Our first attempt: 

Hey Girl…

Inspired by NPR’s series, Hey Girl, I heart NPR , our goslings and NWF invite you to join us for Garden for Wildlife Month and a competition to create a “Hey Girl” meme like this one; you can use your own pictures of geese– or any wildlife– or you can use ours.  Add your submissions to our Facebook page or pin it to Pinterest through May 16, and the winner will receive a Garden for Wildlife fleece blanket! 

Happy Meme-ing!

The entrant must affirmatively agree to these Official Rules when submitting the entry form for the Contest.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. ODDS OF WINNING WILL DEPEND ON THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ENTRIES RECEIVED. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. ONLINE ENTRY ONLY AND INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED.

Contest only open to legal residents of the 50 United States or D.C., 13 years and older.The Contest begins May 3, 2012, at 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST) and ends May 16, 2012, at 11:59 PM EST (“Entry period”). The contest winner’s photo will be published on NWF’s Facebook page by May 31, 2012. ARV of all prizes awarded: $10.00 Winners may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and release of liability and publicity (where permitted). Subject to full Official Rules. Company: National Wildlife Federation 11100 Wildlife Center Drive, Reston VA 20190.

More Garden for Wildlife Month Fun:

• Wildlife Garden Tour and Native Plant Sale: Join us on May 12!
• Certify your habitat: Let us show you how!
• Watch! The Garden for Wildlife Month video!
• Which plants are native to your region? Find out now!
• Help spread the word about Garden for Wildlife Month!

Click here to view the embedded video.

3… 2… 1… Liftoff!

For the next six months we’ll publish weekly video blogs, such as this one about the Sky Dance of the American Woodcock.

There are 10 participants from around the Federation: Lindsay Hauswald, Carla Brown, Danielle Moodie-Mills, Beth Pratt, Bentley Johnson, Kendall Mackey, Tony Summers, Nic Callero, and Ryan Stockwell, and myself.  

I know I speak for all the participants when I say “Welcome!” We look forward to sharing our stories from around the Federation with you.

National Wildlife Federation’s Storytelling Video Diary Series shares the candid tales of 10 NWF staffers from around the country; armed with their cameras in the Great Lakes, California, South Dakota, the Pacific Northwest, Northern Virginia, and Washington, DC, these 10 staffers will share with you their individual trials, epiphanies and stories as they unfold in their daily adventures.

A Big Brown bat eating a meal worm. Photo credit: MABlevins, 2012

As I’m no expert on bats (I fall under the “Oh, they’re so cute!” category), I’ve asked the National Wildlife Federation’s Naturalist David Mizejewski to shine some light (no pun intended) on these fascinating, flying friends.

1) Should we be alarmed to see bats in our neighborhoods?

David: There are several species of bats common to the DC area so this sighting is not anything to be alarmed about. Bats play an important role in the ecosystem by preying on insects, some of which are pests (beetles and moths in particular, and also to some degree mosquitoes).

2) But what about seeing a bat during the daytime?

David: Bats are indeed nocturnal but just seeing one in daytime doesn’t mean anything is wrong with it.

3) What should we do if we see a bat in the daytime?

David:The rule of thumb when encountering any wild animal, at any time of the day, applies here: it’s ok to watch and appreciate, but never approach or try to handle it –let wildlife be wild.  If you follow this rule, you’ll never have a dangerous encounter with wildlife.

A Big Brown bat. Photo Credit: MABlevins, 2012

4) What should we do if a bat does indeed look “sick?”

David: If you see clear signs of illness such as erratic movement, loss of fear of humans, aggression, mouth foaming, etc. leave the area and report it to animal control.

5) How can we help bats?

David: Bats can use all the help we can give them.  We’ve trashed their habitat, and now an epidemic called White Nose Syndrome has wiped out about 6 million bats in just the last few years.  One easy way to help bats in your neighborhood is by putting up a bat box.

So regardless of what side of the “batty” spectrum you’re on– love them or fear them–you can become an animal ambassador by educating others on how to help protect bats (and yourself) if one ever lands itself on your window. Because as much as we all wish that bats were vampires (like those in the HBO series TrueBlood), bats are simple yet important creatures–and at the end of the day, merely misunderstood.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild

Wildlife-Friendly DMV connects wildlife enthusiasts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. I will share with you the wildlife and nature where I “roam,” and bring to life the stories of people around our region who speak up for wildlife.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV connects wildlife enthusiasts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. I will share with you the wildlife and nature where I “roam,” and bring to life the stories of people around our region who speak up for wildlife.

