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Nature Notebook – Midge Swarm

Before the colder temperatures arrived, we were treated to another of nature’s autumn shows. A midge swarm formed at an edge of our front pond where the tiny gnat relatives fluttered up and down in…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Root Beer and Sassafras Trees

“Mmmm, smells like root beer!” is the reaction from anyone smelling the root of a sassafras tree. Many of our students refer to this tree as the Fruit Loops tree because of the sweet scent…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Great-horned Owl

Virginia, a great horned owl (Bubo virginianus), is Sarett’s newest raptor education ambassador. She sustained an injury to her eye that required its removal so she cannot survive in the wild. Raptors need their binocular…continue reading

November and December Announcements

Don’t forget membership support is vital to Sarett Nature Center.  The nature center staff provides quality environmental programs to over 25,000 school age children each year and we need your support.  The nature center is…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Lunged Snail

“If the opening is on the left, then it is a lunged snail.” The students learned the difference between lunged and gilled snails using this identification technique. They then determined that the snails in our…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Winged Ants

Exterminator companies probably experienced a recent increase of panicked calls as people noticed large swarms of winged insects that looked like termites. Although termites do periodically form swarms such as these, most likely the insects…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Woodchuck Hibernation

A few woodchucks are still trying to pack on pounds at our feeders. The fatter the woodchuck, the less time it spends in hibernation. That nearly dead state, although good for energy use reduction, has…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Stink Bugs

Fall is here. Time for your house to fill up with winter boarders:  box elder bugs, ladybugs…and stink bugs. Those pesky brown bugs with a triangular-shaped back are called brown marmorated stink bugs. They are…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Fall Hatchlings

One might think that the season for cute baby animals is over. However, this past week we had encounters with a number of very young reptiles. In an amazing feat of acrobatics, a young snapping…continue reading

Nature Notebook – Northern walking sticks

An interesting visitor seemed intent upon entering the Butterfly House by hitching a ride on the door. Actually this Northern walking stick insect was likely enjoying the warm sunshine. This native walking stick looks a…continue reading