A Hagerman Halloween

Photo by Marilyn Pickens

Families can find some “naturally” enjoyable ways to get into Halloween mode at Hagerman NWR. Take a walk along one of the five trails at the Refuge and look for something creepy like a spider web or a tree “skeleton”.  Or how about a "nodding dinosaur" pump jack?  You can pick up a printed trail guide at the Visitor Center. 

Photo by Dana Crites

Photo by Donna Niemann

Photo by Aaron Hamilton

Photo by Joe Blackburn

Wait – hush! What was that rustling sound? Was it the wind in the dry grass or did a ghost just brush by?   

Greater Roadrunner - Photo by Terri Barnett

Barred Owl - Photo by Monica Muil

Other good “I spy” objects are – hollow tree, “faces” in the burl of a tree, animal tracks, leaf skeletons, crows, vultures, worms, and beetles.

Salamander - Photo by Michael Keck

Black Vulture - Photo by Mike Sweatt

On the way to the Refuge, look through your bird field guide for the birds wearing “masks”!

Loggerhead Shrike - Photo by Jack Chiles

Cedar Waxwing - Photo by Ken Morton

Northern Cardinal- Photo by Rick Cantu

You can imagine the “ghost” town of Hagerman that was cleared away when Lake Texoma was built,  after visiting the historic Hagerman exhibit in the Visitor Center. 

If the Halloween fun begins to pall, you might want to move into “harvest” mode. At the Refuge, berry, nut, and mushroom picking are allowed without a permit, for personal use only, 5 gallons per person per day. Firewood cutting (from fallen trees) is allowed, with a Special Use Permit, obtainable at the Refuge Office during weekday business hours (7:30 – 4 pm, Monday – Friday).

One last thing - your car will turn into a pumpkin at sunset if you are not on your way out of the Refuge! Visit the Refuge website and www.friendsofhagerman.com for more information.