Ohio River Islands, National Wildlife Refuge, 2019

Welcome sign to the Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge, near Williamstown, West Virginia

In the past when in Marietta, Ohio, we had not visited this wildlife refuge in nearby Williamstown, West Virginia.  The two younger grandchildren had a field trip to the refuge as part of their summer reading camp and some of the rest of us drove out to pick them up.  There are several trails in the refuge and we selected a short one as well as exploring the visitor center.  

The Visitor Center

The main lobby of the visitor center

Fresh water mussels were harvested for mother of pearl in the manufacturing of buttons before plastic was invented.  There was a small water tank in the center with a number of river mussels.  These mussels are quite a bit larger and a different color than the ones we have here in the Pacific Northwest.  Instead of latching on to a rock or piling these mussels burrow down in the rocky river bed and are very difficult to see because they look so much like the rocks.  The ranger had uncovered a few for the reading camp visit so we were able to see some exposed mussels.  The ranger pointed out others that just had a small part of the shell visible.  

The mussels are somewhat difficult to see in the picture but there are several in this display tank. 

Samples of a variety of different shells of mollusks found in the Ohio River

Examples of the shells that had holes drilled in them to show how the buttons were made

There were also small aquarium tanks with fish and turtles that are common to this part of the Ohio River.  The turtle above is an Eastern Spiny Soft Shell Turtle.  These are aggressive like snapping turtles and can live up to 25 years.  

On one of the bulletin boards was this poster about Lightning Bugs, Fireflies or Glow Worms.  We do not have these in the Pacific Northwest and I am fascinated by them each time I go to Marietta at this time of year.  Around twilight and early dusk these little flying insects come out and there are sparkles of light near the grass all around, like fairy lights.  

Outside along one of the many walking trails was this display of pollinator habitats.  Mostly wooden boxes with holes for the bees to enter and use like a hive.  Because bees have been diminishing in number these habitats are proving to be very important in the pollination process of plants.

The flowers pictured are some that we do not have here in the northwest.  There were other more universally common flowers that can be found probably all over the United States and perhaps even in other countries but these were decidedly different and fun to see.

 Butterfly Weed,  a great bee attraction, the bush was covered in them

Large Pink Daisies

Milkweed

Both the orange Butterfly weed and the Milkweed are host plants for the Monarch butterflies.  Large numbers of Monarch butterflies migrate to areas where these plants grow.