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Dillon Nature Center
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Main Entrance - All photos by Jim Mason
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This National Urban Wildlife Sanctuary, operated by the Hutchinson
Recreation Commission, is a demonstration area for attracting wildlife to urban settings.
The Education and Discovery Center contains exhibits, a nature library, class and meeting
rooms, and a gift shop. |
Butterfly and hummingbird gardens, birdhouses and feeders, and
special displays
give visitors many ideas on attracting wildlife to their yards.
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A deck on the back side of the nature center overlooks the pond and
adjacent gardens. |
View from the deck.
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One of the interior display is a viewable beehive. There are
also many small terraria and aquaria and hands-on displays. In the center of the
exhibit area is a floor-to-ceiling open diorama depicting a prairie hillside topped by a
tree. |
Watch the bees work! |
The 100+ acre tract is a wild arboretum with hundreds of species of
trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, and wildflowers. Trails wind through woods and prairies and
by ponds and marshes. Bullfrogs, leopard frogs, sliders, and painted turtles can be viewed
around the water. Also watch for Canada geese, pied-billed grebes, green herons, wood
ducks, and spotted sandpipers.
Interesting snakes of the area include the common garter, coachwhip,
prairie kingsnake, and western hognose. Coyotes, foxes, cottontail rabbits, and
white-tailed deer are often sighted. Mourning doves, yellow-billed cuckoos, great homed
owls, common nighthawks, and several species of swallows, woodpeckers, and warblers can be
seen at various seasons. Ospreys fish the ponds in October, and house finches, American
goldfinches, and black-capped chickadees are at the feeding stations in winter.
 | Picnic tables, Visitor Center, Restroom.
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 Camping not
allowed.
Discover what to see, eat and do in Kansas.
Plan your trip today, at TravelKS.com!
 Three
miles of developed trails. 1/3 mile is wheelchair accessible.
Click the icon to find a birding list for Reno County.
Click the icon to locate nearby Geocaches
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Directions:
In Hutchinson take K-61 north to 30th Avenue. Dillon Nature Center is located less than a
block east on 30th Avenue.
Click here for a Google Map of this site. |
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Ownership:
The entity responsible for management of Dillon Nature
Center is the City of Hutchinson. If you
have specific questions about use or management of the site, contact them
at (620) 663-7411. 100 acres
Click here to visit their web site.
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Funded by the
Chickadee Checkoff Program
Click here for a brochure! |
The Natural
Kansas web site
© 2011
by
the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks
& Tourism.
Re-publication of site content in any form other than for personal use
requires written permission. If you are a Kansas resident, please
assist with this and other wildlife viewing and conservation programs
by contributing to the Chickadee Checkoff on your state tax form. |
Questions or comments about Natural Kansas may be directed to
Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism
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