Naturalists Notebook Archives | Page 2 of 11

Saving the Tiny Bog Turtle Could Have a Big Impact on Conservation

By Contributing Writers | April 25, 2023 |

a dark bog turtle with yellow markings on its neck

A petition to protect southern bog turtles under the Endangered Species Act could also help protect their mountain bog homes. But with diminishing habitat and other threats, time could run out for North America’s smallest turtles.

Northern Long-Eared Bats Added to Endangered Species List

By AV's Intern Team | February 23, 2023 |

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently classified northern long-eared bats as endangered, which could help save the species most impacted by the deadly fungal disease known as white-nose syndrome.

Native Plant Rescue Squad Aims to Boost the Biodiversity of Tennessee Neighborhoods

By Contributing Writers | August 25, 2022 |

three smiling people and a dog in a greenhouse

By saving native plants from destruction and helping these plants find new homes, the Native Plant Rescue Squad is “helping reconnect people to themselves through the natural world.”

Chubs: A key species and a mystery

By Contributing Writers | August 23, 2022 |

A gray and green fish carries a stone in its moth, surrounded by smaller red fish

Snorkelers helped to uncover a population of river chubs in an unusual location.

Lions and Trails and Foragers, Oh My!

By AV's Intern Team | May 24, 2022 |

Wild dandelions with bright yellow disk-like petals. Photo courtesy of Ila Hatter.

Dandelions are complex, nutrient-rich plants with a distinct appearance that makes them ideal for novice foragers.

Surviving Winter as a Salamander in Appalachia

By Contributing Writers | February 22, 2022 |

A green salamander peeks its head outside its rocky winter retreat.

What do salamanders do when the air turns frigid? UVA-Wise professor Walter Smith has been observing a particular green salamander for 8 years, and shares some of the species’ survival strategies.

Ticks: Get to Know Them, and Then Avoid Them

By AV's Intern Team | August 13, 2021 |

Climate change has led to an increase in the population and range of these tiny, disease-spreading bloodsuckers.

Purple Martins: The Neighbors We Didn’t Know We Wanted

By AV's Intern Team | July 14, 2021 |

The migratory purple martin is almost entirely dependent on human-made housing while it lives in Eastern North America during the warmer months.

The Tale of Gray’s Lily

By Contributing Writers | June 26, 2021 |

close-up photo of a single Gray's lily flower, with red petals speckled inside

Two enthusiastic botanists tracking the rare Gray’s lily at Tater Hill Plant Preserve in North Carolina help the writer search for signs of the elusive flower at a nearby parcel of land.