ecoEXPLORE

What semi-aquatic mammal left behind the teeth marks in this observation highlight from ecoEXPLORE user ehhon12?

The largest native rodent in the United States – the American Beaver! 🦫

Did you know you can submit photos of mammal evidence – tracks, s**t (p**p), fur, nests, teeth or claw marks – to earn both the Mammalogy Field Season Badge AND the Mammal Signs Field Focus Badge? 🐾💩🪹

If you are having trouble spotting mammals in the wild, you may want to use mammal evidence, or signs, for your Mammalogy Badge, which closes Jan. 2

As long as you start the Mammal Signs Badge by Jan. 2, you will have all year to work on it!

What mammal signs have you observed during Mammalogy Season? 👀

Thanks to ecoEXPLORER oliviarose for the first observation highlight of Mammalogy Season!

Just a few decades ago you would not be able to photograph elk in North Carolina. Thanks to reintroduction and conservation efforts, you can once again see them in the wild.

Before European settlers arrived, the Eastern elk (cervus elaphus canadensis) roamed throughout the eastern United States. Overhunting and habitat loss led to rapid population declines. By 1800, the Eastern elk had disappeared from North Carolina and would soon be gone from their range entirely. Eastern elk are now considered extinct.

In 2001-2002, the National Park Service determined that Western North Carolina could provide suitable habitat and released 52 elk in the Cataloochee area of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This population of elk all originally came from Elk Island National Park in Canada and are the Manitoban subspecies (cervus elaphus manitobensis).

Since then, the population has grown and expanded its range to Haywood, Jackson, and Swain Counties. The NC Wildlife Resources Commission estimates there are between 150 – 200 elk living in North Carolina on federal, public, private, and tribal land.

Have you ever seen elk in North Carolina? What other mammals have you observed during Mammalogy Season?

Need help FINDING furry friends this Mammalogy Season?? 🦊🐻🐺
Try using a TRAIL CAMERA to capture photos of sneaky nightime critters 📷🌳
You can also search for MAMMAL SIGNS like tracks and s**t using a handy ID guide🐾

Both are ecoEXPLORE prizes ON SALE now during Mammalogy Field Season! Order yours at www.ecoEXPLORE.net/prizes. Not enough points for your own trail camera? Don't worry! You can borrow one for FREE from any of the more than 70 ecoEXPLORE LoanSpots across North Carolina!

Welcome to Mammalogy Field Season! Warm up those paws, and dust off that fur! For the next two months we're digging into the mind-blowing world of Mammals! 🐰🦇🐺🐻

Today is the FINAL DAY of Arachnology Season with ecoEXPLORE! ✨🕷🦂✨

Make sure to submit all your observations and challenges by tonight to earn your very own Arachnology Badge! Also, if you submit at least ONE observation or challenge for your Climate Badge, that award will stay open on your ecoEXPLORE dashboard until September 1st, 2024. Don't get caught in a web! Go out and EXPLORE!! 🕸

Only 5 DAYS left to finish your Arachnology Badge and start your Climate Badge. So get out there and EXPLORE!!

Who is this awesome arachnid??? 👀

-Named for the six spine-like projections on its abdomen 6️⃣

-Creates intricate, wheel-shaped orb webs to capture flying insects 🕸

-Showcases vibrant colors, with striking red, yellow, or white bands and spots 🎨

-Typically measures only a few millimeters in size 🤏

It’s a spinybacked orbweaver! ✔

Thanks to ecoEXPLORER wildcat for this intriguing observation. 👏

Don’t forget - Arachnology Field Season ends on Oct. 31! Be sure to submit at least 6 observations by Halloween to earn your Arachnology Badge. 🕷

UPDATE!! Our website is back online! Login now to upload observations and continue work on your Arachnology Badge: https://www.ecoexplore.net/
Thanks so much for your patience ecoEXPLORERS! 🕷

Who is this clever, camouflaged, crab-like creature??? 👀

It’s a white-banded crab spider! ✔

These spiders do not build webs and instead wait patiently on flowers to catch pollinators. Their name comes from a white ridge below their bottom row of eyes and the way they move sideways while holding their front legs upward, like crabs. 🦀

As shown in this excellent observation from ecoEXPLORER pennynaturegirl, females can change color between white and yellow to blend in with their surroundings.

