Last month I posted a piece about our resident, wild, groundhogs. This is just a reminder that if you see one of these big ground squirrels, look, get a photo, say Hi, but please try to stay well back from the animal. The groundhogs are very active at this time of year and are out in the open feeding in order to build up their fat reserves for the winter. Thanks.Read more
Posts filed in: Mammals
Groundhogs!
It may be in the mid 90s on this fine September day, but despite the heat it’s once again time for Groundhogs to begin fattening up for their winter slumber. Groundhogs look cute and cuddly, and the six or so groundhogs that reside here at the Museum are no exception, but I’m compelled to remind all that stroll the outdoor exhibits that they are wild animals and should not be approached. Should you see one these large ground squirrels busilyRead more
Black Bear Field Guide Update
Last month I posted a field guide to the bears here at the Museum. With the amount of shedding and sun bleaching that’s been going on with the bears’ coats, a quick update on the ?condition and state of their current pelage, in regards to their identification, is in order. Mimi has undergone a drastic change in coloration, she’s now a near negative image of her former self. Where she was black she is now brown and where she was onceRead more
An Identification Guide to the Bears: at the Museum of Life and Science
As Ranger at the Museum of Life + Science I spend a lot of time in Explore the Wild, Catch the Wind, and on the Dinosaur Trail. I’m asked many questions on a variety of topics from “Where’s the restrooms?” to “Are there fish in the Wetlands?” While stopping by the Black Bear Exhibit, I’m frequently asked how many bears are in the Black Bear Enclosure, where they are, and who’s who among them. With that in mind, I decidedRead more
Flowers, Butterflies, Odes, Birds, Snappers, and the Fox
Dame’s Rocket and Blackberry are in bloom. Butterflies find the early blooming blackberries rather tempting. More species of dragonflies and damselflies have been emerging recently. A first-of-the-season Carolina Saddlebags (Tramea carolina) was seen on 29 April as was a new species for the Museum, a Prince Baskettail (Epitheca princeps). I had thought that I spied one of these Common Baskettail (Epitheca cynosura) relatives last year, but couldn’t be certain. The sighting on the 29th confirmed it. On April 23, I witnessed the matingRead more
Buds and Birds
Some pre-spring happenings at the Museum… Get outdoors and have a look around for yourself, and let me know what you see!Read more
Spring?
Spring is wound up and ready to pop! Sure, it was colder than usual the first two months of this year. And, it seems as though it has snowed more this year than within memory. It’s predicted to snow today! But, there’s much evidence pointing to a new season springing forth. The days are getting longer. Both the maples and elms are ready to burst open their buds and Hazel Alder is nearly in full flower. The sun is coming upRead more
The Day of the Fox
Gray Fox are seen here at the Museum throughout the year. I sometimes see their tracks in the mud on service roads and there is a den in the woods near the Dinosaur Trail. The frequency of sightings usually picks up in mid-winter. Over the past few weeks there have been numerous sightings by myself, Museum Staff, and Museum Guests…. It was near closing time on Saturday (2/13) as I stood at the entrance to the Dinosaur Trail looking inRead more
Another Snow Day in the Wild
I’ve been working on a couple of new entries to the blog and had hoped to have them posted by now. The recent snow which came to town on January 30 closed the Museum for a few days and I haven’t had the time to complete my work. I did, however, manage to get a few photos of some interesting happenings out on the Outdoor Exhibits trails… Finding tracks in the snow is fun, but it’s fleeting. The snow thatRead more