Native of the Month: Pacific Poison Oak

Native of the Month: Pacific Poison Oak

Pacific Poison Oak – Toxicodendron diversiloba Pacific poison oak, also called Western poison oak, is a native plant that you hope to never come into contact with. Pacific poison oak, like the Atlantic poison oak, contains urushiol, which is...
Caring for Wildlife from Home

Caring for Wildlife from Home

Every year, acres of healthy, connected habitats are lost to urban development. Did you know that you can help decrease habitat fragmentation at home? Whether you live in an apartment building or a single-family home, you can help promote healthy habitats...
Native of the Month: Blue Orchard Bee

Native of the Month: Blue Orchard Bee

Blue Orchard Bee – Osmia lignariaWhat’s blue, beautiful, beneficial, and buzzes? The blue orchard bee. Native to the US and Canada, these little bees become active in early spring and get right to work pollinating some of our favorite plants. They are known to...
Migration and Ways Animals Survive Winter

Migration and Ways Animals Survive Winter

To the observant eye, the natural world around us sends many harbingers of spring: the days are getting longer, buds are beginning to swell and break on deciduous trees and shrubs, and here at SHADOW the frogs are singing their three-chambered hearts out. A very...
Carnivore Brain Size Evolution

Carnivore Brain Size Evolution

In the past, it was believed that sociality i.e. tendency to associate in or form social groups, determined a species’ brain size. It seemed that forming complex relationships and societies allowed for larger brains as seen in communities of primates. Although that...