Balcony before its makeover.

…Till now.

I was told by Urban Organic Gardening expert Mike Lieberman that in gardening, “you don’t need a green thumb, just two opposable ones.”  His words struck a chord with me, and they were the only encouragement I needed to face my fears and (attempt) to build an urban garden.

Step 1: Evaluate

The first step is evaluating– what kind of space do you have (either inside or outside) and what kind of sunlight does your space get (or will you use an indoor lamp)?  I have a great outdoor balcony that gets 6-7 hours of morning sunlight.

I decided to plant jalapeños, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and mint, along with onions (bulbs) and flowers.

Step 2: Plan

The second step is planning.  What kind of plants and veggies do you want to grow? A smart question to ask yourself to answer this is, “What are the vegetables that you eat most often?”  Based on this, I’m going to grow cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, mint and green peppers, and onions.  I’m also going to grow flowers and a money tree (the tree is an indoor plant but can also be put outside in warm weather).

The other half of planning is deciding what tools you’ll need, and that requires a shopping list.

My items: seeds, soil, small shovel and planters. 

Additional items for indoor planting: an indoor lamp

Balcony after the makeover: will also include two additonal large planters (and the hanging baskets will have soil/flowers in them after the last frost). The lamp is solar powered.

Step 3: Shop

“Shop till you drop” as the saying goes, and with my shopping list in hand, I did just that at the local Home Depot.  While shopping for my supplies, I learned that all the vegetables that I wanted to grow (except for the onions because I got bulbs), needed to germinate.  Because of this, I also picked up biodegradable cowpots to germinate my seeds in. 

Step 4: Plant

1) For the seeds that need to germinate: I set up my station of seeds, cowpots, soil and shovel.  I then filled each cowpot w­ith soil and then placed 2-3 seeds in each one (if more than one sprout comes up, that’s okay—you can transplant them into a new container). Water is the next step, and over the next 6-8 weeks, the mint, bell peppers, jalapenos and cherry tomatoes will germinate. 

What the seeds need most: warmth and moisture. I have to make sure they are watered regularly, and remain warm (though that doesn’t mean they need lots of sunlight, as that can actually dry them out).  I used plastic bags to make a greenhouse effect.

2) For the flowers that don’t need to germinate: I will plant those AFTER the fear of a late frost has passed; I bought California poppies and Dianthus to plant, along with onions.

Step 5: Wait

Homemade labels: old corks, Q-tips and paper. Make a slit in the cork on one side. Punch a whole in cork on the other side. Cut one end of the Q-tip off; put into hole. Tape paper onto Q-tip like a flag & write name on paper.

So on this Leap Day, I too challenge YOU to take a “leap” into the dirt, seeds and sunshine, by becoming an urban gardener—the environment (and your belly) will love you for it.

Think you have what it takes to become an urban gardener AND create a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat? Take the challenge and email blevinsm@nwf.org with your story and pictures to be featured in an upcoming Wildlife-Friendly DMV post.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV connects wildlife enthusiasts in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia to local wildlife and the National Wildlife Federation. I will share with you the wildlife and nature where I “roam,” and bring to life the stories of people around our region who speak up for wildlife.

Today, January 23, 2012, marks the beginning of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese New Year is considered the most important of all traditional Chinese holidays, and is known as the “Spring Festival“ in China.  Each Chinese New Year also represents a different zodiac sign (such as the Rabbit or Tiger), and this is the Year of the Dragon.

Dragons are mythical and mysterious creatures, and are known for their intense power and symbol of good fortune.  As a “dragon” myself (you can decide what year I was born in: 1904 * 1916 * 1928 * 1940 * 1952 * 1964 * 1976 * 1988 * 2000), I’m equally as mystified by these enchanting creatures.

This Komodo dragon's name must be Drool... Yikes! Komodo Dragon/ Photo by Flickr's Adhi Rachdian

1) Komodo Dragons

Weighing in at an impressive 300 pounds and reaching up to 10 feet long, Komodo dragons are the heaviest lizards on Earth.  If you run into a Komodo dragon — say on your daily jog — it’s important to know they can run up to 11 mph in short bursts.

