While a lot of tick bites will not cause much trouble, some ticks can pass on bacteria that can make you very sick. Two of the most well-known diseases are Lyme (caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and B. mayonii), and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (caused by Rickettsia rickettsii). Other tick diseases found in the Mid-Atlantic region include: anaplasmosis, B. miyamotoi disease, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, Powassan virus disease and R. parkeri rickettsiosis. Depe...
Our area is hosting one of the great spectacles of nature…the return of “Brood X”, the cicadas. It’s a phenomenon that, depending on the species, only occurs every 13-17 years, but, for most, is memorable. Do you remember their last appearance in 2004? Magicicada, the genus including seven species of periodical cicadas, emerge from the ground after spending 12-16 years as juveniles sucking nutrients from tree roots and growing from the size of a small ant...
People may wonder if the emergence of the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19 in humans, has any relation to climate change.
There doesn't seem to be any direct evidence of this in the current pandemic. But there do appear to be links in circumstances.
In an April 15, 2020 article in the Washington Post, writer Sarah Kaplan notes, "Climate change is frequently described as a threat multiplier, something that exacerbates existing prob...
I have been struggling for weeks, trying to think of something to write about for this newsletter that is not about the pandemic. Every single thing that we do now is affected by this virus. But it is spring, going into summer, and during this time there are many factors that influence our native wildlife. You may have seen or heard of these things before, so consider this a refresher course on how to preserve and protect these precious gifts from nature....
A June 5, 2020 article in Scientific American focused on the first annual Black Birders Week. Associate Editor, Andrea Thompson, interviewed the three co-founders who started this as an educational counterpoint to the recent racial incident in Central Park.
The three are all young and full of joy and enthusiasm for birds, the environment and wildlife. Corina Newsome is a birder and graduate student focusing on avian conservation at Georgia Southern Uni...
We began the New Year (some say the next decade, but that is a debate for another day) by facing a looming global pandemic. Panic set in and hoarding of cleaning supplies and groceries ensued. During the final weeks of winter and the start of the season often characterized as a time of rebirth and renewal, our economy nearly collapsed, unemployment skyrocketed, the country went on lockdown, and a staggering number of human lives were...
By: Paige Goodstein
Thousands of people let their indoor cats freely roam the great outdoors. However, letting your cat outside for some fresh air could have grave impacts on both the environment and your feline. It is important for all cat owners to know these impacts, and what you can do to help.
Wildlife Mortality
Cats are natural predators. Therefore, instinctively, they prey on other animals. According to studies, the mortality rate of
It’s the time that raccoons and herons wait all year for! Of course, we’re talking about backyard ponds opening back up! As ponds thaw out from winter and the fish become more active again, it’s prime time for birds and raccoons to take the opportunity to go fishing. While we want to respect these animals from a distance, we also want to make sure our ponds remain a safe place for the fish.
If you realize fish are disappearing from your pond, you may ha...
Freedom Center for Wildlife volunteer Allison McClure recently published an article in The Huffington Post titled, "Counting Birds: Over a Century of Citizen Science." The article highlights three important projects, including the Christmas Bird Count, Project FeederWatch, and the Great Backyard Bird Count, in which tens of thousands of people participate every year.
The combined data from these citizen science projects help researchers understand factors
We always breathe a sigh of relief when fall approaches, and we congratulate ourselves for surviving the spring and summer baby season. However, there really is no “down time” in wildlife rehabilitation. Some local wildlife still think it’s time to have babies, like squirrels, rabbits, and the occasional dove or pigeon. But for the young born in spring, the autumn months test their skills at finding food and shelter, usually the first time without their mo...