The Dauphin Island Sea Lab is offering Salt Marsh Excursions throughout the month of July.
Participants can expect to get muddy as they will adventure into the marsh to collect and examine the animals that inhabit the waters.
Mendel Graeber is an educator at the Alabama Aquarium. She said the excursion will offer an insightful experience into the marsh’s ecological community.
“We meet at the aquarium and then we have an introductory talk about the marsh and what to expect to see. Then we travel by car to the marsh so folks can expect to get wet and muddy. I always advise that they plan you know, to prepare their cars accordingly,” said Graeber.
Salt marsh excursionist will use nets to inspect crabs, snails and juvenile fish. They will also get to observe the plants and birds that populate the area. Everything they collect will be released back into the environment and everyone will have a chance to catch something.
Graeber hopes that the excursions will bring more appreciation and curiosity to the marshes. She says that the salt marsh is often overlooked and that contains its own important ecosystem.
”I think that this is a unique ecosystem for folks to explore. It's a place that people may see from a distance as they're driving along the coast, but not many people get into the marsh and explore. From a distance, it kind of looks like a quiet meadow of grass but when you get close, you realize that it's really teeming with life and it is very important for a lot of animals,” said Graeber.
The Alabama Aquarium will be reopening on July 10th following recent renovations. Graeber says that guest should feel free to check out the aquarium and the dauphin island excursions.
The Salt March Excursion dates, ticket pricing and reservation forms can be found at Alabama Aquarium Education Opportunities - Dauphin Island Sea Lab (disl.edu).
