A temperate forest has a vertical structure of five main layers.
The temperate forest layers are different levels of plants that live at different heights within the forest itself. There are five main layers of the temperate forest, including the canopy or tree layer and the shrub layer. Continue reading
I love this bright arrowleaf balsamroot flower:)
Arrowleaf balsamroot is one of the flowers I love to see in the springtime. Here are 7 facts about this spring bloomer in the Rocky Mountains that you may not know. Continue reading
Have you ever seen a vole? Maybe you thought it was a mouse?
I hope that these 7 vole facts will teach you something new about these little mammals. Honestly though, do you even know what this common mammal found throughout the Rocky Mountains and world is?
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I wonder what animal this came from? Photo via Flickr.
Do you know how to identify animal scat? Here are 3 tips to help you figure out what kind of animal that scat you found while hiking may have come from. Continue reading
Look at those front claws that are great for digging.
These mole facts are sure to teach you a few things about moles that you didn’t know. Here are 8 fun facts about these small, burrowing mammals that live throughout the Rocky Mountains. Continue reading
Now that you have poison ivy, how do you treat it? Photo via Flickr.
Poison ivy treatment begins right after you think you may have rubbed up against the plant by washing off the area. Here are some other things you can try to help ease the pain and itching. Continue reading
Many, but not all animals give birth in spring. Growing up I thought that spring was when baby animals were born, but now I know that is not true for all animals. Continue reading
Look at those wings…cool.
Here are 5 dragonfly facts that will reveal to you how truly special these flying invertebrates (insects) are. This common bug of the Rocky Mountains possesses some unique skills.
I love seeing dragonflies flying around whenever I am up in the mountains. Sometimes I see them skimming along the shoreline as I am at a lake fishing or skipping rocks. Other times I notice them in unusual places that are far from water. I find them mesmerizing as they zoom around through the air. I hope that after you read these facts you will truly appreciate what special flyers they are.
5 Dragonfly FactsThis is an aquatic insect similar to a mayfly or caddisfly. This means that it lives part of its life underwater as a nymph or larva and then part of its life as a winged insect. Just to remind you – this happens because it undergoes metamorphosis.
The number one, coolest thing about a dragonfly has to be how it flies. This winged insect has two sets of wings that can operate independently of each other. This structure means that it can fly in any direction it chooses. It can fly forwards, backwards, up, down, or any which way! It is able to stop and change direction in midair.
This bug not only looks cool, but it is a tremendous predator. When you see a dragonfly flying all around the air it is doing that for a reason. It is looking for and eating food. It catches and eats other bugs while flying in the air. They eat a lot of mosquitoes, black flies, and other small insects.
Look at those giant compound eyes.
Dragonflies have compound eyes. These eyes help them to see and pick up motion, which is important for them since they are trying to catch and eat flying insects. In fact, dragonflies compound eyes are huge for their head and are made up of an enormous number of ‘tiny eyes’.
Interesting fact – dragonflies make up one of two major groups within the order of dragonflies within the class of insects. The other major group within this order is damselflies. They look very similar, but are different. You can read this other post to remind you about how life is ordered to clarify the class, and order.
A Clark’s Nutcracker has a great memory.
One of the birds with possibly the best memory is a common bird found in the Rocky Mountains – the Clark’s Nutcracker. This unassuming bird can often be seen around campgrounds and has an incredible memory. Continue reading
It is spring time, which means that tree buds are beginning to open up and leaves are growing. Here are 4 facts about those buds on the trees that have in fact been there all winter long. Continue reading