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Clark County Wetlands Park
preserves and enhances natural and cultural resources and provides educational, recreational, and research opportunities for the public.
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Thank you for subscribing to Wetlands Park Footprints newsletter. Share with your friends and let us know what you think at wetlands@clarkcountynv.gov.
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Discovery Day is a free, family-friendly event held on Saturday, July 8, from 9 am to 12 pm. The activities will be held indoors to help residents beat the summer heat. No advance registration is needed. Highlights include encounters with live desert creatures, crafts and activities, and a full range of interpretive and interactive exhibits. Mascots Mojave Max and Tommy the Turtle will share in the fun. Inside the Nature Center, kids will enjoy hopping through the Cottontail Challenge, building a wetlands landscape, and other fun activities. Partnering organizations will offer suggested activities families can do all summer with their kids. The Wetlands Park Nature Store will be open during the event, where shoppers can find nature themed gifts, apparel, books, jewelry and more.
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The Spotlight on Nature Gallery (SONG) opens soon! Located in the Wetlands Park Nature Center adjacent to the Nature Store, the new art exhibition space will provide opportunities for an increasing number of art shows at Wetlands Park. The public is invited to a Grand Opening reception on Saturday, July 22 from 5 pm to 7 pm.
The inaugural show, Gifts of the Wetlands, will be featured in the new gallery from July 15 through August 27. Gifts of the Wetlands, in partnership with Clark County Public Arts, is a juried art show based on the theme water. Wetlands are marked by saturated soils and water loving plants, playing an important role in Southern Nevada. Artists were invited to submit work that touches on the presence of water in the Las Vegas Valley.
The show will be juried by Melanie La May, a painter and illustrator, born in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has created public art for Clark County, Nevada, the Volcan Mountain Foundation’s Artists Residency, and her artwork has been published in books, magazines, and calendars. The upcoming reception on July 22 will feature awards for the works chosen as Best in Show and Honorable Mentions. We hope to see you there!
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 Desert Cottontail. Photo by Philip Martini.
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 Black-tailed Jackrabbit. Photo by Philip Martini.
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 Two Desert Cottontails and a Jackrabbit seen together in the meadows. Photo by Philip Martini.
Nature Close-up: Desert Cottontail or Jackrabbit
Although these furry creatures may look similar, the jackrabbit and the desert cottontail have distinct features that set them apart. The next time you’re walking on your favorite Wetlands Park trail and happen to see one of these animals, you’ll be able to distinguish them with confidence!
The Desert Cottontail possesses long ears, large feet, and grey-brown fur with a distinct orange-hued throat patch. Of course, this furry animal gets its name from its notable white cotton-like tail. An adult cottontail weighs approximately one to two pounds and is about 15 inches long. These animals prefer dry habitats such as those found throughout the Park, like desert scrub and desert riparian areas. These habitats provide excellent shelter where cottontails can hide inside of thick bushes and grasses to escape predators like hawks, owls, and coyotes. Cottontails enjoy nibbling on grass, bark, and other plant foliage and are usually more active during the early mornings and cooler evenings.
The Black-tailed Jackrabbit has eight-inch-long ears, elongated hind legs, and grey-brown fur. An adult Jackrabbit can weigh up to six pounds and grows to two feet long. Their black tails and black-tipped ears easily separate them from Desert Cottontails. Jackrabbits prefer desert scrub habitats and forage for green plants, flowers, and seeds from sunset to sunrise. When threatened, Jackrabbits will flash the underside of their tails or thump the ground with their hind legs to warn other nearby Jackrabbits of danger. To escape their predators, Jackrabbits can run up to 40 mph in short bursts while cottontails can only run up to 20 mph and typically dash in a zigzag pattern. The next time you’re visiting the Park and notice one of these animals hopping about, take note of their size, ears, and tails!
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 In June, an estimated 150 pet rabbits were dumped off in the Wetlands Park Nature Preserve. Abandoning animals in Clark County Parks is illegal, but more importantly it is cruel to the animals. We have been working with Clark County Animal Control to capture as many as possible to get them to a shelter, but many have fallen prey to coyotes, raptors, and other predators. Dumping animals can introduce parasites or diseases to native animals as well as being inhumane. Pets are not adapted to survive in the wild.
If you spot someone dropping off or taking animals, please immediately contact Clark County Animal Control at 702-455-7710 or AnimalProtectionServicesInfo@ClarkCountyNV.gov
Releasing pets into the wild is animal cruelty; it’s against the law and carries hefty fines.
CC 18.30.010
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Volunteers Needed! Are you looking to stay busy this summer? We'd love to have you! Wetlands Park is seeking volunteers, especially Information Hosts in our Nature Center and Education Facilitators for school field trips.
Is volunteering at Wetlands Park right for you? The first step to becoming a volunteer is to attend this informational class about the history of Wetlands Park, volunteer opportunities, and the process to become a Clark County Volunteer.
Saturday, July 15, 1 pm to 2:30 pm
Sign up at volunteer.ccwetlandspark.com
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 Discovery Walk participants spotting a Great-horned Owl.
Summer brings WP Art Programs, Bat and Beaver Discovery Walks, and kids' programs like Nature Tales, Eco-Explorers, & Sunday Storytime. View our July Program Guide or our calendar. To learn more about all our programs and to register, visit programs.ccwetlandspark.com.
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 Mallard Family. Photo by April Sperk.
Have you taken a photo in Wetlands Park that you would like to share? Want to see your Wetlands Park photo featured in an upcoming newsletter?
Submit your high-resolution photo(s) to: wetlands@clarkcountynv.gov Include your name, date, and location of the photo.
Post about it on Social media!
#CCWetlandsPark
#CallforWPphotos
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 Take a Walk at Wetlands and Join the Club
Put on your good walking shoes and explore the Wetlands! Walking is good for one's physical and mental health, and a walk in nature is even better. Wetlands Walkers, a group of health and nature-oriented individuals, track their miles whenever they walk Park trails and earn rewards at various milestones.
Wetlands Park Discovery Walks make it easy and fun to earn miles.
Upcoming Guided Walks
Discovery Walk: Beaver Walk, Saturday, July 15, 5 am to 7 am
Discovery Walk: Bat Walk, Tuesday, August 1, 7 pm to 9 pm
Discovery Walk: Beaver Walk, Saturday, August 12, 5:30 am to 7:30 am
Discovery Walk: Bat Walk, Wednesday, August 30, 7 pm to 9 pm
As a group, their mileage is tallied to reach a yearly goal matching the migration distance of one of the Park's visiting species. In 2023 the Walkers are recognizing the White-faced Ibis and have a collective goal of trekking 4,000 miles.
Where might you spot a white-faced ibis at Wetlands Park? Try Tropicana Wash, Las Vegas Wash, or the Mitigation Wetlands at Duck Creek Trailhead.
Can we collectively reach 4,000 miles by the end of the year? Join Wetlands Walkers to make it happen.
To learn more about the Wetlands Walkers program, the white-faced ibis, to sign up, or to log your miles, please visit our website, walkers.ccwetlandspark.com. Please visit programs.ccwetlandspark.com to sign up for a guided walk.
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