While on the path, look for the red harvester ants' nests.
These large, red ants are very common at Standley Lake. Their nest can be 98 inches deep underground. Very carefully (they can give a painful bite!), look closer. Can you see what the ants are carrying inside? The worker ants are bringing seed into the colony. Seeds are their main diet. However, on some seeds, they will only eat the elaiosome, a nutritious, oily appendage protruding from the seed and then discard the seed as a whole. This is called myrmecochory! The ants are helping plants disperse seeds.
Can you play the role of a scout ant? They are the first ones out of the mound every morning. They seek food and mark their path as they return to alert the worker ants. Go on an adventure and look for seeds to bring back to the nest. Don’t forget to tell your family where the seeds were found!
Continue to walk east following the path up the hill. If you find an intersection, always go right.
Listen carefully. You might hear chorus frogs. They are small and blend in very well with their surroundings, so they’ll be difficult to see.
Continue to walk straight without taking any turns.
