Runge Nature Center
The Runge Nature Center is located on 112 Acres in the heart of central Missouri. It consists of 5 nature trails, an interpretive center, gift shop, live critters and Naturalist led programs. The Center is open year round. Contact them at 573-526-5544 for hours or current programs or visit them on line at mdc.mo.gov/runge.
Whenever I walk this area I can get a 3 mile workout in. I double back on one section to accomplish this. While visiting this area you might run into the resident flock of Wild- Turkeys, lots of birds, squirrels, and even a Black Snake. There are numerous trees some really large and old, and even a fire tower which you can climb.
Read MoreWhenever I walk this area I can get a 3 mile workout in. I double back on one section to accomplish this. While visiting this area you might run into the resident flock of Wild- Turkeys, lots of birds, squirrels, and even a Black Snake. There are numerous trees some really large and old, and even a fire tower which you can climb.
Mountain Lion
This is a subadult male mountain lion. approximately 2-3 years old. His DNA indicates it came from the Black Hills of South Dakota, eastern Wyoming, and northwest Nebraska. He was hit by a vehicle on I-70 near Warrenton, MO on January 21, 2017. He weighed 140 pounds, stood about 28 inches at the shoulders, and was over 7 feet 3 inches long. He was in good condition but had an empty stomach.
Each year the Missouri Conservation Department investigates hundreds of mountain-lion sighting reports. Yet, of the thousands of reports we have received since 1994, less than 1 percent have yielded enough physical evidence to clearly confirm the presence of a mountain lion.
