At SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve, we seek to understand and appreciate the value of all living things and their habitats. In the spooky spirit of this month, we are excited to celebrate some of the more creepy and...
Many animals use color to determine whether food is nutritional or poisonous. A ladybug’s red color, for example, shows birds that she is toxic to eat. This evolutionary trait is called aposematism. It has been heavily studied that when birds and other animals...
It’s not hard to imagine the origin of this plant’s namesake. Devil’s club is known for its aggressive spikes on thick yellowish stems. This Pacific Northwest native generally grows around 5 feet tall (1.5 meters), but in undisturbed areas, can reach...
Known as the Evergreen State, Washington is replete with many different species of trees. There are also plenty of diseases that can harm them. The leaves, roots, or branches of various tree species can become infected with diseases that lead to wood decay, reduced...
Lodgepole pines grow abundantly throughout North America. Known for its straight, slender, and tall trunks, the lodgepole pine is commonly used to build lodges and cabins. Lodgepole pines are unique because they need fire to reproduce. They have serotinous cones or...
Bark BeetlesBark beetles are both friends and foes. They are native decomposers, pollinators, and food for wildlife in Washington state forests, but they also cause tree mortality which is exacerbated by climate change. Bark beetle species in Washington include red...
SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve was featured in the Journal of Biodiversity Data in an article by Will K. Reeves, Jeremy R. Shaw, and Mark Wetzel all thanks to a worm that was found in Shadow Lake Bog. The potworm (Cognettia sphagnetorum) can be found in European...
Bog Laurel – Kalmia MicrophyllaBog laurel, also known as swamp laurel, is a short shrub with oppositely arranged, leathery, glossy leaves. Its stems stand erect, and its small, pink flowers are found in clusters. The fruit are woody capsules that have long...
Peatlands, like the Shadow Lake Bog, are the most carbon-dense ecosystems on the planet. Peat bogs not only store carbon from thousands of years of decomposing organic matter, but absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), including carbonproduced by human...
American Pika- Ochotona princepsThe American pika lives in high elevation, cool climate areas west of the Rocky Mountains including places like Mount Rainer National Park. Typically found above the tree line, they live on rock faces and cliffs near the...
Happy Independence Day! We hope your celebrations are joyous and nature filled! SHADOW Lake Nature Preserve's trails, the Richter Education Center, and office will be closed in observance of the holiday. We will reopen on Friday.
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