insects

Return of Brood X Cicadas

A Short Celebration in the Sun Americans are about to experience a rare phenomenon for the first time in 17 years: the return of Brood X periodical cicadas! Last seen … Read more

Surrounded by the foothills of the Cascade Mountains, fruit orchards blanket the landscape of central Washington.

Lessons from a Leaf: The Wild World of Orchard Insects

It’s harvest time in central Washington. Daybreak in the pear orchards of the Wenatchee Valley is accompanied by the sound of ladders clanking, tractors roaring to life, and pickers singing … Read more

hummingbird eating mosquitoes

Meet the Squad of Mosquito-Eating Species

Mosquitoes are unwanted visitors to our backyards, but nature can offer solutions that don’t involve chemicals or bug sprays. Often overlooked and under-appreciated, the following wildlife species are especially helpful … Read more

Facts About the “Murder Hornet”

Recent documentation of the Asian giant hornet (Vespa mandarinia) in Canada and Washington state have prompted questions and concern about the species. While invasive non-native species are a real problem … Read more

10+ Naturalist Resources for Identifying Wildlife

The animals we see, the sounds we hear, the forests, meadows and riverbanks we explore, all tell a story. As curious individuals, it can be difficult to recognize what we’re looking at, and … Read more

Why Dragonflies Would Make Brilliant Spies

Dragonflies are the spies of the natural world. They already have the deceptive cover. They are not dragons. They aren’t even flies. These fascinating creatures have been around for over 350 … Read more

Texas Wasp Moth

7 Moths that Make Butterflies Look Boring

I still like butterflies, but let’s be honest, moths need some love. They just aren’t as popular as butterflies, and they certainly should be! Both belong to the large order of … Read more

5 Last-Minute Steps to Enter the National Wildlife Photo Contest This Weekend

If you hadn’t heard, the deadline was extended for the National Wildlife Photo Contest. Hopefully this will give many of you the time you need to complete your entries and … Read more

Dirt, Bugs, and Raindrops, Oh My!

Guest post by Alyson Weinberg There’s a lot of talk these days of “thinking outside the box.” Whether for kids in the classroom or companies in the marketplace, it’s an ability … Read more

My kids playing on an iPad

Our Favorite Apps Where You Pretend to be Animals or Naturalists

Learn about wildilfe by BEING an animal or naturalist in these fun apps. Read more