Wildlife

It’s the holiday season, which means lots of sparkly lights, colorful packages, and pinecones! If you haven’t noticed them before, you’re sure to see them now – on wreaths, in baskets, as ornaments and centerpieces. But besides adding to the holiday cheer, pinecones have an important job. They protect the pine tree seeds from cold, …

If someone were to ask you to name an animal that hibernates, you’d probably say “a bear.” But for many years, some people did not consider them true hibernators. When animals such as chipmunks and ground squirrels hibernate, their body temperatures drop drastically. A bear’s body temperatures does not decrease nearly as much. And, unlike …

Dusk is the period after the sun sets, but before the sky goes completely dark. During dusk, you can see the sky gradually darkening, people retreating indoors, and the streetlights coming on. If you are outside during this time, you will see that some animals are just waking up. You probably know that nocturnal animals …

Do you enjoy eating fruits and vegetables or getting flowers for special occasions? Well, you can thank bees for that. They may not understand the value of personal space, but bees are some of the most important pollinators in the world. And there isn’t just one type of bee buzzing around. There are more than …

The Buck Moon, also known as July’s supermoon, is the full moon that appears in the month of July. A supermoon occurs when a full moon is at its closest point to the Earth during its orbit. This closeness makes the moon appear brighter and more intense, hence the name.  Rooted in Tradition Every month …

Growing up in Louisiana, I loved spotting lizards in my backyard – the more interesting and colorful the better. I’d find large green anoles, spotted geckos, and slender glass lizards, which I often mistook for snakes. But the most evasive and exciting discovery was the five-lined skink, named for its five yellow or cream-colored stripes …

Have you ever wanted the superpower to be invisible–to hide in plain sight? While whip-poor-wills are not exactly invisible, they have an almost supernatural reputation. At one time, you couldn’t go outside at dusk or dawn during the summer without hearing the unique, undulating call of the whip-poor-will, which is where they get their name. …

You’ve surely heard chirping during warm summer days and nights, but do you wonder what, or who, is actually causing that sound? Most people assume that crickets are the only chirpers making noise during the summer, but cicadas and tree frogs are fans of the heat too. Although these creatures make similar sounds, they have distinct …

From sunny meadows to woodland edges, summer in the Southeastern United States bursts into color with a wide variety of native wildflowers. Below are some favorite flowers you might spot during these warmer months:    1. Black-eyed Susan  What they look like: Bright golden yellow petals and a dark brown center Where to find them: …

I think one of nature’s finest art pieces are spiderwebs. When I’m outdoors, I’ve made it a habit to go on a scavenger hunt to see how many webs I can spot in a day. Until recently, I thought all webs had the same pattern; they actually vary depending on the spider spinning the silk. …

The Eastern bluebird is a small, bright songbird known for its vivid colors and sweet, warbling call. Male Eastern bluebirds are easy to recognize with their brilliant royal blue on the back and head and warm reddish brown on the throat and chest. Females are grayer and duller than the males. Eastern Bluebirds live across …

Before all the spring vegetation grows back, why not go on a hunt for animal burrows? You don’t even have to go into the woods – burrows can often be found in backyards and around buildings, too! A burrow is a hole or tunnel that an animal digs for security. It might consist of simple, …

Imagine a tiny creature silently gliding through the forest under the cover of darkness, moving effortlessly from tree to tree. Meet the southern flying squirrel, an animal known for its amazing gliding skills and nimble maneuvers through the treetops. The southern flying squirrel is one of two flying squirrels found in North America and the …

‘Tis the season for spotting mistletoe! Not only can you find it hanging from the ceiling, you can also find it high up in the trees. It’s not hard to spot; just look for bunches of green among the bare tree branches. But did you ever wonder — what exactly is mistletoe?  History  Mistletoe is …

You may have noticed that as the weather starts to cool, there are more wasps flying around. That’s because during the spring and summer, the population of a wasp colony continues to grow. It reaches its height in late summer and early fall.  There term “wasps” includes paper wasps, yellowjackets, hornets, mud daubers, and many …

Insects don’t communicate in the way that humans do, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have their own language. As a child, I was obsessed with watching fireflies glow, which made me question the reason they glow. When I learned that fireflies flash in order to communicate with other fireflies, I began to wonder …

You’ve probably seen a gray squirrel scurrying around on trees and digging for acorns.  You may have seen a squirrel running into the middle of the road, darting this way and that, until it finally decides to cross. Most likely, you didn’t pay it much attention. However, in North Carolina or Kentucky, this little animal …

Few plants remind us of the south like Magnolia trees, with their massive cream blossoms and heady, sweet aroma. If you’ve spent much time in the south at all, you’ve probably seen some of these trees, but how much do you actually know about them? Range The Southern Magnolia (scientific name: magnolia grandiflora, also known …

For Americans, the 4th of July is a time to remember, respect, and celebrate the freedoms we as continue to enjoy. One of the main symbols of those freedoms is the bald eagle, which was named America’s national bird in 1782. Bald eagles were given this title due to their majestic appearance, ferocity, and independence—qualities …

Never underestimate the mysterious wonders of outdoor surprises steps away from home. We live a few miles from Asheville, North Carolina, in a house with frequent wildlife passersby visitors. There are so many roaming deer, wandering tortoises, slithering snakes, and frequent flier birds and insects that they no longer make it into our phone photo …