This Geocache is part of an annual Geocache Challenge put on by the Heritage Program at Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area as part of our outreach to the public, to get people to explore their forest and their history, and to share the unique heritage of the families from Between the Rivers.
This Geocache is part of the “2022 Land Between the Lakes Heritage Geocache Challenge: Conservation Heritage Between the Rivers”. There are 6 geocaches placed across Land Between the Lakes related to the history of wildlife conservation between the rivers. If you locate each geocache, and collect a numbered aluminum tree tag from each cache, you can turn them in at the Golden Pond Visitor Center for one of 150 Challenge Coins created for this event.
The Geocache is a 6” x 6” orange watertight plastic box marked “Heritage Geocache” on the top. The geocache is placed along Hematite Lake Trail. The box is downhill from the trail, near the water, in the hollow of a tree. Park at Hematite Lake Picnic Area.
Thank you to Phillip Toon for providing the new Geocache Boxes.
Fallow Deer
Originally introduced to Lyon and Trigg Counties by the Hillman Land Company around 1918, the LBL herd of European fallow deer are possibly the oldest herd in the United States.While they're not native to the land between the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers, this herd is, at least partially, being conserved. Hunting of the herd is not permitted though their numbers are still in a slow decline that is probably related to genetic diversity. At most, there are 150 remaining and they seem unwilling to stray far from the Center Furnace area.
Wood Ducks
Once in abundant supply and very popular for their tasty meat and bright decorative feathers, the wood duck soon found itself quite endangered as a species.By the late 1880's, unregulated hunting and destruction of woodland and wetland habitat caused the wood duck population to decline to alarmingly low levels.
Habitat
Wood ducks thrive in
woodland areas along
streams, rivers, lakes and
vegetated freshwater
wetland areas.
Saved by hunters!Legislation beginning in the early 20th Century as well asconservation efforts by local, state, and federal governments helped bring the wood duck back from the brink of extinction. But much of the conservation happened by hunters who bought "Duck Stamps," with the funds going to conservation costs. The simple placement of a bird box in suitable habitat makes all the difference in the world for the wood duck!