Spring is the time that many species give birth. Gestation is the period of time that a developing offspring is carried inside the mother. Biologists usually reserve this term for mammals but it is used more loosely in common speech. Below I provide some examples of gestational periods for some of the animals at the museum. Keep in mind that exact times may vary by several days depending on the condition of the mother and environmental changes.Explore the Wild BlackRead more
Posts tagged: #Larry
Have you seen our YouTube channel?
Thanks for visiting the animal department blog. We enjoy getting feedback and questions from visitors. Almost as much as the Beaker the opossum enjoys some nuts for a snack. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzNDF1HssNI] Did you know the Museum of Life and Science also has a YouTube channel? There you can find our blog videos plus other productions from the museum. When you finish checking out our posts head over the Museum’s YouTube channel for some more information.Read more
Land purchase completes Alligator river preservation!
Just a quick note about a small story with big implications for some species that live at the Museum. The recent purchase of about 5000 acres along the Alligator River in eastern North Carolina means that the entire shoreline of this important habitat is now protected. Alligator River is the only river in North Carolina with this type of total protection. Since 1984 Federal, State and private organizations like the Nature Conservancy have pieced together over 250,000 acres to formRead more
Big Word of the Month: Hibernation
Spring has sprung. Time to wake up! Back in October keeper Marilyn told you about our woodchuck Wendy who was about to go to sleep for the winter. Wendy is awake now and following a daily pattern of eating and sleeping. In this month’s Big Word post I thought I would explore some of the scientific terminology surrounding what we call hibernation. People often assume that an animal that hibernates simply goes to sleep for a longer time. However, researchRead more
Big Word of the Month: When is bedtime
Are there really early birds and night owls in nature? Most animals have normal daily patterns of activity. Biologists often divide behavioral patterns into one of three categories: Diurnal – being most active during daylight hours Nocturnal – being most active during nighttime hours Crepuscular– being most active around sunrise and sunset What kinds of animals do you think would fall into each of these categories?Check the comments section to see some examples.Read more
Birdapalooza
!!!Guest Blogger Keeper Jill!!! On February 9th, Birdapalooza offered a further glimpse into the world of birds and gave guests an opportunity to learn about native and non native species to North Carolina. Since birds are one of my favorite types of animals, I jumped at the chance to attend Predators from the Sky which gave information about birds of prey. The Carolina Raptor Center gave an excellent presentation about some of the birds they have rehabilitated and general factsRead more