Prairie Ridge Ecostation

Several people correctly guessed what was in our mystery photos! They’re slime molds— tiny organisms consisting of one to a few cells that come together to form fruiting bodies, spreading and reproducing through spores. The gray blobs (Physarum cinereum) and orange goo (Dog Vomit Slime Mold) are two different slime mold species, gently breaking down old wood and leaves.

They’re harmless to humans and wildlife, so we were excited to see them!

Our staff love being on site after dark because we can experience animals that are rarely spotted during the day. Choruses of Green Tree Frogs, large moths such as Luna Moths, or coyotes are most active at night. It's a treat to see them out and about during their favorite time of day! Check out some of the species we've spotted at night in the photos below. 🐸

Would you like to listen to frogs, look for moths, and search for owls after dark with us at Prairie Ridge? Join us for Biodiversity After Dark on Friday, 8:30-11:30pm — we have a few spots left!

Learn more or register at https://www.naturalsciences.org/calendar/event/nighttime-biodiversity/

Another great City Nature Challenge has concluded, and we’re thrilled to see all of the submissions rolling in from across the Triangle! We also got some great observations at Prairie Ridge. Here are a few of our favorites.

If you participated, you have until May 10 to submit your photos to iNaturalist for them to count. We’ll share the final results once international results are announced.