Here at Howell Nature Center, our mission is that through mutual love and respect, we teach people to be faithful caretakers of one another and the world around us. With 230 acres, we offer numerous programs so you can find the activity that best suits you and your family to once again connect to nature.
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Patient of the week🐾
This little cutie came to us in need of help. Can you guess what species this is?
Check back later for the answer and for some fun facts about the species!
Update: answer and info in the comments. So many good guesses!
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Update: it's a young muskrat! This little one is suffering from a skin condition that has caused fur loss. As semi-aquatic rodents, these guys rely on their fur to keep them warm and help them float, so it is critical that the fur grows back. Muskrats are an important part of their ecosystem. Found in marshes and other wetland areas, they consume a lot of vegetation, which helps keep waterways open for other animals to use and opens up space for a variety of plants to grow. These openings also allow light into the water, which benefits plankton and in turn small fish and aquatic invertebrates. Without muskrats in these areas, the marshes may completely fill in with only one or two types of vegetation, decreasing plant diversity and becoming unusable habitats for many animals. They are also a prey species, so they play an important role in the food web.
Muskrat with mange?
Based on the tail I’m going to say muskrat. When is later? Because we need an answer 😂
Help needed for our wildlife habitats! 🐢🌿
We are so excited to have new habitats, thanks to generous donors, for our non-releasable woodchucks and snapping turtle! These animals would not be able to survive in the wild, so they live with us permanently to help us teach people about wildlife and living in harmony with wildlife. In this way, they serve as ambassadors for their species to help make the world safer for their wild counterparts. We strive to create naturalistic habitats that promote natural behaviors to help our ambassadors live their best lives.
We are looking for the following items to complete their habitats:
-24 inch diameter drainage culvert (example in comments)
-Sod (only a few pieces are needed for the turtle habitat, but the more the merrier!)
-Uncoated perennial grass seed
-Native, edible plants (we can help with a specific list, we need to make sure they are safe for the critters)
If you can help with in-kind or monetary donations to support these needs, please reach out to us at laurab@howellnaturecenter.org.
#wildlifeconservation #animalambassador #supportwildlife #habitathelp #HowellNatureCenter #wildliferescue #naturelovers #wildlifeeducation #donatetowildlife #savewildlife #helpanimals #wildlifesupport #natureconservation #communitysupport
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Tiffany Thomas Gravier, Diane Duncan, Ed Bock Feeds & Stuff, Elizabeth Boyatt, Jenifer Burke Thomas we just posted our list in the comments since multiple people have been asking. Thank you for your consideration! ☺
Thank you so much to those interested in supporting us with native plants! As requested, here is the list: Allegheny serviceberry (Amelanchier laevis) Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) Sumac: Fragrant (Rhus aromatica), Smooth (Rhus glarbra), or Staghorn (Rhus typhina) Viburnum: Mapleleaf (Viburnum acerifolium), Witherod (Viburnum cassinoides), Arrowhead (Viburnum dentatum), Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), or Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago) Dogwood: Red twig (Cornus sericea), Silky (Cornus amomum), or Gray (Cornus racemose) Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) Spirea: Steeplebush (Spirea tomentosa) or Willowleaf (Spirea alba) Shrubby cinquefoil (Dasiphora fructicosa) Alumroot aka Coral Bells (Heuchera americana) Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) Ox-eye sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) Broadleaf cattail (Typha latifolia) Riverbank grape (Vitis riparia) Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica) Plantain leaved sedge (Carex plantaginia) Little bluestem grass (Schizachyrium scparium) Indian grass (Sorghastrum nuntas) Maidenhair fern (Adiantum pedatum) Marginal wood fern (Dryopteris marginalis) Ostrich fern (Matteuccia pennsyvanica)
What is list of native edible plants. Would like to donate
Walk along with us as we feed our Ambassador animals. A perfect time to visit.
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Does this take place inside or outside? It may rain so we are trying to plan accordingly.
