Sacramento is blessed with a remarkable asset in the form of the American River Parkway a 23-mile long reprieve to civilization and its discontents.
As the weather gets warmer and the days grow longer, residents of all ages and walks of life will be drawn to its serene charms.
We asked the folks at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center to help us compile a gallery of some of the amazing critters that call the parkway home. The list is not comprehensive, and actual animals seen may vary depending on location, but those who are willing to take the time and pay attention are almost guaranteed to see some of them, from the elusive otters and coyotes to the more forthcoming turkeys.
The Effie Yeaw Nature Center provides education on animals as well as a home for critters who can no longer survive in the wild due to injury or because they were kept as a pet or other (often misguided) human intervention prevented them from developing the necessary skills to make it on their own.
The center, which has been connecting the Sacramento community to its natural and historic roots since 1976, depends on charitable donations and volunteers to provide its educational, outreach and animal care services, said Torey Byington, executive director.
In the spirit of the Big Day of Giving, she asks nature and animal lovers to consider supporting a great cause!