What does this mean for their prey?  The only way to avoid a Komodo dragon is running (quickly) into a tree or high spot. If the prey is bitten, but does escape, they will be dead within 24 hours due to the venom in a Komodo’s bite that “rapidy decreases blood pressure, expedites blood loss,  and sends the victim into shock, making them too weak to fight.”

Survival tool: A jet pack

2) Leafy and Weedy Sea Dragons

Leafy Sea Dragon by Flickr's 斗室‧亞Len

Survival tool:  Camouflage-detecting snorkeling gear

3) A Real-life Dragon?

What should you do if you have an encounter with a real-life dragon like this one? (Click here).

Survival tool: RUN.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Please note: Komodo dragons, leafy dragons and weedy dragons do not live in the continental United States. 

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild

Without warning, it’s the holiday time and I begin humming the 1963 classic, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” Written by Eddie Pola and George Wyle, and performed by Andy Williams, this Christmas song perfectly sums up the holiday cheer that I experience each year: friends and family, and lots of food, caroling and parties.

Roosevelt Island Park in Washington, DC. Photo courtesy of WorldIslandInfo

And this year, my wish list for Santa Claus has drastically changed. I don’t want electronics, clothes or gift cards; instead, I want to see a bald eagle and wild ponies. And the best part about this wish list? It can come true!

5 places to see Bald Eagles and Wild Ponies this holiday season:

Roosevelt Island, Washington, DC
I know that our nation’s capital is not known for its wildlife –unless politicians count—but you would be surprised how many creatures call Theodore Roosevelt Island home. Named after our most conservation-minded president, this Potomac River island is open to visitors who can stroll through the marsh and woodlands and see deer, ducks and a variety of birds including bald eagles and great blue herons.

Located within the borders of D.C. but only accessible by land in Virginia, Roosevelt Island also offers hiking and biking trails for outdoor fun.

Wild ponies at Assateague Island National Seashore. Photo courtesy of Dean Wissing.

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland
If your Santa wish list is like mine and a bald eagle sighting is #1, then the Blackwater National Wildlife Refugeis the best spot in the region. It’s the go-to place in Maryland to see an abundance of bald eagles not only in winter, but throughout the whole year.

The refuge hosts a healthy breeding population of bald eagles and high concentrations of wintering eagles drawn by migratory waterfowl each winter.

An American Bald Eagle perched on a tree in Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. Photo courtesy of US Fish and Wildlife Service.

With 550 wilderness acres in 14 parcels known as the James River Park System, the James River offers visitors lots of animal varieties—see nesting bald eagles, a great blue heron rookery, cormorants, ospreys, hawks and maybe even a peregrine falcon.  Explorers of the James River could also encounter deer, beavers, river otters, foxes and coyotes.   

Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
If you like birds, birds and more birds, then the Mason Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Lorton, Virginia is the place for you. The Refuge was created to protect bald eagle nesting, feeding and roosting habitats along the Potomac River. There’s also more than 1,200 nests for great blue herons, along with an endless variety of ducks—quack quack!

Enjoy the holiday season and don’t forget to take advantage of the wonderful wildlife in your backyard!

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild

‘Tis the Season from Wildlife Promise:

• 5 Gifts Birds Are “Tweeting” About This Holiday Season
• Shift Your Gift Into a Gift For Wildlife This Year
• Reindeer: 12 Fascinating Facts About These Amazing Creatures
• Habitat Certification and Other Gifts for Gardeners
• The Northern Cardinal: Find Out About the Bird That Most Symbolizes the Season

I walked into the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland and instantly turned into my 8-year-old self; all giddy inside, I rounded the corner in anticipation of my first animal sighting.

And there she was: Calypso. A 450-pound green sea turtle.

Meet Calypso: a 450-pound green sea turtle who lives at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland. MBlevins/NWF

At first, I didn’t notice that Calypso only had three fins, as it didn’t stop her playful demeanor. She swam amongst the sting rays and zebra sharks, cruising around—almost like she was saying hello to all the aquarium guests.

Through Calypso, I saw how the work of the National Aquarium and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) can come together to protect and restore the wildlife and habitats of the Chesapeake Bay.

Joining Forces to Support the Chesapeake

In November 2011, the National Aquarium in Maryland became NWF’s newest affiliate (an affiliate is a voluntary relationship between independent statewide organizations which support the purposes and objectives of NWF). The partnership will link conservation efforts from Appalachia, to the Chesapeake Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean.

