Jackie Ei, of Montville, walks her three dogs: Annie, a greyhound; Abbie, a beagle-Chihuahua mix, and Minnie, a Chihuahua-dachshund mix in the Dr. William A. Neiring Natural Area Preserve at Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford on Monday. Ei says she likes walking at the preserve, especially in winter when snow on the trails will melt well before other parts of the park.