Native of the Month: Snowberry

Native of the Month: Snowberry

Snowberry – Symphoricarpus albusThere are approximately 15 species in the plant genus symphoricarpos (also known as snowberry or ghostberry). You’ll find common snowberry here in the Pacific Northwest. The distribution of snowberry can be found...
Trends in Ice Cover and Harp Seals

Trends in Ice Cover and Harp Seals

As marine mammals, harp seals have developed strategies to survive changes in resource availability, but if essentials to live are made even less available due to climate change, it is not certain if these earless creatures will be able to cope. Seals use seasonal ice...
Native of the Month: Barn Owl

Native of the Month: Barn Owl

Barn Owl – Tyto albaBarn owls can be found in most of the lower 48 states, parts of southern Canada, and around the globe. These owls are non-migratory and reside near grasslands, marshes, deserts, forests, the open plains, and even in busy cities. They nest in...
What makes a plant “native”?

What makes a plant “native”?

Gardeners, horticulturists, botanists, nature lovers have different definitions of which plants are considered native, invasive, and noxious, but there exist some general conclusions about which flora belong where. One aspect of a native plant is that it...