Mercer County Naturalists Explore the Wild Side of Valentine's Day Thursday

Mercer County Naturalists Jenn Rogers and Kelly Rypkema will explore what it takes to find love in their program, “Wildlife in the Bedroom” at the Tulpehaking Nature Center on Thursday, Feb. 11, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

They will explore the fascinating and often bizarre activities of wildlife mating: from velvet mite “love gardens” to the American woodcock’s dazzling aerial display, from the mass emergence of thousands of love-hungry spotted salamanders in the spring to the role-reversed courtship of the spotted sandpiper.

The program is intended for adults only, with a program fee of $5 per person.

For more information and to pre-register, call 609-303-0706 or e-mail natureprograms@mercercounty.org.

The Tulpehaking Nature Center is located at 157 Westcott Avenue in Hamilton. Winter hours for the nature center are Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m.

The nature center provides programs and exhibits that encourage visitors to explore and discover the many cultural, historic and natural resources of the Abbott Marshlands.

It is owned by the County of Mercer and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission. For more information about the nature center, programs and schedule of events, visit www.mercercountyparks.org.