The Department of Natural Resources today announced special programs being offered this spring at the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center near Kalamazoo.

The programs include:

• Spring Gardening- Who's That Growing in Your Backyard? Saturday, March 29, 10 a.m. and 12 Noon. Part I, Michigan Trees and Shrubs, will be presented by Mary Ann Menck of Mary Ann's Trees and Shrubs at 10 a.m. Join Victoria Larke of Glorious Gardens for Part II at 12 Noon for Michigan Flowers and Herbs. Participants will learn how to attract wildlife, bring shape and form to their landscape and reconnect with nature by growing vegetables, berries, fruits and herbs. They will also be given the tools to help identify the native and non-native plants on their property. Each program is approximately 90 minutes in length. All ages welcome.
• Monarchs, Milkweeds and More! Saturday, April 5, 10 a.m. Ilse Gebhard of the Audubon Society of Kalamazoo will help participants learn about the monarch life cycle, its habitat, how to attract them to your garden and their remarkable annual migration to Mexico. All ages welcome.
• Spring Beginner's Birding- Saturday, April 19, 10 a.m. The Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery grounds are one of the best places in the area to see waterfowl and other birds. Check out what species are headed north during the spring migration. If you have them, bring your binoculars, scopes and field guides. There will be a limited supply of binoculars on hand for those who do not have them.
• Wolf Lake Discovery Walk- Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. Explore the hatchery's nature trails and see a variety of plants and wildlife including birds, frogs, turtles and more. The program is for all ages and will last approximately one hour.
• Learning to Live with the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake- Saturday, May 3, 1 p.m. Join experts in learning the life history, conservation and how to identify Michigan's only venomous snake. Participants will learn how to identify the massasauga and have an opportunity to observe a live massasauga and other "look-alike" snakes. A short hike to explore typical massasauga habitat will take place on trails, weather permitting. Pre-registration is recommended.
• Spring Cleaning for the Earth - Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. Shawna Wilder of Shaklee Inc., invites individuals to get the Real Dirt on Clean! Participants will learn how to create a healthy home for their families and the environment by using natural, non-toxic cleaners.

Wolf Lake will again be offering its popular summer fishing program, when children ages 5 to 16 can take part in catch-and-release fishing every Saturday from June through August, and the center's annual Fish Festival is scheduled for July 19-20.

The Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery Visitor Center is located in Mattawan at Hatchery Road and M-43, six miles west of US-131. For information about events and programs, contact Interpreter Shana McMillan at (269) 668-2876.