''^Information for visitors 



Those who are interested in leai'iiiiig ahout 

 tlie Center and its researcli work are welcome as 

 visitors. It is not always possible to pi-ovide 

 a guide for a peisoiialjy conducted tour. The 

 Center does not have anyone available for full- 

 time educational and public-relations work, and 

 arrangement for a guide can be made oidy if a 

 technical-statf member can Ije freed foi- such duty. 

 In tlie absence of a personal guide, \isitors are 

 invited to take a self-guided tour of the Station. 

 Arrangements for this tour may l)e made at the 

 Headquarters Information Office in the C. Hart 

 Merriam Laboratory. 



Visitors who come to the Center for the Hrst 

 I iine often ask about the wildlife of the area. The 

 Center does not maintain a zoo of local animals, 

 and species that may be seen on the area are in 

 tlieir natural environment. Fenced areas are 

 maintained foi' housing birds and mammals 

 used in i-esearch on diseases and in studies on the 



eliects of pesticide chemicals on wildlife. Tliese 

 fenced areas are not open for general inspection 

 because visits by the public would disturb the 

 experimental animals and would involve hazards 

 to the visitoi's. 



According to an early history of Maryland, 

 when the first white men came to the upper re- 

 gions of the Patuxent they reported an abundance 

 of Hsh and game. Turkey.s, ruffed grouse, and 

 woodcock wei'e described as plentiful, with flocks 

 of 100 or more turkeys being frequently seen. 

 Deer were reported to be abundant. Today, 

 woodcock may still be seen during the migration 

 season. Although the original population of 

 white-tailed deer did not survive, the species has 

 been restored and is once moi-e present on the area. 

 Turkeys and rufl'ed grouse have given way to the 

 advance of man and are now gone. However, 

 efforts are being made to restore the wild turkey. 

 The forests of the Patuxent Kiver valley still 



Ponds like this one on Conservation Form at Patuxent Center contribute to better farm living. 



