Top Photo: Autumn meadowhawk (male). Autumn meadowhawks, formally known as yellow-legged meadowhawks, are late season dragonflies. I’ve seen them here at the museum as late as December and certainly in October and November. The former name of yellow-legged meadowhawk was changed to autumn meadowhawk about 20 years ago to indicate the species behavior or seasonality rather than the color to its legs, which are not particularly yellow. Other look-a-like meadowhawks in the genus Sympetrum have black legs. The meadowhawk shownRead more
Welcome Jacques and Carolina
Top Photo: Red wolves Jacques (left) and Carolina. We have two new red wolves residing at the museum as of Wednesday (11/19/25). While they familiarize themselves with their new surroundings please give them the benefit of low volume conversation while at the Red Wolf Overlook. Now, down to business. Who’s who. Our new 6 year old female Carolina looks to be slightly larger than our male, maybe a bit taller as well as heavier built. She has a “neat” coiffedRead more
Aphids on Oaks
Top Photo: Myzocallis aphids on scarlet oak leaf. There are more than 1300 species of aphid in North America. It seems like every plant species or variety has its own specialized aphid, sucking the juices from the plant and often causing serious damage in the process. Other times the damage is minimal and the plant is relatively unharmed. Such is the case with the aphids shown here (Myzocallis). I found and photographed several small groups of this Myzocallis aphid onRead more
Where are the Mergansers?
Top Photo: Male hooded mergansers display (pair-bond) for female in wetlands. Hooded mergansers are migratory waterfowl. Though many of the birds are year-round residents in the southeast, even nesting locally. We don’t see them here at the museum from mid-April on. They’re usually back on the scene by mid-November, though I’ve seen them here as early as the third week in October (10/20). I haven’t spotted one yet this fall. Where are the birds? No worries. But do keep anRead more
Leaf Crunch’n 2025
Top Photo: Sycamore, ready to crunch. It’s that time of year to think about crunching leaves. Click on the link below to see a repeat of a post from 2021 that will, hopefully, get you in the mood. It’s Crunch Time! Ranger GregRead more
Acorns and Oaks
Top Photo: Acorns are falling. Three years ago I noted here in this blog that “Some of our white oaks are producing a bumper crop of acorns this fall.” It’s happening again. But it seems there are more than just some of our white oaks producing acorns by the bushel. They all seem to be producing fruit in numbers. At one point it sounded as though it was raining as the acorns were steadily dropping to the ground. There areRead more
Water Snake
Top Photo: Northern water snake. Where there’s water there’s likely to be water snakes. If there are fish, frogs and tadpoles present the likelihood of snakes on the scene goes way up. If you live here on the Carolina Piedmont the snake you see is almost sure to be a northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon). In our little wetland at the Museum of Life and Science, I’ve never seen anything but northern water snakes. There are at least eight otherRead more
Raccoons in the Wetlands
Top Photo: Eyeshine from two raccoons about to climb up on the Floating Walkway in Explore the Wild. It’s a well known fact that raccoons use the floating walkway in Explore the Wild to get around the wetlands, they leave tracks for me to find every night. Otters use the walkway as well. Besides their foot prints, otters also leave behind signage in the form of scat, usually on the rocks next to the walkway, or on the walkway itself.Read more