If you’ve ever hiked the Trillium Trail here at the WNC Nature Center, you probably found it to be a pleasant hike full of bends and curves through the forest. An endearing aspect of the trail is that, though it is only 2/3 of a mile long, it feels as if you have wound deep into the forest because you cannot see very far ahead of you. Each turn affords a new look – the new...
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Jan
23
2012
Dec
31
2011
When a cougar pounces, it uses its powerful hindquarters and long tail to bound up to the length of a school bus. White-tailed deer are capable of leaping five and six foot fences from a virtual stand still. Frog skeletons and muscles have been specially designed to make them the best jumpers of all vertebrates.
Sometimes it seems our days and weeks and months move in the same manner. I...
Apr
8
2011
If you are a veteran visitor to the WNC Nature Center you may remember Dan Lazar. Dan has had quite a history with the Friends and the WNC Nature Center itself. Most recently, in 2006 and 2007, Dan was the President of the Board of Directors for the Friends, but his relationship with the Nature Center began...
Good news! After several months of being off exhibit, the red wolves are finally back in the Red Wolf Run. Throughout the winter the red wolves, Rufus, Angel & Mayo, have been kept behind the scenes while Nature Center staff & volunteers planted new trees and improved the exhibit’s fencing. But now they’re back and once again ready for the spotlight. ...
Mar
25
2011
This week we’re changing the pace a little bit and releasing a new series, “Inside the Board Studio!” During this series we will be exploring the inner workings of the Friends of the WNC Nature Center through the eyes of our dedicated Board of Directors. This week we are spotlighting our esteemed Board Vice President, Robert Pierce, but you can just call him Bob...
Mar
17
2011
It's that time again! "Time to watch the Otters play?" "To check out the rough green snake?" No, neither of those. Instead, it's time for another episode of "Inside the Staff Studio!" And the subject of today's episode is… (dramatic pause as Ian spins a wheel with the names of the WNC Nature Center staff)…...
TAGS:
Education History Staff Stories Youth
Feb
24
2011
Last week we explored the sharp mountains of the Sierra Nevada and their stark beauty that is so different from the rolling peaks of our native Blue Ridge Mountains. Despite all of this wild, crisp beauty that I was surrounded by, perhaps the highlight of my trip to Reno, NV was indoors. No, it wasn't in a casino, but in the...
Many visitors have recently asked if we used to have a cougar. The answer is yes. Her name was Val, and she lived at the Nature Center for basically her entire life. She was born 6/1/90 and became a resident at the Center on 7/21/90. Val had been housed illegally as a pet and was confiscated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and donated to the Nature Center as a kitten. She lived a...
TAGS:
Animal Stories Cougars History