor Center.

Earth Day events include “Cache in, Trash Out” hosted by Chuck Ratliff at

11 am,

beginning at the Park Visitor Center. Participants will be involved in both geocaching, as well as trash clean up. Other community service and park clean-up opportunities will also be available throughout the day.

For more information about these events, or to participate in a clean-up activity, contact Jayd Raines at jraines@breakspark.com.

Echoes of the Wild Turkey

It is hard to believe that it is now officially Spring. It wouldn't seem like it with the oddities of weather that we have had to endure these last few weeks. What would normally be mild days this time of year have been covered in cold rainy and snowy days, with more forecasted in the coming week. That being said, it hasn't kept Mother Nature from displaying the fact that it is in fact Spring, and that things will soon get better.

Tom "strutting" and courting hens (Photo courtesy of Ryan Raybourn)

One of these signals from Mother Nature is unmistakeable, and it is the Spring gobbling of the Wild Turkey ( Meleagris gallopavo). Nothing will send chills up your spine like an early morning hike through a foggy forest and hearing the thunderous gobble of a wild turkey near you. This call of the male Turkey (called a Tom) is unmistakeable and can be heard from quite a long distance away. This call is a breeding call, and is a way to let a female Turkey (a hen) find a Tom to mate with. He will typically roost at night away from the hens, and when the Sun comes up and he awakens, he will

Lets Hunt Easter Eggs at the Breaks!

It's that time of year again! Daffodils are blooming, birds are chirping and the Easter Bunny is making preparations for Easter! Join us a Breaks Interstate Park for our Annual Easter Celebration. The Easter Egg Hunt begins at noon on Potter's Knoll. Get there a little early because the Easter Bunny will be stopping by, giving out treat bags to all the kids! One thousand eggs total will be hidden for three age catagories (1-3, 4-6 and 7-12 years of age) and 350 eggs will have a prize ticket inside! After the hunt, make your way down to the Rhododendron Lodge to enjoy our Easter Buffet!

For more information, dial (276)865-4413 or by visiting the BREAKS INTERSTATE PARK WEBSITE.

I can be reached by emailing me HERE

Elk in the East

Wild Elk Herd in Eastern Kentucky

I have always been very proud of the fact that I am from and have spent my entire life living in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. It is a very unique place that boasts a huge variety of natural resources. The variety of plant, tree and animal life in these mountains are almost overwhelming, however if you could go back in time to the days of Daniel Boone and even before, variety was even greater. Buffalo, Elk, Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Red Wolves and Mountain Lions abounded in these mountains. As "white men" made their way into what is now Kentucky and Southwestern Virginia for exploration and settlement, the numbers of these large mammals began to decline. This was for a number of reasons but was primarily due to unregulated hunting. Over time, all of the above mentioned species were driven to extinction in our area with the exception of the White Tailed Deer, and even they became very scarce. Due to conservation efforts by a number of State and Federal Organizations, several of these animals have returned and now flourish is our area. Whitetail Deer can now be seen almost daily, Black Bear are now roaming their old stomping grounds and Elk can now be heard bugling in the mountains.