Category Archives: Nature Notes

Monitoring the Monarch Situation

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Rosemary

A Quick Guide to MonarchsThe Case of the Missing Monarchs, which we reported on last summer, continues. For the second year in a row, observers are noting very few of these beloved bright orange fixtures of summer.

Their absence brings up a lot of questions, many of which cannot yet be answered conclusively. What we do know:

  • Monarch wintering habitat in the mountain forests of central Mexico has been greatly depleted in recent decades.
  • Because monarchs travel over such a wide area, they’re vulnerable to environmental change all along their route.

Stay Informed

There are many great resources closely monitoring the monarch situation including:

  • The Monarch Joint Venture, a partnership of federal and state agencies, non-governmental agencies, and academic programs.
  • The Xerces Society,  a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat.
  • And, locally, the Massachusetts Butterfly Club, a chapter of the North American Butterfly Association.

Spread the Word

The more people that know about the monarch’s plight the better. Share our Quick Guide to Monarchs, which explains how to identify a monarch (versus its lookalike, the viceroy) as well as other useful information.

Four Reasons to Appreciate Snakes

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Rosemary

Eastern hognose snake

The 14 species of snakes in Massachusetts don’t get enough love and appreciation. So, in honor of World Snake Day on July 16, we thought we’d share just a few reasons that we should celebrate their presence.

1. Snakes eat garden pests

Consider yourself lucky if you have DeKay’s brownsnakes in your yard. These small, shy creatures eat slugs and snails. Other species help keep populations of mice and other small mammals in check. Northern water snakes will even eat leeches in ponds.

2. They come in an incredible variety of colors

In Massachusetts, you’ll find snakes with scales in a rainbow of hues, from grass green to bright red to jet black. Ringneck snakes are some of our most stunning, with bright orange-yellow “collars” and underbellies.

3. They have some fascinating behaviors

Eastern worm snakes are tiny and smooth, and look much like earthworms. In fact, earthworms are their main prey, and they spend most of their time burrowing underground. Eastern hognose snakes are harmless, but they put on an incredible display when startled: their necks flare out so that they look like cobras, and if that fails, they’ll roll over and play dead.

4. Some of them are in trouble

Three of our snakes are on the state’s endangered species list, and one is listed as threatened. Poaching and habitat loss are two serious threats. If we appreciate and respect snakes, we can keep these helpful creatures around.

To read about all of these species of snakes and more, visit the Snake section on our website.