Specifically, the Chesapeake Bay is home to hundreds of native plants and wildlife, as well as important wetlands that support migrating birds and other species. In 1999, the National Aquarium realized it needed to strengthen the connection between the natural world and its visitors.

“Our conservation program [at the National Aquarium] helps make that wildlife connection not only in our building, but out in the region through large scale projects and community involvement,” said Laura Bankey, Director of Conservation at the National Aquarium.

This is a floating wetland outside of the Aquarium in the Baltimore Harbour. The wetland is man-made from all recycled materials. MBlevins/NWF

Education for All Ages

Through educational tools, inside and out of the classroom, the National Aquarium brings schools and communities together to learn about the Chesapeake Bay.

At the Aquarium itself, visitors can instantly learn about Maryland and the Bay area. The outside landscape has Bay themed plants and natural habitats, including native plants found on the Chesapeake coast like ferns, trees and grass-like plants. Inside, the second floor of the Aquarium features four Maryland exhibits that demonstrate how water unites different parts of the natural world; from the mountains to the sea.

Out in the “field,” locals and volunteers have learned the importance of the Bay—for animals and humans alike. In fact, I learned that channels in the region are dredged for boats, and the materials –traditionally dumped into the ocean—are used to recreate wetlands, such as areas in Blackwater and Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge.

In more than 12 years, the National Aquarium’s conservation efforts have resulted in 155 more acres of wetlands in the Chesapeake Bay. Each acre has 18,000 plants that were planted by hand for a total of 1.4 million plants.

“It’s about being able to connect local citizens and students to the areas that they are most likely to care about,” said Bankey.

“What animal weighs 450-pounds and eats nothing but vegetables?”

Click here to view the embedded video.

As I weaved through the Aquarium taking in the jellyfish, dolphins, snakes, frogs and endless amounts of exotic fish, I couldn’t help but overhear a group of student’s chatter about finishing the scavenger hunt first –one kid whispered to her competitor that she wouldn’t give away any of her answers.

For students, the National Aquarium provides opportunities to learn about the species and habitats that exist right in their own backyards. From September to February each year, Maryland students (Pre-K-12) can visit the aquarium for free. Outreach education with the Aquarium includes terrapins in the classroom, planting native plants, maintaining fish and plant ponds, and a variety of classroom presentations such as marine mammals and squid dissection lab.

“There are animals down the street that you may not know are there and we are helping kids make the connection that these animals in that water rely on healthy environments, like good quality of water,” said Bankey. “And your health is tied to this too—we all need to do our part to create a healthy Chesapeake Bay and be healthy neighbors.”

Protecting the Chesapeake for Years to Come

An animal ambassador is a rehabbed animal that is unable to live in the wild, but helps to educate the public. MBlevins/NWF

At 2:30 p.m., volunteer divers feed Calypso her daily diet: romaine lettuce and Brussels sprouts. For Breakfast, she ate green peppers.

As I watched Calypso bob her head for the Brussels sprouts, I learned that turtles traditionally don’t use their back fins for swimming (they serve mostly as rotors for navigation), but to help compensate for only have three fins, Calypso uses all three fins equally.

It’s through animal “ambassadors” like Calypso and the National Aquarium’s conservation efforts that students—and adults—are learning how education and volunteering goes a long way in protecting species, wetlands and habitats in the Chesapeake Bay region.

This new “wildlife-friendly” friendship has created a united front on behalf of every single creature that calls the Bay region home. And though Calypso is only one example of an animal ambassador in the National Aquarium, she will always be the 450-pound green sea turtle that opened my eyes to what can be achieved when two organizations work toward the same goal of protecting the Chesapeake Bay.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it Wild

Jorge, a Hoary bat. MABlevins/NWF

Leslie Sturges asked for someone to flip the light switch off.  As the room went dark, she flipped on the spotlight attached to her camera.  The lens adjusted back and forth, and back—and then came into focus.

Sturges held a bat. A brown bat—a Big Brown bat named Smiley.  It was a Friday night in Northern Virginia, where regional bat expert Sturges conducted an educational class on bats at the Walker Nature Education Center.

As Sturges held Smiley, he ate meal worms out of a bowl and she shared with the kids and parents that bats are in trouble because of a disease called white-nose syndrome.

Hands flew into the air.

