# Big Bend National Park

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### *February 07 -- February 14, 2009*

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# Visitor Center Hours

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#  Panther Junction - 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Daily 

#  Chisos Basin - 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM Daily closed for lunch

#  Persimmon Gap - 10:00AM - 4:00 PM Daily closed for lunch

#  Rio Grande Village - 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Daily closed for lunch

#  Castolon - 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Daily closed for lunch

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# *Saturday, February 07*

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Fascinating Fossils"** Join Ranger M.
Lavender to learn about fossils, the exhilarating finds in Big Bend, and
the importance of preserving the fossil story of Earth's past. Meet at
the Fossil Bone exhibit, 8 miles north of Panther Junction. Bring water
and a hat. 45 minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "Don't Call Me A Pig"** Muskhog, brush pig:
Just two of the many misnomers used for one of Big Bend's more
interesting animals. Ranger T. Smith sets the story straight with expert
testimony from J. Javelina. Bring a flashlight. Wheelchair accessible. 1
hour. **Chisos Basin Amphitheater**.

# *Sunday, February 08*

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Alacrán!!"** What's that? Here's a clue:
they scurry around on the ground, mostly at night, and most people are
afraid of them. Want to know more? Join Ranger A. Evans for a closer
look at one of the desert's least endearing creatures. Meet at the Rio
Grande Village Amphithteater. Bring water and a hat. 45 minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program \-- \"Silver and Gold\"** The miners who
sought their fortunes in the rocks of the Big Bend country played an
important role in the settlement of this area. Join Ranger M. Manning to
learn about the mining history of the Big Bend. Wheelchair accessible.
Bring a flashlight. 1 hour. **Rio Grande Village Amphitheater.**

# *Monday, February 09*

**8:30 AM Guided Walk \-- \"Silent Paws"** Most people don't see them,
but lions do live in Big Bend. Their continued survival depends on how
well we learn to coexist with them. Join Ranger T. Smith for a walk
through lion habitat to learn about their behavior and role in nature.
Meet at the Chisos Basin Trailhead. Bring water, a hat, and good walking
shoes. 1.6 miles. 2 hours.

**11:00 AM Guided Walk -- "Tuff Canyon: Window on the Geologic History
of Big Bend"** Join Volunteer T. Rowan for a geologic exploration of
Tuff Canyon. Meet at the Tuff Canyon Trailhead, 20 miles south on the
Ross Maxwell Scenic Drive. Bring water, a hat, and good walking shoes. ½
mile. 1 hour.

# *Tuesday, February 10*

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Giants of Big Bend"** From a 30 foot
crocodile to one of the largest flying animals ever known,
paleontologists have discovered a vast array of prehistoric giants in
Big Bend National Park. Join Ranger C. Wonderly to discover the stories
of some of these fascinating creatures. Meet at the Chisos Basin Visitor
Center. Wheelchair accessible. 30 minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "Raptors of Big Bend"** Big Bend has a rich
diversity of birds, including the raptors, or birds of prey. Join Ranger
M. Lavender to learn what defines a raptor, which ones are resident or
migratory, and the role they play in the wild. Bring a flashlight.
Wheelchair accessible. 1 hour. **Chisos Basin Amphitheater**.

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# *Wednesday, February 11*

**10:30 AM Morning Program --"Pigs...or Peccaries?"** Javelinas, or
collared peccaries, are often mistaken for pigs or wild hogs. Though
they share some similarities, javelinas are quite different and special
in many ways. Join Ranger M. Lavender to learn more about these desert
"pigs" and the important role they play in Big Bend's ecosystem. Meet at
the Daniels ranch picnic area in Rio Grande Village. Bring water and a
hat. 45 minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program \-- \"Tales of the Texas Rangers"** The taming
of the last frontier, West Texas and the Big Bend, was made possible by
the famed Texas Rangers. Join Ranger R. Dean in this fascinating program
about Big Bend's most famous lawmen. Wheelchair accessible. Bring a
flashlight. 1 hour. **Rio Grande Village Amphitheater**.

# *Thursday, February 12*

**8:30 AM Birding Walk \-- "The Best Bird?"** It's the one in your
binoculars! Join Ranger M. Flippo for some tips on identifying some of
the resident and migrant species found in the Big Bend. Recommended for
beginners. Bring binoculars and field guides. Meet at the Rio Grande
Village amphitheater parking lot. 2 hours.

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Bad Bear, Bad!"** Encountering a black
bear anywhere in Texas would be a very rare event, except in the Chisos
Mountains. Here, bears and humans must exist side by side. Ranger D.
Davis provides an overview of recent bear-related incidents and what you
should do in the event of an encounter. Meet at the Chisos Basin Visitor
Center. Wheelchair accessible. 45 minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "The Graveyard Shift"** Nocturnal predators
are an important part of Big Bend's nighttime landscape. Join Ranger T.
Smith for virtual tour through the graveyard shift and a closer look at
the amazing creatures that roam the night. Bring a flashlight.
Wheelchair accessible. 1 hour. **Chisos Basin Amphitheater**.

# *Friday, February 13*

**9:00 AM Guided Walk -- "Desert Trivia"** What defines a desert?
Considered by some to be desolate, uninhabitable lands, deserts can be
places of spectacular diversity and stark beauty. Learn about the
deserts of the U.S. and what makes the Chihuahuan desert of Big Bend so
special. Meet at Dugout Wells, 6 miles east of the Panther Junction
Visitor Center. Bring water and a hat. ½ mile. 1 hour. Ranger M.
Lavender.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "Star Stories"** The night sky has been a
source of human wonder and inspiration for thousands of years, but now
many of us are deprived of a clear view to the stars. Join Ranger C.
Wonderly on an exploration of the night sky of Big Bend. If possible,
bring binoculars, a flashlight, and a lawn chair or blanket. Wheelchair
accessible. 1 hour. Meet at the **Rio Grande Village Visitor Center
parking lot.**

# *Saturday, February 14*

**10:00 AM Morning Program -- "Bad Bear, Bad!"** Encountering a black
bear anywhere in Texas would be a very rare event, except in the Chisos
Mountains. Here, bears and humans must exist side by side. Ranger D.
Davis provides an overview of recent bear-related incidents and what you
should do in the event of an encounter. Meet at the Chisos Basin Visitor
Center. Wheelchair accessible. 45 minutes.

**7:30 PM Evening Program -- "The First People"** The story of human
presence and occupation in the Big Bend goes back some 12,000 years.
Join Resource Assistant A. Evans for a closer look at the earliest known
inhabitants of the Big Bend. Bring a flashlight. Wheelchair accessible.
1 hour. **Chisos Basin Amphitheater**.