Notes from Ney: The Ney Nature Center Blog

At Ney Nature Center, we’re all about growing, learning, and working together to create one-of-a-kind experiences for our community. Every year, we are so excited for the Minnesota Naturalist Association (MNA) Conference—a big event that brings together environmental educators, naturalists, and outdoor lovers from all over Minnesota. It’s a place to learn, connect, and get inspired. Over the years, our staff has been heavily involved, not just attending but also stepping up as Workshop Coordinator, Conference Coordinator, and even President!

The conference is always a treasure trove of knowledge, with sessions led by local experts diving into Minnesota’s biodiversity. Topics range from climate change and wildlife tracking to indigenous knowledge and how to engage diverse audiences. Plus, there are hands-on workshops where you can try out bird banding, nature journaling, and habitat restoration. We always come back with more ideas than we can count for the nature center.

This year’s conference, held November 15-17 at Deep Portage Learning Center in Hackensack, MN, didn’t disappoint. With over 6,300 acres of stunning landscapes—glacial hills, lakes, rivers, and bogs—it was the perfect spot. If you haven’t visited, add it to your list!

Our crew joined more than 130 other outdoor educators for the weekend, soaking up the sense of community and shared passion. Here are some of our favorite sessions:

• Eva: How to do a Raptor Program without Giving Folks the Bird by Brett Sieberer and Pam Welisevich
• Liz: Summer Camp for All: Amazing Parks Adventure Camp by Katie Frías
• Madi: Canids 101: Ecology of Minnesota’s Wild Dogs by Griffin Bray
• Sara: Culturally Responsive Teaching in Nature by Josh Leonard, Amanda Herrera-Gundale, and Oakley Biesanz
• Sam, and Beth: TBD—some folks weren’t in the office when this was written. Sorry, team!

Other highlights? Networking with amazing people, a cozy bonfire sing-along, hiking to the bog to check out beaver dams and carnivorous plants, and spotting so many porcupines.

Spending a weekend surrounded by nature and learning reminds us why we do what we do: to share our love for the outdoors and inspire others to protect it. Huge thanks to the Minnesota Naturalist Association for putting on such a fantastic event. We’re already looking forward to next year!

With the temperature outside slowly going down, bears are getting ready for winter. Not drown or black bears, woolly bears! You may have noticed more of what many refer to as woolly bear caterpillars in the fall, but how much do you really know about these adorable insects?

There are many different types of “woolly bear” caterpillars but the most common one and the one that we’ll be referring to is the banded woolly bear that becomes the isabella tiger moth. The scientific name of these caterpillars/moths is Pyrrharctia isabella. Isabella tiger moths range from southern Canada throughout the United States and into northern Mexico. Tiger Moths are a common species found in Minnesota but are more commonly found in the fall as their larval stage as caterpillars. With black bristles or “setae” on both ends and a ring of reddish brown in the middle, these caterpillars can easily be distinguished from others. 

While it has been said that the colors on a woolly bear caterpillar can be used to predict the winter, no evidence supports this theory. (The amount of black on the ends is more likely related to age.) While they may not help us prepare for the winter ahead, these amazing creatures are more than well-equipped for whatever Minnesota winters can throw at them. The setae that cover the bodies of woolly bears and give them their name are used to detect freezing temperatures. When these low temperatures are detected the caterpillar uses “cryoprotectants” to protect its vital organs. These cryoprotectants work like a natural antifreeze and according to the National Weather Service, can keep woolley bears alive at temperatures as low as -90℉. With this ability, woolly bears are even able to live in the Arctic! 

Winter is not the only challenge for the woolly bear though, many predators are undeterred by the hairs that cover their bodies. Parasitic wasps, mantids, and other insects feed on woolly bears. As an adult, the moth lacks the hairs and colors that prevent some larger predators like birds from eating them. The other dangers of course are habitat loss, climate change, and toxins such as pesticides. 

These moths will go through two life cycles each year, the latter being the generation that must survive the winter. After hibernating, the caterpillar will continue to eat and grow before pupating and creating a cocoon. It takes 1-3 weeks for the adult moth to emerge from the cocoon, find a mate, and lay eggs. As an adult, the female moths use a scent to attract a mate. The males fly in a zig-zag pattern to help detect this scent. Once ready the female will find a place to lay her eggs and the male will search for another mate.  After hatching out of the egg, the small larva (caterpillar) begins eating, growing, and shedding. When ready it will pupate and begin the cycle over again. 

At each life cycle these insects consume different food. As a caterpillar, they eat a variety of leafy plants and foliage. The adults, without the proper mouthparts to chew on plants, drink nectar from flowers. Nectar also has a high sugar content which can help give the moths the energy they need to fly. The eggs and pupal stages, of course, do not eat which makes it essential for the caterpillars to find enough food to give them energy for this transformation. 

While woolly bears are very common to find at this time, there are some lookalikes to keep your eyes out for as well. The caterpillar of the giant leopard moth looks similar to banded woolly bears but is all black. It curls in defense very similar to the woolly bear revealing red bands under its setae. 

