Blog posts

2025

The Life of a Gartersnake

4 minute read

Published:

Reptile species such as the Plains gartersnake (Thamnophis radix) live quietly among us. From suburban backyards to university campuses, these adaptable snakes offer unique insights into how wildlife is responding to ongoing environmental change.

2024

Endlings and Beginnings

5 minute read

Published:

On this day in 2016, the world quietly lost a species. “Toughie,” the last known Rabb’s Fringe-limbed Leaf Frog (Ecnomiohyla rabborum), passed away in captivity, marking the extinction of his kind.

Cicada Super Emergence

2 minute read

Published:

A mass emergence of cicadas is occurring across the Midwest. What can we learn from these insects?

Pitvipers in Peril

9 minute read

Published:

Despite their fearsome reputation, numerous rattlesnake species are in decline throughout the United States. Why should we care?