Have you observed any examples of camouflage during Arachnology Season? 🕷

The earth's climate is BIG system, but YOU can help scientists study it by observing small changes in living things, like when flowers bloom, and animals migrate. You can also make an important difference by sharing photographs of clouds with the GLOBE Observer App! Learn how to do all this (and more) and earn your Climate Badge with ecoEXPLORE! 🌎

https://www.ecoexplore.net/dashboard/badges/climate

NASA GLOBE Observer

Amazing ARACHNID Highlight from the Burke County Public Libraries, an ecoEXPLORE LoanSpot!!! Check out their great displays (and discovery backpacks) if you're in the neighborhood for some spidery learning and exploration!!! 🔍🕷🔍

Have the kids in your life tried out the ecoEXPLORE program yet? It's Arachnology season!

Who knew spiders could be so cute? With their great big eyes and fuzzy faces, regal jumping spiders might just be the cutest arachnids around. These little guys can be found all throughout the southeastern United States and are the largest species of jumping spider in eastern North America. Unlike many other spiders, jumping spiders don't spin webs for the purpose of catching insects, but instead use their silk to create a hammock-like structure that they live in. These arachnids use their exceptional eyesight to hunt and pounce on their prey, earning them the name "jumping spiders".

>>Arachnology is the study of spiders, scorpions, ticks and other arthropods with 8 legs, 2 body segments and a hard exoskeleton. Arachnids are found all over the world and have been around for over 500 million years!

>>Stop by any of our three library locations, and grab the ecoEXPLORE Arachnology hand outs. Complete the worksheets, and either post a photo of your completed worksheets to www.ecoexplore.net, or bring your completed worksheets by one of our libraries (Morganton, Valdese, or C.B. Hildebrand) for an awesome ecoEXPLORE related prize. Become a citizen scientist today!

Did you know that ticks are arachnids, too? Look carefully at this awesome observation from ecoEXPLORER trent to identify some arachnid characteristics:

8 legs ✔
2 body segments ✔
no wings ✔
no antennae ✔

This American Dog Tick is a type of small arachnid you might encounter if you're playing outside, especially if you have a dog. 🐕

You can recognize American Dog Ticks by their reddish-brown color and a white or creamy patch near their head, which looks like a little shield.

These ticks can sometimes make dogs or people sick by spreading diseases, so it's important to check yourself for ticks after spending time outdoors.

How do you stay safe around ticks and other arachnids?

Let’s grow together…The TREES BADGE is back September 20 - 30!! 🌲🌳🌲

To celebrate our collaboration The GLOBE Program, ecoEXPLORE is reopening the Trees Badge. 🌳🌲🌳

Visit your ecoEXPLORE dashboard to start your Trees Badge by September 30 and join our FREE Virtual Program with a NASA scientist TODAY!
https://www.ecoexplore.net/dashboard
https://www.ecoexplore.net/events/virtual:-nasa-moon-trees-quest

Can you identify the amazing arachnid in this observation from ecoEXPLORE user corameadow? 👀

Hints:

-bright yellow abdomen
-super long legs
-intricate orb-shaped web

It’s a golden silk spider! ✔

As their name suggests, these spiders produce golden-colored silk to construct their webs. The silk is incredibly strong and durable and has unique properties that make it resistant to damage from rain and UV radiation. Golden silk spiders can produce huge webs that span several feet in diameter!

Despite their large size and imposing appearance, golden silk spiders are generally harmless to humans. In fact, they play a vital role in the ecosystem by controlling insect populations! 🕸

What spiders have you observed so far during Arachnology Season? 🕷

Raise eight legs for the BRAND NEW prize ON SALE for Arachnology Season! This handy guide to spiders and their relatives has full-color illustrations and fun facts to help you learn about and identify arachnids. Order by the end of October for a 50% point discount at www.ecoexplore.net/prizes 🕸🕷🕸
20 points: Golden Guide: Spiders and Their Kin

It’s time to celebrate the amazing world of ARACHNIDS with ecoEXPLORE!!! 🕷🦂🕸

From camouflaged Crab Spiders and opulent Orbweavers, to tiny ticks, mites, and even “Daddy-Long-Legs”. These 8-legged creepy crawlies are easily confused with insects (and often feared by people) but are unique and important animals in ecosystems.

This September and October, YOU can help scientists learn about these dazzling friends by submitting photos wild of spiders and arachnids from anywhere! Learn more about how kids (aged 5-13) can discover nature and join our statewide science community while earning badges and prizes with ecoEXPLORE this Field Season!

Today is the FINAL DAY of Entomology Season with ecoEXPLORE! ✨🐛🦋✨

Make sure to submit all your insect observations and challenges by tonight to earn your very own Entomology Badge! Also, if you submit at least ONE observation or challenge for your Moth Badge, that award will stay open on your ecoEXPLORE dashboard until July 1st, 2024. So what are you waiting for? Get busy and EXPLORE!! 🐝🐝🐝

So excited to bring nature learning to libraries across NC with ecoEXPLORE!! 🐛🐞🦋