“What’s white-nose syndrome?” asked a parent.

“White-nose syndrome is a powdery, white fungus that covers a bat’s muzzles during hibernation, making them sick,” said Sturges.

As a wildlife educator, Sturges teaches kids and parents about the importance of bats.  As a wildlife protector, she lets kids know they can help protect these creatures spreading the word about white-nose syndrome through Save Lucy the Little Brown Bat campaign.

White-Nose, what?

Sturges, president of Save Lucy the Little Brown Bat campaign, was involved with white-nose syndrome early.   She remembers when it first appeared 40 miles outside of Albany, New York in 2006, and no one knew what it was.

Little brown bat affected by White-nose syndrome (Photo credit: USFWS)

This new disease was identified as Geomyces destructans, a cold-loving fungus that is said to have crossed into America from Europe.  Bats are susceptible to white-nose syndrome because the fungus breeds in caves or abandoned mines, popular hibernation spots for 46 bat species found in Canada and the United States.

As news about white-nose syndrome developed, Sturges became concerned when biologists and scientists in the Northeast would claim that the public knew about white-nose syndrome.  She was more alarmed when policy leaders would tell her that no one really cared about bats.

“I’m out doing education [programs] and lots of people care about bats—kids care about bats,” said Sturges. “But I did realize I had a problem when I asked a room full of 100 people if they had heard of white-nose syndrome and only two people raised their hand.”

Save Lucy the Little Brown Bat

It was that day that Sturges decided she needed to make white-nose syndrome accessible to kids. Save Lucy the Little Brown Bat launched in March 2010.  Although Lucy is a fictional bat, she represents all bats that are in trouble because of white-nose syndrome, and provides a story line and pictures for the kids.

“I use Save Lucy as the education platform to raise awareness and let kids feel empowered to do something,” said Sturges.  “No one explicitly tells kids that they have a voice—they can write letters to their senators or make posters and educate their family and friends– they can help determine how things are handled in the world.”

Sturges standing in the flight cage behind her house in Annandale, Virginia. MABlevins/NWF

Sturges runs the Save Lucy Campaign out of her basement and backyard, where she has a bat rehabilitation facility and flight cage, an outdoor screened-in building where young bats learn to fly. Depending on the month, there are 12-60 orphaned or injured bats in her care.  An average day for Sturges includes going to work as the Montgomery County Parks Naturalist and then going to a school or library to do a Save Lucy program where she brings along educational bats.

“I educate people that bats are not Halloween vampires, but important species that keep insects in check by eating up to one-third of their body weight a night,” said Sturges.

And with white-nose syndrome entering its fifth hibernation season (bats enter hibernation October each year), busting Halloween myths about bats is only even half of Sturges battle; it’s finding new ways to use her basement, flying cage, Certified Wildlife Habitat backyard, and Save Lucy campaign to educate all kids and parents that something must be done to protect bats.

“…Champion of nature’s underdogs.”

Since 2006, white-nose syndrome has killed more than a million bats among six species and has spread north to Canada and as far south as Tennessee and North Carolina. As reported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, in some locations mortality in bat colonies has reached 95 percent.

“I’ve always been a champion of nature’s underdogs,” said Sturges. ““And now more than ever, bats need our help.”

Click here to view the embedded video.

When you arrive at the Save Lucy website, you can take action to help bats, join the Save Lucy Club, record your bat observations and donate to the campaign.

With the Save Lucy Campaign turning two in March, the program has picked up, with an average audience of 50 to 100 people in the region.  She shows kids real bats, like Mooch and Smiley, goes outside to listen to bats as they echo-locate, and encourages families to get involved, such as building bat boxes  for them to have a safe place to go.

But most importantly, Sturges encourages people to share Lucy’s story.

“All kids and parents can help Lucy by visiting our website and learning what white-nose syndrome is and raise visibility to this problem,” said Sturges. “Because I’ll say it time and time again: when kids care about something, they have the power to change it for the future.”

The clip above is one of Sturges’ bats echo-locating. For additional pictures of the bats in Sturges’ rehabilitation facility click here.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it “Wild”

More Halloween Fun:

• Crows, ravens, owls and vultures: Nature’s creepiest birds?
• Get your “scary” animal fix, from vampires to zombie ants.
• Take a peek at a “spooky” animal photo gallery … if you dare!
• Halloween roundup: Get fun outdoor kids’ activities and more.