This individual was recently found at Ney crawling through some leaf litter and grass:

Alternatively, you may encounter a “yellow bear” of an entirely yellow woolly bear that will become a Virginian tiger moth. No matter what the individual, I always recommend knowing what you are picking up before touching it. Some individuals such as the dagger moth have hairs that can cause stinging or itching. They can be identified by long black tufts that contrast the west of their yellow hairs. It’s important to remember that they don’t want to hurt you and can be observed with just a little space. 

Even though many of our insects have left for the year, we still have time to find some that will be spending the winter here with us. And, If you’d like to help these fuzzy friends stay safe over the winter, wait until next spring to remove the leaves from your yard!

Welcome to the end of Spooky Season!  With all of the Halloween decorations that have bats in them, I thought that this would be a great time to talk about these amazing creatures. While all of the species of bats that live in MN are insectivores, bats are also excellent pollinators and seed dispersers world wide.  Often given a bad reputation in stories, shows, and movies, bats are wonderful members of their biotic community.  Without them, we would have more insects, less fruit, and less flowering plants.

Bats are the most numerous mammals after rodents, composing an estimated 20% of the worldwide mammal population.  They are the only mammals capable of true flight (as opposed to gliding) thanks to highly modified hands.  Bat wings are more flexible than bird wings, allowing them to be very agile fliers.  They live 3.5 times longer than other mammals of similar size and bat sizes cover an impressively wide range.  The smallest bat in the world, Kitti’s Hog-nosed Bat, is about the size and weight of a bumblebee.  The largest bat in the world, the Golden Crowned Flying Fox, weighs 3.5 pounds and has a wingspan of 5’7”.

Bats have one pregnancy a year, usually birthing a single pup.  Birthing is done in a horizontal or head up position so that gravity can assist with the delivery.  The pup can be up to 40% of the mother’s body weight at birth.  The pelvic girdle is attached by a ligament allowing it to expand to accommodate the pup.   Pups are born rear-end first and then are cradled by the mother in her wing and tail membranes.  Some scientists speculate that this prevents the wings getting tangled during birth.

Bat populations are in decline worldwide due to habitat loss and the rise of disease.  Climate change is also affecting bats, with changing temperatures resulting in populations leaving previous ranges to move to more hospitable ones.  Evening Bats, which were previously thought to only live as far north as Illinois, have been found moving steadily north into MN and were found in Ramsey County in 2016. (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mammals/bats.html)

The Big Brown Bat is the most common species of bat found in MN.  They commonly roost in buildings in the Summer and will return to these roosts year after year.  These seasonal roosts are referred to as maternity roosts or maternity sites.  Big Brown Bats are often seen in urban areas roosting in buildings, barns, bridges, bat boxes, and tree cavities.  They are the only bats in MN who can hibernate in buildings, but will also overwinter in caves and mines.  While Big Brown Bats are susceptible to White Nose Syndrome, it has not affected their population as much as other MN bats. White Nose Syndrome has devastated some of our state’s bat populations.

White Nose Syndrome is caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, or Pd for short.  (https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/static-page/what-is-white-nose-syndrome)  This fungus prefers to grow in cold, moist places.  The overwintering sites for many North American bats fit these criteria very well.  When the fungus infects a colony it will grow on the faces and exposed (not furry) parts of the body.  This is very irritating to the bat and results in them coming out of hibernation early as their body temperature rises to fight off the fungus.  The higher body temperature burns off their food reserves that they need to survive the winter.  The bats are often unable to re-enter hibernation and are observed engaging in erratic behavior.  This erratic behavior has led to the name White Nose Syndrome.  For more information on White Nose Syndrome and the fungus that causes it, please visit the White-Nose Syndrome Response Team website at https://www.whitenosesyndrome.org/.  I strongly encourage you to educate yourself on White Nose Syndrome prevention to help protect our bats the next time you visit a cave, mine, or other known roosting site.

I hope that you have enjoyed learning about bats!  While they are tucked away for hibernation now (or they soon will be), these wonderful creatures will grace our skies again in the Spring once the insects return.  Have a great day, and Happy Halloween!

When young visitors explore our education building for the very first time, there is so much for them to look at. Their eyes wander across the various types of taxidermy displayed around the main room, they check in with each of our friendly ambassador animals, and oftentimes, they share surprised reactions to our landfill and recycling display. 

As young learners begin to explore topics related to the environment and climate change, many of them gain an understanding of how our consumption impacts the planet. For many, this board creates a tangible representation of consumption information. Kids easily recognize all of the items on display and are shocked by the number of years it takes each item to decompose. I always enjoy working through these numbers with the kids and coming to the realization of how many lifetimes something exists after we use it for only one moment. 

