As you take a walk through The Ridges Sanctuary, you may notice areas that have no trees, even though they are bordered by trees. These low-lying areas are swales, part of the ridge and swale landscape that we are named for. Ridges are high areas – the historic shorelines of Lake Michigan. Swales are the low areas – the “hallways” between the ridges. Formation of this distinctive typography began over 1,400 years ago by receding glaciers. If you look at an aerial image of The Ridges Sanctuary, you’ll get an idea of those high dry areas with trees and shrubs, and the low areas with water and wetland plants. Today, The Ridges Sanctuary protects 30 ridges and swales of this unique landscape.   

This summer, shortly after I started as the Ridges Naturalist, I heard the distinct call of sandhill cranes. I went looking to see where they were. I looked over the edge of Sandy Swale to see two adult sandhill cranes and a flash of shorter brown, which let me know there was at least one colt with its parents. As I watched, keeping my distance so as not to alarm the adults, one of the adults snatched up a catfish from the swale!  

Swales are home to so many different animals. However, that can change as the water level fluctuates. In the late spring and early summer when the water is high, there can be smaller fish swimming about, turtles basking on logs, and water bugs skating across the surface. You can hear frogs calling from all around as they get ready to find mates and lay eggs. As the levels of water drop, you will see animals starting to concentrate to deeper areas or head off to other bodies of water. Some might bury themselves in the mud to wait for it to become wet and full of water again. Next time you are walking The Ridges, stop and take a moment to look and listen. You might be surprised by what you find.  

I find all of these things to be so magical, and I am excited to be working at a place that protects this important landscape. I am the new full-time naturalist at The Ridges. It has been quite a while since The Ridges has had a naturalist here all year, and I feel lucky to have been given this opportunity to move here and join the wonderful staff at The Ridges. I have a Master of Science in Biology and studied alligator snapping turtles in Louisiana. As a result, I absolutely love turtles and am happy to talk your ear off about them! I also have a background in Wisconsin, having lived in Stevens Point while growing up. I am so excited to be back in Wisconsin. I cannot wait to meet everyone!