I’ll never forget looking out the window when I was 10 and seeing two wild boars in my front yard.  Growing up in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in North Georgia, I saw lots of “wild” things: deer, turtles, snakes, countless red and blue birds, frogs, moles… it’s an endless list for the endless amount of wildlife that call it “home.”

I recently relocated to the District of Columbia, and happily, my wildlife viewing has not stopped.  I work at the National Wildlife Federation headquarters in Reston, Virginia, where we are lucky to have wildlife right outside the door. You should see how many grown men and women turn into that 10-year-old kid again when we walk outside and see a critter or two.  We’ve had some pretty wild encounters–not to mention our “home” is pretty wild all on its own.

10 “Wildest” Things Happening in National Wildlife Federation Headquarters’ Backyard

Chinese Praying Mantis walking on the sidewalk at NWF headquarters, Photo Credit: MABlevins

#10 Watch your step!

When we arrive to work, we never know what we’re going to see, like this guy. From praying mantids to deer you are almost guaranteed to spot wildlife around NWF’s headquarters.  NWF’s Naturalist David Mizejewski helped me identify the mantis in our picture and it’s a Chinese mantis, an introduced species to the United States around 1895, and is one of the most commonly seen in this area.

#9 Solar power

In our front yard, we have a demonstration solar panel near the flagpole that actually provides the hot water for the showers on the lower level.

#8 We compost

NWF’s Cool It! Recycling Committee has a composter at headquarters that everyone uses to throw in leftovers, such as fruit and veggie scraps, crushed eggshells, coffee grinds and tea bags.  Staff members from the Committee help maintain it by stirring it a few times a year.  Compost makes great fertilizer for gardens and household plants.

Our resident groudhog at NWF headquarters, Photo Credit: Amanda Stone

#7 GROUNDHOG SIGHTING!

NWF staffers sometimes see our resident groundhog who lives behind the vine-covered trellis (Wild Happening #2).  He can be seen all over headquarters: bathing himself in the shade, running around the pond or even snoozing!

#6 We have a “wildlife-friendly” set up

There are no storm drains on the property and nearly everything that falls on the building and grounds drains into our two bio-retention swales in the parking lot. This includes the water from our rooftop heating, ventilation and air condition units. The swales—a low tract of land— have a special soil mix that allow them to maintain more moisture and slowly disperse it into the local watershed, which prevents erosion.  This also allows the trees and wetland plants in the bio-retention area to filter pollutants from run-off water.

As NWF Scientist Doug Inkley describes it: “It has to be the most wildlife-friendly parking lot I’ve ever known.  This was by design, and it worked.  Breeding orchard orioles, mallards, Eastern bluebirds, tree swallows, frogs; and I see fox, deer, box turtles, red-shouldered hawks, woodchucks and more.”

The pond outside of NWF's headquarters provides water for wildlife. Photo Credit: MABlevins

#5 Let’s go Geocaching

Ranger Rick’s Geocache Trails are family friendly, wildlife-themed, outdoor treasure hunts that encourage kids to get outdoors. Using GPS-enabled devices, people seek and find hidden geocaches on trails at places such as parks, campgrounds, and nature centers.  There are a number of geo-caches in the woods right behind headquarters, including one that is maintained by NWF staff.  I went for the first time and I couldn’t believe it when I found out there are millions of these all over the world!

#4 Our “home” is certified

Yes we are! NWF’s headquarters is a Certified Wildlife Habitat^®.  We have a pond for water supply, great cover (see Wild Happening #2), ample food sources like fringe trees and wild bergamot, , and headquarters is surrounded by acres of trees, flowers and vines for young to be raised (see Wild Happening #3 and #1!).

#3  “Wild Animal Babies” live here

Just like our magazine, Wild Animal Babies suggests, we can’t get enough of baby animals, and these little raccoons—recorded right outside headquarters—learning to climb are no exception:

Click here to view the embedded video.

#2 We’re covered in vines!

“It's not divine, it's just a small courtesy. I would hope anyone would take the, usually, thirty seconds to a minute to try and help ensure an animal's immediate safety.” – Ben Spector, NWF staff

#1 “I like turtles.”