While the approximated 1,971,000 years in decomposition time for the plastic water bottle is clearly the biggest shock factor, kids understand the ease and benefit of carrying a reusable water bottle with them, especially during hot summer camp days. It tends to be a little bit trickier for them to work through ideas focused on plastic bag usage. Of course, they know the benefits of paper bags or, even better, reusable bags, but putting those options into practice might not be as easy as it seems. We might forget a reusable bag, or not have enough to hold our entire purchase. Or, when shopping online, we might not have the option of choosing sustainable shipping materials. Even with the best intentions, sometimes plastic consumption is unavoidable. 

With that in mind, and with the hope of continuing young learner’s passion to make impactful sustainable choices, we are now participating in a community recycling program through a company called NexTrex. This program encourages participants to collect one thousand pounds of household plastic materials. Once the community has collected and delivered plastic for recycling, NexTrex will turn plastic materials into a well-crafted bench for our park.

The materials that make up this thousand pounds come from plastic bags like the one kids see on our display board. Additionally, any similar stretchy plastic that typically isn’t accepted by curbside recycling companies is accepted in this recycling endeavor. 

Here is what you can do to help support an environmental issue that our young generation is passionate about: 

1. Identify recyclable plastics with your family. We can accept plastic shopping bags, plastic shipping materials like gray bags or bubble wrap, and tissue product wrap. If you would like to recycle food related stretchy plastics such as bread bags, produce bags, or food storage bags, please clean out all food material beforehand.
    
2. Collect these plastics. It is helpful to designate a spot in your house to store collected plastics. Having a spot makes it easier to know what to do with the plastics as we use them, instead of just tossing them in the trash.
    
3. Bring your collected bundle of plastics to Ney. During open weekday office hours, our staff will be happy to take the plastics you have gathered. Our recycling storage bin is located just under the landfill display board.
   
4. Celebrate our new bench when we reach our goal of 1,000 pounds of collected plastics!

With your help, we believe that we can reach our recycling goal. Thank you for supporting our young learners as they gain a better understanding of how they can participate in something they care about.  

The mission of Ney Nature Center is to inspire appreciation and respect for nature, and as we approach 2025 we want to recognize and acknowledge one of the biggest moments in the origin of the nature center, the discovery of the deformed frogs in Ney’s frog pond in 1995. In the 30th year since this discovery, we want to celebrate the origins of this mission and where we are headed in the next 30 years. Curious what we have planned? We will update you on social media and our website as we get closer so don’t forget to follow along! If you’re already excited, consider submitting for our art contest!

What is the story of the deformed frogs? The now-famous Frog Pond, widely recognized as the site of the discovery of deformed frogs in 1995, was originally “just a slough” when European settlers arrived in the mid-1800s. One can only imagine the plethera of wildlife that existed in and around the prairie pothole wetland when small scale farming began here. As agriculture expanded in the early 1900s, the pond was drained to make way for more cropland. Highly productive in drought years, less so in wet cycles, crop production at the site was inconsistent.

Ruby Ney’s vision of letting the land go back to nature was realized when Don Ney, her nephew, had the pond restored in 1989. On a field trip in 1995, Minnesota New Country School (MNCS) students found dozens of deformed leopard frogs that they began to document before sending that information to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Judy Helgen, the MPCA biologist who spearheaded the investigation of the phenomenon, described finding frogs with missing or extra legs in numbers she had never seen before. In her role with the MPCA, Helgen studied wetland health and helped create benchmarks that assess the health of wetlands.

Their documentation of this phenomenon caused the agency to launch a scientific investigation that would continue for several years. In total, over 13,000 frogs were collected across Minnesota as a part of this study. Learn more about Judy Helgen and her work with the frogs and the MPCA here. Although research on the cause ended in 2002 without definitive answers, the discovery raised global awareness about the environmental consequences of human activity on wetlands and other fragile ecosystems. As the news spread of the original discovery, people from all over the country began reporting & documenting their own findings of deformed frogs.

MNCS students were at the heart of this investigation and advocacy surrounding the protection of these wetlands; they are part of the reason that today we still have a strong community base supporting the preservation of Ney’s 446 acres. Becky Pollack, now the Executive Director of Ney Nature Center, was a student at MNCS in 1996 when the frogs were found, and her experience watching the investigation unfold and participating in it is part of the reason why she found herself working in environmental education and eventually at Ney so many years later.

Since then, we are happy to report that no deformities have been found in the years since the large populations of affected frogs in 1995 and 1996. The pond hosts a variety of waterfowl and attracts mammals such as coyotes, deer, raccoons, and foxes, in addition to many species of frogs. Ruby would likely be pleased to see her vision become reality at the Ney Pond!

One of the many ways we plan to mark this anniversary is by holding an art contest to involve the community. We are looking for artists to create a design to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the discovery of the deformed frogs at Ney’s pond! We will have two contest winners, one adult and one youth. Our goal with this contest and the year of special events will be to center the community in the narrative history of the land & water. Oh, and of course, we will give our winners a Ney camp mug and some 2025 maple syrup! If you’re interested, visit our contest submission link to learn more.
Keep an eye out for upcoming information on our anniversary plans in 2025, and please tell your friends and family to consider submitting art for the contest! We have forms available at the nature center, but you can download and submit the forms online as well!