Belle Isle Nature Center

Savor summer on the island! ☀️🌳

Every Thursday in June, July and August, the Belle Isle Nature Center will be open late till 8 p.m. What will you do with your extra 3 hours? Spot native animals, hit the trails, buzz with the bees, birdwatch, play in the underground kids maze – the possibilities are endless! Admission to the Belle Isle Nature Center is always free and fun for all ages.

Explore our website to learn more and plan your visit: belleislenaturecenter.org

🐦🌿 Celebrate Black Birders Week at the Belle Isle Nature Center! 🌿🐦

Join us on May 30 from 12 PM – 4 PM for an inclusive outdoor celebration of birding, community and nature. Whether you’re a seasoned birder or just getting started, this beginner-friendly event is the perfect chance to connect with local wildlife and fellow nature lovers.

Enjoy:
✨ Guided bird walks
🎨 Art & expression activities
👐 Hands-on experiences
🤝 Community networking

This special celebration honors the contributions of Black birders and naturalists while creating a welcoming and accessible space for everyone to enjoy the outdoors together.

Bring your binoculars — or borrow a pair from the Nature Center — and get ready to learn, connect and celebrate the beauty of birds!



📷 Jennifer Harte

Conservation champions at work!

Today, we are proud to share what we are doing to help protect a species that swims in the Detroit River, the northern mudpuppy. Though they are Michigan's largest salamanders, mudpuppies are a challenging species to study due to their reclusive nature.

Northern mudpuppies are listed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources as a "species of special concern" due to a lack of information and data. To help learn more about their movements and habits, a groundbreaking study using acoustic telemetry was added to our annual mudpuppy survey.

A dedicated team of Detroit Zoological Society staff and our partner organizations captured, studied and implanted the acoustic transmitters while keeping the welfare of the animals as the top priority.

When released, the small transmitters will be able to tell us the animals' swimming patterns and how long they stay in certain areas. This key data will help to expand our previous work and better understand how to help their population and ecosystem thrive.

This exciting project is only possible through the combined effort of multiple organizations and a passionate conservation partnership. Let Earth Day be a reminder to us all to support the causes we care about.

Learn more about this and other Detroit Zoological Society Conservation projects: https://detroitzoologicalsociety.org

Catch one of nature’s coolest nighttime shows 🌙🪶

Join us Thursday, April 23, 2026, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Belle Isle Nature Center for the American woodcock’s famous “skydance.”

Take a guided evening walk with staff from the Nature Center and the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center, and learn about this unique bird’s behavior and role in Michigan’s ecosystem.

✨ Free | All ages | Part of Nature at Night

Know before you go:
• Dress for the weather
• Wear comfortable shoes
• A Recreation Passport is required for vehicles entering Belle Isle State Park

Learn more: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/nature-at-night-woodcock-walk/

This is our night to shine! 🌟

Join us at the Belle Isle Nature Center for Astronomy Night on April 25 from 7 to 10 p.m. Stargazers can expect:

🧑‍🏫 Educational chats
🤩 A view of the stars through the Michigan Science Center’s Discovery Dome
🔭 Stargazing through Wayne State University telescopes
🐍 Access to the Belle Isle Nature Center
⭐ And much more!

This free, family-friendly event is in partnership with the Wayne State University Planetarium, Michigan Science Center, Michigan State University Science Festival and Department of Natural Resources’ DNR Outdoor Adventure Center.

Click to learn more: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/astronomy-night/

Hoo, hoo, will you find? 🦉🐸🐞🌳🦊

We need help from all the conservation champions out there to join our City Nature Challenge. From April 24-27, you can help the Belle Isle Nature Center spot and identify wild species right in your own backyards.

While contributing to conservation is a reward in itself, we’re adding a little extra incentive. The person who records the most observations in the tri-county area by the end of the challenge will win two tickets to the Detroit Zoo, including complimentary passes to the limited-time Dinosauria experience, presented by Michigan First Credit Union.

Check out our website to learn more: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/city-nature-challenge/



📷 Michigan wildlife photos by Jennifer Harte.

Go green at the Belle Isle Nature Center! ♻️🐸🪴💚🐢

Join us for Greenfest from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. on April 11 and 12. This family-friendly event explores how simple actions can support a healthier environment for people, animals and nature. While you are there, make sure to say hi to some of the species that you are working to help save with your sustainable actions.

No registration is required for this free event.

Plan your visit: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/greenfest/

Festival season starts early this year – March 29 is Mudpuppy Palooza!

Join us at the Belle Isle Nature Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. as we celebrate Detroit's favorite salamander — yeah, we said it. These amazing amphibians wriggle and swim on the bottom of our very own Detroit River and are an important species in their ecosystem.

Some of the festivities planned are mask-making, crafting model mudpuppies and mudpuppy cookie decorating. Guests will also have the opportunity to view mudpuppies up close, hear habitat chats with animal care staff and learn about the conservation work being done to protect this species in the wild.

This event is free and fun for all! Learn more on our website: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/event/mudpuppypalooza/

3.13 Day at the Belle Isle Nature Center is a natural choice!

Today, we are staying open late (til 8 p.m.) so you can visit some of your Detroit neighbors. Get nose-to-nose with amphibians and reptiles native to our city and learn how you can help them thrive. There will also be fun, free activities and numerous activations around the island.

Plan your visit: https://belleislenaturecenter.org/