Top Photo: Carolina on the left, Jacques on the right. Each year, usually around the middle or third week of February, I notice the red wolves exhibiting mating behavior. They may begin earlier, sniffing, nuzzling and scenting but I typically witness them actually coupling somewhere around the 14th – 17th of February. Our new red wolf pair, Jacques and Carolina, have yet to show anything in the way of courtship or pre-copulatory behavior, but I’m sure it’s right around theRead more
Posts filed in: Winter
A Light Dusting
Top Photo: Raccoon tracks across floating walkway in Explore the Wild. All it takes is a light dusting of snow and the fun begins, a chance to practice up on your tracking skills. A half inch of snow is all you need. In fact, a half inch is perfect for showing detail in animal tracks. Both raccoon and gray squirrels are common and very much at home here at the museum and its woods and exhibits. Both animals are wellRead more
Squirrel Sounds
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
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