NASA, NOAA To Discuss Solar Cycle Prediction During Media Teleconference

This is Michigan in the summer. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - Chapel Rock and Chapel Beach [OC] [3946 x 7018]. - Author: whitewaterfanatic on reddit

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: WILDLIFE REHABBERS ROCK! This nestling hawk was found on the ground at my work, we scooped him/her up, and got him to a rehabber in about an hour. The dedication to wild critters is remarkable, and it’s pretty impressive how people make themselves immediately available for the sake of animals.

Learn about Florida Box Turtles and rehabilitation of wildlife at the Sawgrass Nature Center!

These beautiful works of art are made from discarded flip-flops

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There isn’t a slow season for Nature Centers and Wildlife Hospitals. There is only busy and busier season. Raccoons, squirrels, and opossums are some of the native wildlife in Florida that are most affected by growth in human population and urban expansion. Every time a new building goes up, their homes are disrupted. Every time a new highway is opened, they are the ones that sustain the most injuries. In a normal day, we see a lot of injuries. During baby season, we get many more abandoned babies. 

Injured, sick, or abandoned raccoons legally require the care of a wildlife professional. So if you see one, it is not in their best interest to be raised in your home. The best option is to bring them to a local Wildlife Hospital and Nature Center. 

If you want to learn more about how the SNC takes care of the native wildlife that gets brought to us, or donate to help us keep up with costs of animal care, check out our website here: https://sawgrassnaturecenter.org/

natgeotravel

Video by @bertiegregory | A harp seal pup takes a swimming lesson with its mother in the Gulf of St Lawrence, Quebec, Canada. This species has an extraordinary breeding cycle. Females give birth to pups on moving ice floes. They suckle the pup for just 10 to 14 days. During the last few days of this short period, they encourage the pup into the water to help them learn to swim. After the swimming lessons, they abandon the pup. The females then mate with the males who have been waiting nearby before heading north to their feeding grounds. The pups at two weeks old are left alone with nothing to eat.

Our resident Barred Owl did an impressive display today of how owls can turn their heads up to 270 degrees. This is due to a special adaptation on their vertebrae. 

Barred Owls are native to Florida, but this one cannot be released back into the wild due to a permanent injury. He would not be able to survive in the wild on his own. Instead, he now has a happy home with dedicated care takers and sometimes makes himself visible to the public as an educational ambassador. 

“Barred Owls are easiest to find when they are active at night—they’re a lot easier to hear than to see. Visit forests near water (big bottomland forest along a river is prime Barred Owl habitat) and listen carefully, paying attention for the species’ barking “Who cooks for you?” call.” - The Cornell Lab https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Barred_Owl/overview

Good luck to everyone participating in November’s writing challenge! The SNC’s own Environmental Educator will also be participating and wanted to share some tips for this month: 

1. Don’t be afraid to jump segments. Write where you can and jump to the next scene that excites you if you feel like you’re running out of steam. It’ll be easier to go back and connect the pieces later. 

2. Pick a buddy. Have someone else holding you accountable. Send each other the updates to your WIP at the end of the day just to share with someone your word count accomplishments. 

3. Have a mini reward system. For every X amount of words you finish you can give yourself a piece of your favorite Halloween candy. Or make a cup of tea. Or give your S/O a snuggle. 

Our turtles are wondering where the sun is today

Alligator chomping on World Animal Day