DENISON PEQUOTSEPOS NATURE CENTER, INCORPORATED

Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center, located in coastal Mystic, CT, hosts woodland, wetland, and meadow natural history exhibits and live animal exhibits, plus 10+ miles of trails.

At our woodland sanctuary, browse the exhibits in preparation for a hike along our trails, and visit several species of rehabilitated hawks and owls in our outdoor flight enclosures including Barred, Great Horned and Eastern Screech owls, a Peregrine Falcon, Red Tailed hawks, Broad Wing hawks, American Kestrel—all raptors native to southern New England.

Get a close-up view of live frogs, fish, turtles, and snakes. Meet magnified centipedes, ants, and mushrooms in our Life Under a Log exhibit, experience a “Night in the Meadow” in our small theater, or watch bird flight patterns as they stream across our colorful meadow mural. Learn to recognize local birds in our classroom exhibit featuring more than 200 antique mounted bird specimens from the collection of a noted local natural history collector. Other exhibits feature birds eggs, nests, and skulls.

After your orientation in our exhibits, hit the trails! You’ll find miles of marked trails winding through woodland and wetlands, meadows, ponds, streams and glacial erratics. Add to your experience with our popular Borrow a Backpack program: come to the front desk to borrow a free backpack at the front desk filled with supplies for your adventure. You’ll find themed backpacks on insects, birding, forest exploration and more.

Our Mission

To inspire an understanding of the natural world and ourselves as part of it – past, present and future.

Our Vision

Stewarding nature enhances habitat for wildlife and provides the opportunity for all people to access its physical, mental and spiritual benefits. The Nature Center’s vision is for a community refocused on the importance of the natural world and a strengthened organization that creates connections, taking lessons from our past to support healthy interactions with nature now, and into the future.