Well, my 2nd semester of grad school has now passed, meaning that I am halfway through! This is a happy thought. The light at the end of the tunnel is drawing closer. Despite being excited to finish, I learned a lot and am excited to apply the knowledge to my work. This semester, there was …
As part of my spring 2023 “Wildlife Education” course (Masters of Environmental Science through Slippery Rock University), I conducted a survey/questionnaire that was designed to examine the public’s perceptions and attitudes towards a bird feeding; a sometimes-controversial wildlife topic. Many feel strongly about why they should or should not feed wild birds. Below are the …
Category: Backyard Habitats Tags: Animals, bird feeders, bird feeding, birds, conservation, environmental education, human-wildlife interaction, public perception, social science, The Art of Ecology, wildlife education
Coming off of National Pollinator Month in June, many of us are thinking about and understand the importance of butterflies, birds, and bees as pollinator species. Did you know that moths also play an important role in our ecosystems, but that not all of them are pollinators? While yes, some, such as the Hummingbird Clearwing …
Category: Illustrations, Special Conservation Designated Events Tags: cecropia, gardening for wildlife, human-wildlife interaction, hummingbird moth, light pollution, luna moth, moth stickers, national moth week, nature, regal walnut moth, rosy maple moth, royal moth, scientific illustration, stickers, The Art of Ecology
A portion of the proceeds from my art sales benefits conservation efforts. In 2022, instead of donating a small % to habitat preservation or wildlife conservation non-profits, I will switch to something that can have a greater impact! Why the Change? I feel strange about donating $2 here, $.50 there, $5 somewhere else based on …
Category: Special Conservation Designated Events Tags: conservation, donation, eco-friendly, ecological restoration, environmental education, habitats, human-wildlife interaction, impact, mini grants for conservation, nature, preservation, The Art of Ecology
Have you ever been slightly abashed when you assume someone’s age and then find out that either wow…. they are waaayyy older than you thought, or dear goodness, this person is a baby?! Determining age in humans just by sight can be really challenging! Determining squirrel age and the ages of other wildlife, on the …
Tags: Animals, baby animals, eastern grey squirrel, human-wildlife interaction, mammals, squirrel, squirrel age, The Art of Ecology, wildlife, Wildlife Behavior, wildlife rehabilitation
Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) seem like such an iconic woodland creature. I can just picture them perfectly frolicking through the forest, catching mice, and sniffing at berries. Over time, this iconic picture shifted. Instead of a beautiful forest scene, more and more fox are found in Urban environments; wandering busy streets and dodging cars as …
Category: Adaptations, Animals, Backyard Habitats, The Art of Ecology, Wildlife Behavior Tags: Adaptations, Animals, ecotone, fox, fragmentation, human-wildlife interaction, predators, The Art of Ecology, urbanization, wildlife, Wildlife Behavior, wildlife habitat