Education

Explore the fascinating ways insects survive through Nebraska’s harsh winters. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist For humans, winter means thick, fuzzy blankets, space heaters and hot chocolate to keep ourselves warm during the short, cold days. For many animals, winter is a time of change and adaptability, as temperatures dip and the amount of daylight gets shorter. For example, some animals migrate, some hibernate and others stay active throughout the season. Insects, however, have a few more creative strategies …

Quail wing feathers can indicate a bird’s age, thus providing clues to maintaining high-quality habitat. By Kellie Hayden The features that make our favorite game birds so charismatic also provide details into the ages of these birds. When we read the clues that feathers hold, we can make smart decisions on maintaining high-quality habitat. Feathers take time and energy to grow — two things young birds don’t have much of when they need to quickly learn how to forage, fly …

Read about the four garter snake species of Nebraska. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist Most people don’t think about snakes in November, but with the near record high temperatures this year, some snakes are still slinking through the grasses or moving through our backyards in certain areas of Nebraska. One common inhabitant that you may still see lurking about your yard, soaking up the last warm rays of the fall, is the garter snake. No, not “garden snake” or …

Four families of lizards can be found in Nebraska, with a total of 10 different species. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist Take a quick hike through the prairies of western Nebraska or the rocky terrain bordering Kansas, and you may see a scampering reptile with a long slender tail. Don’t panic — it’s not a snake. It’s just the most underrated reptile of all: lizards. With 6,000 species worldwide, one could say that lizards have been rather successful. They …

November is a great time for viewing bighorn sheep in the Nebraska Panhandle. By Olivia DaRugna, Wildlife Diversity Biologist Before the 1900s, Audubon bighorn sheep inhabited parts of western Nebraska, including the Wildcat Hills, the Pine Ridge and along the North Platte River from the Wyoming state line to eastern Lincoln County. It was thought that the Audubon bighorn became extinct in the early 1900s, with its last stronghold being the South Dakota badlands. Since 1981, the Nebraska Game and …

Blend observation and art to appreciate the natural world. By Grace Gaard, Aquatic Ecology Education Specialist The month of October is notoriously busy no matter what you’re involved in: Hunting seasons begin, sports are in full swing, camping weather is wonderful, and everyone is soaking up the last of fall’s warmer weather. During this time of so much transition and activity, do you ever take a deep breath and slow down? As an artist and an outdoor enthusiast, I find …

Ants raise aphids to harvest their sugar-rich waste secretions known as honeydew. By Tyler Moore, Bellevue University With more than 15,000 described species of ants, as noted in “Bolton’s Catalogue of the Ants of the World,” these organisms are among the world’s most successful and represent a total estimated biomass of 12 megatons. They have also long been the subject of amateur naturalists and scientists, with perhaps no behavior more intriguing than the “farming” of aphids. Aphids are commonly known …

Meet the star of Schramm Education Center. By Renae Blum Meet the star of Schramm Education Center’s aquarium, Big Snap Daddy. Weighing 98 pounds, he is considered the world’s largest common snapping turtle. He is also estimated to be over 90 years old. In the wild, common snapping turtles live an average of 30 years and grow to be about 35 pounds. Learn more about this remarkable creature from Schramm Park superintendent and aquarium director Tony Korth. How did Big …

Halloween’s “scary” creatures of the night are not as spooky as they appear. By Olivia DaRugna, Wildlife Diversity Biologist With Halloween right around the corner, let’s highlight a few critters that get a bad rap in scary movies and TV specials. Bats Bats are often portrayed as spooky, flying creatures of the night in Halloween movies, yet globally, they provide important ecosystem services, such as pest consumption, plant pollination and seed dispersal. They use flight and echolocation to catch and …

How to tell the difference between a dragonfly and damselfly. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist The words “dragons” and “damsels” might remind you of the fairytales you heard or read a child — of daring swordfights, far-off places, dragons to conquer and of course, the damsel in distress. Well, it’s 2023, and women can fight their own way out of perilous situations. This story will discuss different dragons and damsels – the insects known as odonates. Belonging to the …