Native Animal of the Month: Townshed’s Big Eared Bat
Townsend's Big-eared Bat - Corynorhinus townsendiiThis aptly named bat has long and flexible ears (usually around 1.5 inches). The Corynorhinus townsendii is a very small mammal; usually only about 4 inches in length and 2 inches tall. Its wingspan, though, averages...
Restoration Happenings
Site restoration efforts have been in full force this summer season! Between Saturday Restoration Work Parties, Scout groups, and ongoing projects there has been a lot of work getting done at the Nature Preserve. Recently, Eagle Scout Kelly Keil completed a project to...
Preserve and Protect First
Habitat loss is one of the world's greatest threats to species diversity and to the natural world. Habitat loss occurs when natural habitat is destroyed, fragmented, or degraded. Most of the time, habitat loss is a human...
Native Animal of the Month: Banded Alder Borer
Banded Alder Borer- Rosalia funebrisJust a few weeks ago, a banded alder borer was spotted by a volunteer during a Restoration Work Party held here at SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve! This beetle was found in SHADOW's Alder...
Native Plant of the Month: Sitka Alder
Sitka Alder - Alnus viridis ssp. sinuate Sitka alder is a small tree (compared to its neighbors) that grows between 3-39 ft, depending on elevation. It is found on the western edge of North America, ranging from Alaska down to northern California. Its eastern-most...
Native Plant of the Month: Ponderosa pine
Ponderosa Pine - Pinus ponderosa You probably recognize this tree, or one similar, if you have traveled anywhere in North America. The Pinus ponderosa has five subspecies native to different climates such as Colorado...
A Year in Restoration
SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve works hard to restore and maintain the land that it owns and manages. In order to monitor our ongoing restoration work, we created a photo point project that will document the visual changes occurring as our restoration efforts...
Peat!!
SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve is home to several different habitats including a bog, a special type of wetland. Specifically, it is considered a peat bog, but what exactly is peat? Peat is a nutrient-rich soil that takes thousands of years to...
Frog Frolic – 23 years!
Summer is here! Do you know what that means? The 23rd Annual Frog Frolic, SHADOW's biggest event of the year, will be upon in just a few more months! Be sure to save the date, September 14th from 1 - 5 pm, for SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve's...
Native Animal of the Month: Western Bumblebee
Native Plant of the Month: Red flowering currant
Red-flowering currant - Ribes sanguineum A native Pacific Northwest shrub, the red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum) grows along the coast in many different semi-shaded habitats, including mixed woodlands. The red-flowering currant can grow up to 13 feet tall,...
Native Animal of the Month: Pacific jumping mouse
Pacific Jumping Mouse - Zapus trinotatus As one of nine native mouse and rat species in the state of Washington, the Pacific jumping mouse finds its ideal habitat in the riparian-deciduous woodlands of SHADOW. This mouse is naturally drawn to...
Fantastic Birds of SHADOW & Where to Find Them
The birds have been busy here at SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve this Spring! We have spotted many different species of birds utilizing the Nature Preserve for foraging and nesting. One tiny resident of SHADOW, Anna's hummingbird, can be found in many areas of the Nature...
What’s a conservation easement?
In the world of conservation, people work tirelessly to restore and promote healthy environments, but how can we ensure that the land we all love will be enjoyed by generations to come? Landowners specifically, have a powerful tool to do this called a...
Native Plant of the Month: Roundleaf sundew
Roundleaf Sundew - Drosera rotundifolia The roundleaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) is wonderful carnivorous wetland-loving plant species. Unlike most other plants, the sundew derives most of its nutrients from breaking down insects, instead of retrieving...
Native Animal of the Month: Stellar’s Jay
Stellar's jay - Cyanocitta stelleri If you've spent some time outdoors in the Pacific Northwest, you have most likely come across a Steller's jay. Common residents along the northwest coast, Steller's jays can be found in conifer...
What’s Blooming at SHADOW
Spring has sprung and we have an abundance of beautiful wildflowers at SHADOW to prove it! Along with the unpredictable showers and sun, this month you can find many different flowers appearing in all the diverse habitats that the Nature Preserve has to offer. ...
Give Big for Shadow
Tomorrow, May 8th, is your last chance to GiveBIG for SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve! GiveBIG is a statewide wide celebration of community giving. This year, we are asking you to contribute to SHADOW so that we may continue our work in preserving the...
Our Connection to Nature
Have you ever had a hectic day and headed straight on a nature walk to clear your mind? It is a common and excellent habit to seek nature when you are feeling down or disconnected from yourself or others. There is a lot of evidence to support that a connection to the...
Native Animal of the Month: Black Bear
American black bear - Ursus americanus The Pacific Northwest isn't home to alligators or giant deadly snakes, but a majestic predator found here is a bear. With long ears, dark eyes, short tail, black fur, black bears are the most familiar bear in North America. But...
Native Plant of the Month: Salmonberry
Salmonberry - Rupus spectabilis It's the time of year where the pink 5-petaled flowers of our native Salmonberry herald in the start of spring! Salmonberry is a common understory shrub found in a range of habitats here in the Pacific Northwest. From bogs and wetlands,...
