Hootin' in the Holler: Owls of the Blue Ridge
Fauna of the Blue Ridge Annabelle Muriano Fauna of the Blue Ridge Annabelle Muriano

Hootin' in the Holler: Owls of the Blue Ridge

In the Blue Ridge mountains, one silent assassin reigns above all as the king of the night. Can you guess whoooooo?
The owl, of course! Old folklore associations marked owls as creatures of witchcraft and omen, and kinder modern stories characterize them as having great wisdom. 

Either way, the impression they’ve left observant humans with for centuries is one of great cunning. Fitting, as owls are some of the most skilled predators in the Blue Ridge. Keep reading for a primer on our native owls!


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Frozen Frogs: The Wood Frog's Unique Defense Against Winter Conditions
Fauna of the Blue Ridge Neil Fredericksen Fauna of the Blue Ridge Neil Fredericksen

Frozen Frogs: The Wood Frog's Unique Defense Against Winter Conditions

Arctic blast with its sub-freezing temperatures got you worried about all these critters in our lovely Blue Ridge mountains? You shouldn’t be! Many species have adaptations to help them survive winter conditions, but wood frogs have an especially incredible and effective method of surviving freezing temperatures—they freeze solid!

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All it's Clocked Up to Be: Circadian Rhythms

All it's Clocked Up to Be: Circadian Rhythms

Have you noticed that the days are getting shorter? You’re not the only one! We’re a little under two weeks away from the winter solstice, and subtle seasonal shifts like cooler temperatures and shorter days affect plants and animals (including humans!) in significant ways. Keep reading to learn about circadian rhythms and how animal and plant behavior changes throughout the year!

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