Catchers take to the water and try their luck from dry land.

By Deb Patterson
InkFreeNews

SYRACUSE — Excitement was on every face and in every voice Saturday morning, July 2, as a record number attended the annual Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s Bug Catch. There were 160 people who signed in for the event, a large number participating for the first time.

A little snapper.

The group gathered in Ruddell Pavilion where Pam Schumm, educational coordinator, gave a brief overview of what the bug catchers were looking for and what their findings would mean. Example if you found a snail is it a right-handed or left-handed snail? What does it mean? Come to next year’s bug catch to find out!

Once the group began heading down to the lake, the excitement grew as youngsters continued asking questions and planned on what they would catch. There was a unique find by one family enroute to the lake — a small snapping turtle that was picked up and placed in a tub of water. The find was a delight to many.

Once in the water it was hard to determine who had the most fun, the adults, who almost out numbered the kids, or the kids themselves.