By Eric Duran Winter is almost upon us, such as it is in Houston. Though we may not have the long severe cold winters that are common to the North, it does get cold enough here to warrant certain behaviors and lifestyle changes among our native animals. For the most part, fruits, seeds, and insects are less available as a food source, so winter strategies are called for. … [Read more...] about Brrrrrrrrrrilliant! Creatures’ coping strategies for the winter
Wired to Nature
Imagining when big cats, elephant-like creatures roamed the Bellaire-West U prairie
By Eric Duran When I take kids out in the park, or out on large areas of land nearby the Nature Center, I like to tell stories about what the land was like long before we we were here. Before European settlement of the Houston area, prairie dominated the landscape here. It’s not hard to imagine what kinds of "big prairie" animals may have been prowling the landscape in … [Read more...] about Imagining when big cats, elephant-like creatures roamed the Bellaire-West U prairie
Wow! Not Ow! Wasps are wonderful
By ‘Ranger’ I love wasps! Too often, people assume that all wasps are bad because they can sting people — but would the world be worse off without them? Yes, for so many reasons! Many wasps pollinate plants, meaning they carry pollen from one flower to another. Paper wasps do this while they’re busy carrying out other business, while other wasps are the sole pollinators … [Read more...] about Wow! Not Ow! Wasps are wonderful
The beauty and diversity of beetles
By Eric Duran Most of us go through our day never thinking about beetles. Fair enough. If you're a hiker or a gardener though, you do run across them here and there. While most beetles are fairly inconspicuous, some can be quite large, and others can be rather beautiful. Most beetles are easily recognizable by their hard, shiny wing covers, though some may look softer … [Read more...] about The beauty and diversity of beetles
Snake Appreciation 101
By Eric Duran So, I understand that this article may not be for everyone. Snakes are not the most popular animals in the world. Some snakes are dangerous. There's something kind of alien about their long limbless bodies and unblinking eyes. That is actually why I like them. These very different looking creatures lead interesting lives. They are also massively important to … [Read more...] about Snake Appreciation 101