Native of the Month: Rabbits

Native of the Month: Rabbits

You may have heard that 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. Like the other members of the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Rabbit comes once every 12 years. In Chinese culture, the rabbit waits for the ideal moment and leaps into action, and is considered quite lucky,...
Native of the Month: Crows

Native of the Month: Crows

In the Pacific Northwest, crows and ravens are ubiquitous, but how often do we stop to admire them? A lot of people have heard of crows bringing humans coins who feed them and can recognize faces but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Crows and ravens belong to the...
Native of the Month: Black-tailed deer

Native of the Month: Black-tailed deer

Columbian Black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp. Columbianus) and deer rubs One of SHADOW’s most frequent habitat users, the Columbian Black-tailed deer’s footprints and deer rubs can most often be found in the Uplands and Native Garden habitats. What...
Native of the Month: Bats

Native of the Month: Bats

Bats, order Chiroptera, are the second most diverse order of mammals on the planet, outnumbered only by rodents. Bats occur worldwide, except Antarctica, and they display an astonishing range in size. The largest species is the giant golden-crowned flying fox, native...
Native of the Month: Spiders

Native of the Month: Spiders

Some may cringe or feel repulsed at the thought or sight of spiders, but honestly once you realize their environmental significance, you can’t help but appreciate these 8-legged beauties. SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve hosts a diverse and species rich spider community....
Native of the Month: Pacific shrew

Native of the Month: Pacific shrew

You’re walking along some bushes in a park, and suddenly see a tiny gray creature skittering into the fallen leaves. At first you may think it’s a rodent, but this frenetic ball of energy is actually a shrew.  While it appears small, shrews are one of the most...