Named for the gray buds of its male flowers, our native pussy willow is an important source of pollen and nectar for early spring insects.
Pussy Willow
Skunk Cabbage
Skunk cabbage in bloom. Later in spring the plant will unfurl its large leaves that, yes, are just as stinky as its flowers. Meanwhile the…
Turtle Courtship
Courtship in the turtle world can include many behaviors, including the fluttering of the foreclaws in a display known as titillation.
Head Banging Curiosity
Knock on wood: Instead of singing to declare their territory, woodpeckers drum on trees and other resonant surfaces. Several structural adaptations protect the birds’ brains…
How Much Salt?
More salt doesn’t mean more melting power. Chloride from excess salt infiltrates our streams and groundwater and puts aquatic life and freshwater resources at risk.
Nature Snack Time
Voles can be differentiated from mice by their rounded, chunky bodies and short tails. Roughly the shape of a small baked potato, they are a…
Buttons
During the late 1800s and early 1900s, freshwater mussels were harvested from many local waterways to supply material for a booming button industry. But as…
Goldeneyes
The bright yellow eyes of the male goldeneye aren’t the only things to look for in this distinctive species. Watch for animated courtship displays as…
Jumping Spiders
With large eyes and fuzzy bodies, jumping spiders frequently are referred to as the ‘teddy bears’ of the spider world. About 350 species occur throughout…
Ivory-Billed Woodpeckers
Although the last undisputed sighting dates to 1944, some experts still question whether the ivory-billed woodpecker, shown here as a taxidermy mount, should be declared…