Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  When Mrs. Brown Bat asked the children if they had any questions, one little girl waved her arm and asked, “Are you real?”

Of course the bat was real. She was as real as anybody with large black wings and a darting demeanor.     At first the younger children on the Wild Bear Enchanted Forest hike at Mud Lake were a bit intimidated by the way larger than life creatures they met on their forest hike. It is disconcerting to stand face to face with a five foot bat. But the more the kids learned about each wildlife character, the more relaxed they became and the more questions they asked.

Seeing nature up close and talking is way more fun than looking something up on line or reading a scientific description. Every year Wild Bear director Jill Dreves adds something new and adorable, or astonishing to the wildlife cast.

This year’s new member was the fox, as furry and cunning looking as one imagines a fox to be. Actually, foxes are common in the mountain area and are often seen in town and near the reservoir.

The Wild Bear Enchanted Forest day began in the Caribou Village parking lot, with a teen marimba band that played happy music in front of the Mountain Ecology Center.

Visitors had a chance to meet live raptors and reptiles and the creator of the Alice in Wonderland sculpture exhibit Marlyn Cheshes. They had their faces painted and made capes and wands and naturaltiaras and listened to the soothing sounds of a harp.

Buses pulled up in front of the center and picked up people for the Mud Lake part of the day, when humans met the critters of the forest. Animals that told their life stories and answered questions and often listened to a small person explaining what he or she knew about the animal’s habits.

At each stop, the children received a small gift of some kind to put into their goody bag, to look at later when the day was done. Probably the most popular animal is the black bear who received gangs of bear hugs throughout the day. Each tour was led by volunteer guides who made sure everyone got to where they were supposed to be.

Lunch and baked goods were available and lemonade to quench the thirst brought on by the hot afternoon.

After taking the tour, many visitors explored the Mud Lake area and waded in the chilly water.

Long ago, when the Enchanted Forest first began it was held around October, at night, and was filled with nocturnal animals that became a little scary to the younger children.

The afternoon sunlight and the easy manner of the animal characters was enjoyable and educational and will long be remembered as a special thing to do on a fall day in Nederland.