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Just Our Nature - news, updates and insights
Wrangling Today, Protecting Tomorrow
By Lydia Dwyer on
Blog: Just Our NatureThe Canadian goose population began to decline in the 1970s due to increased harvesting. However, long-term efforts from our dedicated local Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are successfully reversing the decline.
In late June each year, the DEC invites community members of all ages to help with the sexing, tagging, and of course, wrangling of Canadian geese at several Wildlife…
A North Country Turtle in Trouble
By Glenn Johnson on
Blog: Just Our NaturePerhaps due to their iconic shells, great longevity, and slow movements, turtles form an assemblage of about 320 species that are instantly recognized and often loved, by nearly everyone. However, according to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, turtles as a group are declining worldwide, faster than nearly every other vertebrate group. Threats include widespread…
Fish Forestry
By Paul J. Hetzler on
Blog: Just Our NatureAs many anglers know, trees and trout are closely related. Not in a family sense, of course. And not like the way in which tomatoes and fish were briefly married in a 1996 experiment at Oakland, California-based DNA Plant Technology in an attempt to get a frost-tolerant tomato (or possibly a saucy fish). If it weren’t for tree cover, cold-water fish species would not survive in most of the…
Nature Up North 2020 Calendar Photo Contest
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our NatureIt's midsummer, and that means it's time for our annual call for submissions for the Nature Up North 2020 Calendar!
Over the years, members of the community have shared thousands of photos, observations, and stories with us online at www.natureupnorth.org/encounters. Each year in September, we select our favorite photos from the previous 12 months to highlight in our annual Nature…
Registration Open! Teacher Workshop, July 30-31
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: In the SchoolsThis workshop has passed. To learn about upcoming workshops or to inquire about working with Nature Up North as an educator, please contact us at info@natureupnorth.org. Visit www.natureupnorth.org/educator-resources to explore our teacher resources.
Are you a St. Lawrence County teacher interested in incorporating more nature-based learning into your lessons? Do you want to increase…
Meet our Summer 2019 Naturalist Interns!
By Emlyn Crocker on
Blog: Just Our NatureNature Up North is pleased to introduce our 4 summer naturalist interns, Emily, Val, Grace and Lydia. We are thrilled to have them working with us this summer to bring more public events, citizen science, and outdoor fun to the North Country community. Read below to learn more about each of them and to hear what they've been getting up to so far!
Photos: Emily Gerber (left),…
Controlling Lily Leaf Beetle – Part I
By Paul Siskind on
Blog: Just Our NatureGardeners throughout the northern United States are likely familiar with the Lily Leaf Beetle (Lilioceris lilii), a non-native invasive insect that can quickly decimate lilies in gardens. However, the beetle also has potential to extirpate populations of native lilies. In North America, native lilies tend to grow in small, low-density populations. Native lilies alone offer the…
Large Predators: Who Lives in Northern New York and Who Once Did?
By Abrianna Schlickenmayer on
Blog: Just Our NatureWhat comes to mind when you think of a large predator? Maybe a powerful lion? Or a burly bear? Did you know that the Adirondacks and all of New York State were once home to a variety of top predators, including cougars, wolves, wolverines, lynx and black bears? Out of these five species, only one is still present here today… maybe you’ve seen it. That’s right, the only remaining top predator in…
Spring Fairy House Clues
By Thimble & Blossom on
Blog: Ask a FairyCome visit our fairy homes! Each spring we migrate through the North Country on our way home for the summer. We live in the woods, where we spend our days bonding with birds, talking with trees, buzzing with bugs, and getting friendly with fungi. As you might guess, we've become expert naturalists. At any time between now and May 13th, find our homes using the clues…
Wild Eats: Spring Foraging Fling
By Isabella de Buy Wenniger on
Blog: Farmed and ForagedOne of the best parts of spring is seeing the first shoots of green poking out of the ground, replacing the gray and brown of winter with bursts of color. The first plants to sprout not only lift our spirits and remind us of the summer warmth and color soon to come, but can add flavor and nutrients to spring meals. Known as spring tonics, commonly found early spring edible plants in the…