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Did you know that a swimming pool in the summer is just as attractive to wildlife as it is to us? While enjoyable for us, swimming pools can be dangerous for wildlife. Wildlife can become trapped and drown or be harmed by chemicals in the water. Viewer Tip: Luckily, there are many ways to help [...]

What does cold-blooded really mean? Unlike warm-blooded humans, cold-blooded animals do not generate their own body heat and must rely on the environment to regulate body temperature. On a cool day, cold-blooded animals like turtles or snakes may be found lying directly in the sun to raise their body temperature. Warmer days may have them [...]

Do you enjoy beautiful flowers, juicy fruits and fresh vegetables? Over 80 percent of the world’s flowering plants like cucumbers, blueberries and honeysuckle are dependent on animal pollinators.  Unfortunately, the populations of some of these animals – bats, birds, bees and other insects – are declining because of many factors. Increased use of pesticides and [...]

Did you know that many of the insects in your garden are more beneficial than harmful? When gardeners see insects or insect damage on their plants, many reach for pesticides in an effort to eliminate harmful pests. Unfortunately, pesticides can kill valuable garden insects – like ladybugs, assassin bugs and praying mantis – and may [...]

When thinking of the sights and sounds of springtime, do you think warbler? Spotting a warbler is a sure sign that spring is here. During the spring these beautiful birds migrate to North America from South and Central America. These spirited creatures are a treat for any birdwatcher. Noticing their cheerful calls can lead you [...]

Warmer weather brings increased bird activity in many parts of the country. It can also mean more birds accidentally striking windows. Sometimes birds are just dazed by the strike, but often they are injured or killed by the force. There are several reasons that our feathered friends fly into the glass. If a window is [...]

During winter months, wildlife activity decreases. Many animals such as bats, skunks, raccoons, opossums, chipmunks and bears use some type of hibernation to make it through the winter months.  There are different variations of hibernation and not all animals spend the entire winter “sleeping.” Some animals like the skunk, raccoon and opossum, sleep lightly and [...]

Many people believe that late fall and winter are times of scarcity for wildlife, which may prompt them to leave feed out for deer and other wildlife. The reality is that local wildlife is well-adapted to our climate and capable of surviving without our help. In fact, feeding deer can be harmful to them by [...]

Did you know that the Great Horned Owl is one of few animals that will eat a skunk? These owls have been known to eat prey as small as a crayfish and as large as a Great Blue Heron. Autumn is an active time for many animals, but especially juvenile Great Horned Owls. During the [...]

We usually associate the sounds of frogs with the beginning of spring. Most frogs breed in the spring and summer months, which accounts for many of the calls heard, but Georgia is home to six species that begin breeding in the fall. Their mating calls can be heard right now. The Upland, Southern, Brimley’s and [...]

Fish have long been adapted to living in water their entire lives. Did you know, however, that fish breathe oxygen just like we do? Using their gills, fish breathe tiny particles of oxygen dissolved in the water or in tiny air bubbles formed by splashing or running water. Georgia’s summers can be extremely dry and [...]

Hurricanes and tropical storms can have devastating effects upon our coasts, our lives and our wildlife. But, did you know that wetlands are the single most important reducer of storm surges, wind speeds and flooding? For every three miles of coastal wetlands, which can include marshes, floodplains and a variety of other wet habitats, the [...]

The nights of the South are often hot, humid and still. Winds typically die down at night and allow for the nocturnal flights of an amazing variety of insect life. Moths are some of our most fascinating nocturnal creatures. They range in size, coloration and behavior. Like butterflies, moths go through stages – from egg [...]

Did you know that something as simple as a large rock, rotting log, yard junk or a sheet of plywood in your yard can host a huge network of interacting wildlife? Summers in the Southern U.S. can bake the ground to a crisp. Beneath a rock or log, however, temperatures remain cool and the soil [...]

Because they are cold blooded and rely on warmth to become mobile, insects thrive in the long days and soaring temperatures of  summer. Summer is the best time to observe insect life in your garden or lawn. Some gardeners think of all insects as pests, but many insects are helpful and eat the insects that [...]

Mosquitoes have always been a nuisance in the hot and rainy South, and some mosquitoes carry diseases such as malaria and West Nile Virus. On windy days, mosquitoes—which can fly at only a sluggish 1.5 miles per hour—are rarely seen. When winds die down at dawn and dusk, however, mosquitoes take flight to feed. The [...]

The warmth of spring and summer allows insect pollinators and native plants to thrive in our gardens. Flowering plants have evolved unique symbiotic relationships with insects during the planet’s history. Some of the first flowering plants used beetles. Because beetles tend to be large, clumsy and strong, plants like Tulip Poplar, Sweetshrub, Flowering Dogwood and [...]

The mild seasons of the year—spring and autumn—have perfect climates for the growth and reproduction of fungi. Warm temperatures combined with lots of rain and humidity help fungi grow. There are many different kinds of fungi in the world but the best known is the mushroom. Mushrooms are the fruiting body of a fungus and [...]

Spring is a hazardous season for frogs, toads, newts, snakes and turtles because they leave the warm shelter of burrows, dens or other underground homes and travel back to their breeding and hunting sites. Most of the time, these sites are wetlands, swamps, ponds or other areas with slow-moving water. Often, this journey involves crossing some of [...]

Our forests are finely attuned to seasonal changes in weather. Cold damage, like fire damage, is a natural disturbance that strongly affects ecosystems. Ice storms may break the branches of trees or cause them to fall completely. Winter rains soften the ground so that tree roots loosen their grip, ice weighs heavily upon their upper [...]