Top Photo: Eastern gray squirrel. I was walking the outdoor loop as I do each day. In several places along the path from Catch the Wind to Explore the Wild they were singing. Or should I say, calling. Squirrels! I stopped to watch two of the songsters which happened to be next to the ramp leading to the Black Bear Overlook. They were about thirty feet apart between the diabase wall (the rock you see all around you when inRead more
Great Blue Heron
Top Photo: Great blue heron relaxes alongside Floating Walkway in wetlands. Over time, I’ve seen six different species of heron in our 3 acre wetland at the Museum of Life and Science. They include great blue heron, great egret, little blue heron, green heron, black-crowned night heron, and yellow-crowned night heron. By far, the most often observed species is the great blue heron (GBH). GBHs are year round residents, they nest locally and they’re used to sharing their habitat withRead more
Bears and the Fox
Top Photo: View of rock wall in Black Bear Enclosure through fence at Secondary Viewing. When outside temperatures drop from teeshirt to long john level, black bears get drowsy and look for a cozy spot to sleep it off. They enter a state of torpor where they may sleep for days, weeks or more only rising occasionally. It seems torpor hits individual bears differently. Some bears may sleep through nearly the entire winter while others will wake frequently. Little bearRead more
Berries in Winter
Top Photo: American robin forages for worms and grubs. Many birds rely on insects and other invertebrates for food especially in the nesting season when protein is a priority. But what do they eat in the cooler months when insects are less active and not readily available? Though many insects are still preyed upon in winter, mostly as eggs or grubs, some birds often rely on various fruits for nourishment during the slow winter period. Fruits like beauty berry, hollyRead more
Finally!
Top Photo: A pair of hooded mergansers in the museum’s wetlands. Finally, a pair of hooded mergansers dropped into the wetlands. This is the latest arrival date in my time here at the museum (I spotted the pair on Tuesday, December 2, but they may have been here Sunday [11/30] or Monday [12/1] and not reported. I was present neither day). I traditionally get a peek at them by mid-November. I’m anxious to see how long they stick around. RangerRead more
Meadowhawks, Mistletoe and a Hawk (bird)
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