Category: Conservation

Close-up of the newly-emerged leaves and flowers on a Douglas Maple.

Curious About … Going Native In Your Yard?

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Using native plants as home landscaping gardens can result in easy-care, beautiful displays that support native pollinators and use little water. Continue Reading →

Newly grown needles on Western Larch

Curious About … Western Larch Green-Up?

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Washington’s only native deciduous conifer is western larch. Each spring, new needles grow. “Gus” is the champion tree, largest of its species, growing near Seely Lake, Montana Continue Reading →

This adult Western Skink has a dull colored tail compared to the bright blue tails younger individuals have. The reason the tail is dull is to make their tail less distracting as the importance of the tail as an energy storage system increases.

Curious About … Western Skink?

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Western Skink are common lizards in North Central Washington. These active little lizards are often characterized by their vibrantly colored blue tail, but this beautiful coloration is partly temporary and fades with age Continue Reading →

Curious About … Northern Flickers?

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Northern Flickers are common across North America and using drumming and calling during the breeding season to communicate with mates. Continue Reading →

Biological soil with newly sprouted annual wildflower seeds

Curious About … Biological Soil Crust?

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biological soil crust is an essential element of healthy soil. A mix of moss, lichen, and blue-green algae form a thin cohesive layer providing nutrients and water to sprouting seeds. Continue Reading →

A curious 4th grade student studying mountain goat fur

Traveling Naturalist Program Launched!

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Volunteers needed for the Wenatchee River Institute’s Classroom Traveling Naturalist Program. This program serves 4th grade classrooms with high numbers of low-income and minority students across North Central Washington. Curriculum is focused on structure and function in the natural world and occurs in classrooms and on school grounds. Volunteers will work alongside trained instructors. Continue Reading →

A page of Joan Steichen's "My Friends At the Horan."

Wenatchee Naturalist Stories: Chapter 20

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The final group of talented members of the 2019 Wenatchee Naturalist class are all musicians, and their class projects used lyrics, rhythm, and melody to depict new insights about the Wenatchee Watershed. Continue Reading →