Families in Ann Arbor are lucky to have an abundance of green places to explore in and around the city. From turtles to coyotes and geese to bald eagles, there are many chances to spot wildlife with kids.
Wherever you go, be sure to be respectful of the animals and their habitat. Here are some of the best local spots for your adventures.
Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum
These beautiful gardens are home to a variety of birds, insects and mammals. Look for wild turkeys, mergansers, blue jays, songbirds and hawks. You could spot beavers along Fleming Creek — watch out for evidence like gnawed trees or stumps. Butterflies are abundant throughout the gardens and the Arb, and you may see hummingbirds, too.
Leslie Science and Nature Center
Follow the Black Pond Woods trail to see frogs, cicadas and hummingbirds. In the fall, you might spot squirrels stocking up on supplies, and in winter, kids can follow tracks in the snow.
The center also has outdoor raptor enclosures — little ones may love getting up close to the powerful talons and feet of these birds. On weekends, the Critter House opens for them to learn about animals native to Michigan.
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Bird Hills Nature Area
With 146 acres to explore and many winding trails with hills and ravines, Birds Hill brims with wildlife of all shapes and sizes. As well as a huge variety of plants and trees, kids may spot toads, salamanders and snakes, white-tailed deer, squirrels, chipmunks, red-tailed hawks, woodpeckers and many types of bugs and minibeasts.
Gallup Park and Huron River
This beautiful park encourages children’s curiosity about nature with statues of Huron River wildlife dotted throughout. Look out for turtles and frogs — you might also see deer, raccoons, chipmunks, opossums or foxes. Great blue herons, kingfishers and other predatory birds frequent the river, and bald eagles are sometimes around, too.
The Creature Conservancy
This nonprofit organization opens on weekends and offers kids many different critter encounters and educational activities. You can see hundreds of amazing animals, of which more than half are rescues, often former exotic pets. From alligators, cougars and clouded leopards to reindeer, macaws and mongooses, there is plenty to see and do.
Tips for wildlife watching with kids
To get the most out of your trips, make nature education an ongoing family theme. Have your little one start a wildlife journal where they can draw or write about what they see. They can also glue in feathers or other treasures they collect. This kind of activity encourages mindfulness and creativity and is great for sensory development, too.
Remember to take binoculars and snacks on your adventures, as well as your journals. Teach your children to be patient and to tread quietly when necessary to avoid scaring the birds and animals. Encourage their senses, too — observing wildlife is about what you can see, as well as what you can hear, smell or touch.
Why wildlife watching is good for kids
Apart from being just good fun, did you know that engaging with wildlife has real benefits? The more time kids spend in nature, the more likely they are to enjoy better physical and mental health. Research also shows that children who regularly spend time outdoors have better mood regulation, lower stress levels and have better learning outcomes at all ages.
Enjoy Ann Arbor’s wildlife as a family
With so many rich and diverse natural habitats in and around Ann Arbor, there are plenty of places to spot wildlife with your kids. Get your nature journals at the ready and head out together to see what birds and animals you can find!