Just like the Zombie kid from 2007, we like turtles too.  On rainy days you’ll see folks checking under their cars before driving off to make sure there aren’t any turtles hanging out. Or sometimes, we find them in the most unusual places, like this wee box turtle in the picture found by NWF Staffer Ben Spector.  Spector stumbled upon him on our front doorstep and helped relocate the turtle to a safer place.  Wild, right? Well, it’s probably pretty tame, but we’re all turtle guardians and help protect the “wild” life we love.

Got wild things happening in your backyard? Share your sightings and stories with us at NWF’s Wildlife Watch.

Wildlife-Friendly DMV: Keep it Local, Keep it “Wild”

8:53 a.m., June 23, 2011: Arrival to the Today Show, Rockefeller Plaza, New York City

I walked up to the security guard outside of NBC Studios and said I was with David Mizejewski.  He opened the gate,

“First revolving door to your right,” he said.

Matt Lauer and the side of Al Roker at the Today Show. MBlevins/NWF

I found David, standing amongst the chaos.  He was waiting for the previous dog segment to head out before bringing the wildlife in.  David mentioned that the last thing he wanted to do was mix the dogs with the wildlife.  I agreed—that seemed like it wouldn’t end well.

9:23 a.m: Justin Bieber, the Green Room and Chaos

“We have to wait to get into the Green Room (that’s where show guests wait before their appearance) because Justin Bieber’s in there,” said David, as he continued to explain that it usually isn’t this chaotic.

About 10 minutes later, Bieber and his girlfriend, Selena Gomez, walked out holding hands and headed upstairs to the screaming fans where he promoted his new perfume.

David Mizejewski in the Green Room getting ready for his Today Show appearance. MBlevins/NWF

10:02 a.m: Two Turtles, a Fox, an Owl and an Opossum

But the real stars of the Today Show appearance needed no makeup.  There was an opossum, an eagle owl, and a red fox, along with a snapping turtle and a wood turtle.  The wood turtle’s shell was a little dirty so his handler gave him his very own touch up so he shined for the camera.

David rehearsed handing off the animals to and from the animal handlers who work behind the scenes because it’s important to ensure that the animals are safe while also not endangering anyone during the segment. Such as the snapping turtle— David had to hold him tightly with both hands, under and above his shell.  The little guy tried to swim away in mid-air while also cutting David’s thumb with his back claw.  I had no idea that a snapping turtle could be so beautiful.

Animal handler cleaning the wood turtle. MBlevins/NWF

10:28 a.m: Show Time

We headed upstairs to the studio where the segment would air.  Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb were the hosts interacting with David and the animals.  The crew hooked David up to a microphone and the cameras were put into position while the animal handlers set up the animals so they were easy to access during the live segment; they had four minutes to show all five animals.

As a person who’s watched live broadcasts for years, I’m not sure I was even ready for the countdown…

In 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1…

During the four minute segment, Dave talked to Hoda and Kathie Lee about NWF’s Great American Backyard Campout that happened this past Saturday, June 25 in cities all over the country.  The annual fundraising event encourages families to spend more time outside and connect with the great outdoors.

One after another, the two animal handlers ran back and forth, and back and forth behind the scenes, putting animals away and getting new ones to hand off to David who was simultaneously handling the animals, dealing with Kathie Lee and Hoda’s banter, and discussing NWF’s mission to protect wildlife and promoting the Great American Backyard Campout.

Behind the scenes at the Today Show. David Mizejewski holding the red fox while talking with Kathie Lee and Hoda. MBlevins/NWF

That’s also something else that David stressed during the segment: seeing wildlife up close (whether it’s in the wilderness or your backyard) is really exciting, but we need to respect wild animals and never try to approach, touch or make pets of them, for our safety as well as theirs.

10:47 a.m: That’s a Wrap

And then as quick as it began, the segment ended (Watch the full segment here!).  Producers and crew members began shuffling here and there, moving the table and green carpet around, then setting up a few new chairs, and it was on to another segment.

For me, the hour-and-a-half-adventure put a new twist on “exploring wild places.”  It was unlike any nature hike or camping trip I’ve ever been on, as I never realized the constant intensity that goes on behind the scene (I also have this feeling I wouldn’t be seeing Justin Bieber in the woods) .   Not to mention, some of the “animals” I saw were Matt Lauer and Kathie Lee Gifford; a pair that I’ve grown up watching over the years, and the thrill to see them working on a live set.

NBC Studios at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City, New York. MBlevins/NWF

I left knowing this “wild place” would be one of the most unique I’d ever get to explore.