Seven species of these fuzzy rodents call Washington home, but only five of them are native to our area. All live in forests, and are primarily herbivorous, but they are surprisingly diverse in their lifestyles and range. Top predators of most squirrels are domestic...
We always have new opportunities to form good habits, but a new year feels like a great time to explore our practices. In this article of Young Sustainability by former SHADOW Intern, Isabella Boparai, she explores the negative effects of coffee on rainforest and ways...
Many of us start off our new year with resolutions or habits we want to adopt or goals that we want to accomplish. People have been making promises or resolutions going as far back as the Babylonians, some 4000 years ago, celebrating their new year in March. With the...
The times I feel most calm are during a backpacking trip or when foraging for mushrooms. These are a few of the rare times that my thinking slows and I am reminded of the large scale of nature, making my little problems seem less important. It has been proven time and...
As humans, there can be an urge to personify everything, and as a naturalist, this is a helpful tool to emphasize the importance of protecting ecosystems. However, there is a Western scientific rule of thumb that says personification is dangerous, that it can lead...
You may have seen dark, heart-shaped leaves cascading down a slope under conifer trees in the deep forest. Or perhaps you have spied a carpet of hearts peeking out of a snowy bank in the woods. I have discovered Wild Ginger in several spots throughout the Pacific...
Winter is the Best Time for Planting: Leaves of all colors are falling from the trees, most flowers have frozen, and the garden may look dead. The weather is dark and rainy, and you may not be dreaming of spending time working outside. So why is winter the best time...
Though it may be cold and rainy, autumn is one of the best times to visit the bog and see it in its full glory. Shadow Lake Bog looks completely different in fall than in summer. By comparing these differences that we can come to a better understanding of the systems...
The first plants to adapt to life out of water were Bryophytes, plants that reproduce via spores and have no circulatory system: the mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. These amazing little plants have no roots, but they may have rhizoids to anchor them to their...
Admittedly, I am not much of a scary movie buff, but whenever I do buckle in for a scare, I am struck by how many scary movie tropes are reminiscent of real-life happenings in the insect world. One spooky concept often explored in the horror genre is ‘mysterious and...
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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