Friends of Martin Park Nature Center

04/27/2026

https://oklahomacity.perfectmind.com/25654/Clients/BookMe4LandingPages/CoursesLandingPage?widgetId=15f6af07-39c5-473e-b053-96653f77a406&redirectedFromEmbededMode=False&courseId=2d49aa25-6241-416d-a253-6a59d5cbdee4

04/05/2026

Every year we hear the same question: “Whatever happened to the prairie dogs?”

Back then, the park was surrounded by open land, predators roamed freely, and our local badgers did what badgers do best. The prairie dog colony never recovered. Those days are long gone; the badgers have moved on, and Martin Park is now more of an ecological island — with predators, yes, just… less impressive ones.

Still, the nostalgia remains. Visitors ask about prairie dogs constantly. Some of you even bring old photos to prove they were really here.

So, after years of questions, memories, and wishful thinking… We’ve decided it’s time. Prairie dogs are back at Martin Park Nature Center.

And just in case the date makes you suspicious: this part isn’t a joke.

The prairie dogs are home.

03/28/2026

Taking time out to enjoy Martin Park as plants and trees are beginning to bloom and animals are showing off with life.

03/28/2026

We can finally share with our friends…the prairie dogs are back! 😍

https://www.facebook.com/share/1CERpkenje/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Prairie dogs are sweeping down the plains, making the big migration on Friday from Lawton to Oklahoma City!

Link to the full story is in the comments below.

03/27/2026

🕊️ It’s migration season for our feathered friends! It’s one of the great mysteries that vexed ancient philosophers, did one bird turn into another at different times of year? Aristotle theorized that cliff swallows would tuck themselves into crevices in caves and hibernate all winter, and that was why no one saw them again until spring. Even as recently as 1680 people thought geese flew to the moon and back! 🪿

In 1899, a scientist started putting bands on the legs of starlings to understand their movements, and then in 1965 a man tags a migrating Gray-cheeked Thrush in Illinois with a miniature radio transmitter. That night, he followed it for 400 miles in an airplane as it continues its migratory journey. We’re still learning new things each year about these amazing creatures. Check out birdcast.org to learn more about the spring migration! 🐦‍⬛

03/23/2026

After two photos came in yesterday, we can confirm that monarch butterflies have reached Oklahoma!

The migration is moving north. When you see your first monarch of the year, let us know!

03/19/2026

🌙 Don't miss out on our first evening program of the year! Mothing at Martin Park is an introduction to the moths that live all around us. Beat the heat and experience Martin Park in a different light while discovering the little nectar‑sipping wonders of the night. 🦋 It's tomorrow, March 20th, at 8:00pm!

Children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required; you can register at https://oklahomacity.perfectmind.com/25654/Clients/BookMe4LandingPages/CoursesLandingPage?widgetId=6c36e1dd-6884-407d-8210-f189d3c2a619&singleCalendarWidget=True&redirectedFromEmbededMode=False&courseId=a3111e09-7cce-435a-aacf-54057b9babba.

03/16/2026

It’s wildlife baby season! Here are some tips on how you can help Eastern cottontail bunnies avoid injury, from our friends at WildCare Oklahoma.

***Please share this post to help cottontails this spring!***

So far this spring at WildCareOklahoma, the number one reason Eastern cottontail rabbits have been admitted is trauma caused by dogs.

The good news? This is one of the easiest wildlife tragedies to prevent.

Before starting yard work or letting your dogs outside, take a moment to scan your yard for what may look like a small patch of dead grass or flattened fur in the lawn. Eastern cottontails hide their nests in shallow depressions in the grass, carefully covered with fur and vegetation. They are incredibly easy to miss and just as easy for a curious dog to discover.

As always, cats should remain indoors to protect both wildlife and the health of our ecosystem.

If you discover a cottontail nest in your yard, you can protect it for the few short weeks it takes for the babies to grow and move on by:

• Placing an upside-down laundry basket over the nest with holes cut in the sides large enough for mom to enter and exit, and something heavy on top
• Setting a push awnmower over the nest so mom can slip underneath while larger animals cannot
• Leashing your dogs while they are in the yard
• Walking dogs in another area until the babies have dispersed

If you encounter a cottontail that appears ill or injured, please bring it to WildCare Oklahoma for treatment.

One recent patient, Eastern Cottontail #26-578, was brought to us after a rescuer’s dog discovered the nest. During intake, our veterinary team found the dog had fractured both the radius and ulna in the rabbit’s front leg. A splint was applied to stabilize the fractures, and it must be changed every few days to accommodate the rapid growth of young rabbits.

The hopeful part of this story: the patient’s siblings were uninjured and successfully renested.

With just a little awareness and a few simple precautions, we can give these tiny wild neighbors the chance they deserve to grow up safely.

📸Natalie Parkes, CWR,

03/06/2026

Who arrived before the Monarch butterflies this spring? Can you ID this butterfly without looking it up?