The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control will welcome visitors to the DuPont Nature Center at the Mispillion Harbor Reserve when the center reopens for the 2024 season on Wednesday, April 3, 2023.
The DNREC facility managed by the Division of Fish and Wildlife will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. over the months ahead as follows:
- April: Open Wednesdays and Saturdays only
- May through August: Open Tuesdays through Saturdays, closed on Sundays and Mondays
- September: Open Wednesdays and Saturdays only (The center is closed from October through March.)
In the spring, the DuPont Nature Center’s large deck overlooking the harbor offers wildlife watchers an unparalleled view of the spectacle of spawning horseshoe crabs and migrating shorebirds, including federally listed threatened red knots that depend on horseshoe crab eggs to help fuel their 9,000-mile journey to the Arctic. More information on horseshoe crab and shorebird viewing is available from the DuPont Nature Center at de.gov/dnc.
Inside the center visitors will find exhibits that describe the environmental and historical importance of the Mispillion Harbor and also view saltwater tanks showcasing a variety of aquatic species from horseshoe crabs to diamondback terrapins. Along with educational exhibits, the center hosts a variety of programs that focus on the Delaware Bay ecosystem and the wildlife that can be found there.
The center also offers live views of nesting osprey and wildlife visiting the area through its osprey cam and Mispillion Harbor cam. Both live cams will be back online at the center by April 1 and from that date also can be viewed at de.gov/dnc.
DNREC’s DuPont Nature Center is located in the heart of Delaware’s Bayshore Region at 2992 Lighthouse Road, near Slaughter Beach, east of Milford. Admission to the center is free and open to the public. For general information about the center, including its operation and programs, visit de.gov/dnc.