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Mink

In September of 2015, I spotted a dark pelaged mammal running along the muddy wooded edge of the Wetlands. Too dark and slim for a muskrat, the only thing it could be was a mink. Camera ready, I followed the creature through the dense vegetation but couldn’t get a clear shot of the animal. In anticipation of its intended route I ran ahead to a path that leads to the water hoping to get a shot as the animal passed theRead more

Sand, Dust, Florescence, and Waxy Larvae

A hole in the sand. That’s what I was looking at, a hole in the sand. Ranger Ian had spotted a bee or wasp hovering around and entering a 1/2” hole near the “sandbox” in Gateway Park. I was there to put a name on the bee or wasp and to help determine if the nest would put any children in harm’s way. It’s a large sandbox where kids use mini backhoes to fill up Tonka trucks with sand andRead more

Nest Box Update 7.25.17

There is one active nest box. The nest box next to the old site of the Bungee Jump is the only nest box that is currently occupied. Two weeks ago there were 3 eggs in the nest box at the Bungee site. Last week there were 5 eggs. There are still 5 eggs and it seems the house wrens who built the nest are incubating. They are apparently done laying and waiting for the eggs to hatch. If all goesRead more

Nest Box Update 7.18.17

We have three active nest boxes. Last week, the Cow Pasture, Bungee, and Butterfly House nest boxes all contained house wren nest material and or eggs. They still contain those things. It seems, though, that the Bungee nest is the only one that has shown signs of further activity. The Cow Pasture nest looks the same this week as it did the previous week, a handful of twigs in the nest box. It doesn’t appear as though there’s been anyRead more

More Red Wolf Pictures

The red wolf pups are frequently out and about inside their spacious enclosure. They’re not always out in the open, but if you have patience and a water bottle (it’s been hot lately) you stand a very good chance at seeing at least one of the pups on your visit to their overlook. The banner across the top of this page and the photo above are of the male and female watching the animal keepers as they both clean theRead more

Things to Look for While Strolling the Outdoor Loop at the Museum of Life and Science

Yellow-bellied sliders are frequently seen out basking in the sun in our wetlands. Occasionally, and typically in spring and early summer, a snapping turtle partakes in the catching of rays. There are Colorado potato beetles and there are false potato beetles. Both eat plants in the nightshade (solanaceae) family, a group of plants of which both potato and tomato belong. This family includes many other species of plants including horsenettle or Carolina nettle (Solanum carolinense). We have much Carolina nettleRead more

Nest Box Update 7.11.17

It’s the year of the house wren! The past week has seen activity in three of our six nest boxes, all involving house wrens. There’s nest material in the Cow Pasture, Bungee Jump, and Butterfly House nest boxes. It’s just a start, but the nest box at the Cow Pasture contains a handful of twigs. This, if it’s completed, will be the second house wren nest in this nest box. The previous nest fledged 6 house wrens. The nest boxRead more

Nest Box Update 7.4.17

On June 20, I reported that the nest box at the Bungee site had fledged four house wrens. I skipped the nest box update last week due to lack of activity, none of the nest boxes had nests in them following the previous fledging. I thought it would be the end of the season for the local nest box-using community. Well, house wrens have surprised me with a new nest in the nest box at the old site of theRead more