Museum Blog

Stories from around and about the Museum

Alpacas receive their summer look

Shearing is done yearly to keep the alpaca healthy and cool in the summer.

Wood duck nest box install and unexpected visitors!

From wood ducks to swallows, they're all welcome.

Red-shouldered hawk overtime!

The local red-shouldered hawks are pulling overtime as their nestlings' hunger grows.

Small World header

Small World is more than meets the eye

The Museum hosts the 2020 microscopic photo competition winners

Reptile and amphibian season

Snakes and treefrogs, what could be better.

Brown thrashers

Brown thrashers and other songbirds are leaving the nest. Keep an eye out for fledglings!

April nest box update

Bluebirds hatch, chickadees build nest. See what's been happening on our Bluebird Trail.

Volunteeer Dan with Lightning the Donkey

Thank you volunteers!

We are so thankful to the people who give their time to volunteer with us.

Spring along

Spring just keeps on rolling along.

A Forest of Mushrooms

Mushrooms can pop up anywhere.

How do you sum up a life?

We say goodbye to beloved black bear, Virginia

Northern water snake

Water snakes and Wetlands go together, keep your eyes opened for them.

The little king

Small in stature, the ruby-crowned kinglet is big in song, appetite and grit.

Spring is happening

You owe it to your self to get outside and have a look around before you miss it all!

Two miniature Hereford steers eat hay.

Farmyard physicals complete

We completed our annual physicals on most of the Farmyard animals

Nest box update 3.31.21

Checking in on the Museum bluebirds

Nest box update 3.24.21

The fourth week of nest box inspections and at least one pair of bluebirds is sitting on eggs.

Multiple cedar waxwings in holly tree

Cedar waxwing finale

Cedar waxwings raid hollies, leaving nothing behind.

Albino corn snake looks at camera

Honey and snakes?

Why did our Animal Care Director put honey on a snake?

Chip the turtle on a rock

An old familiar friend

A missing slider and the recovery of an old familiar friend

The past few weeks in pictures

Spring is moving fast and things are changing rapidly. Get out there and have a look at what's happening.

Nest box update 3.17.21

Bluebird nesting season is here and we have three active nests, one with eggs!

Florian in his new sleeping log

Museum team members make cozy new animal beds

Turning PVC into animal beds and habitat upgrades

Let’s hear it for the boy: A male Malaysian Giant Leaf Insect is born

All about the most surprising new addition to the Insectarium

Peregine and Adrian Brown

Peregrine’s Q&A with NASA Scientist Adrian Brown

Peregrine talks with NASA Deputy Program Scientist Adrian Brown about some of the big scientific questions they will be exploring during Perseverance's mission.

A boy and a butterfly, with the butterfly in focus

A butterfly’s 10,000 mile journey to the Museum

Every one of our butterflies takes a journey from villages and forests around the globe. Here's how they get here.

Mink looks at camera

Say hello to the Museum’s first mink

A rescued mink just joined the Museum family. Learn more about the newest addition to Carolina Wldlife.

Two educators cheers peppers

Two Museum educators eat the hottest pepper in the world. See what happens next.

SPOILER ALERT: It doesn't go well for Steve and Max

Adult red-shouldered hawk showing no fear.

Red-shouldered, Stinkhorn, and Mistletoe

This week in the Wetlands has brought red-shouldered hawks, a group of stinkhorns, and mistletoe too.

Solid wood burl being held by human hand.

Bears, Burls, and Butter-butts

The Museum is bustling with winter activity and interesting things to see.

Bear sits near fence, stool and bucket with medications nearby

Virginia Bear Update #6, Treatment

Virginia returns to the Museum and we detail her treatment plan.

Yellow rumped warbler sits in black willow.

Look Twice

We take a look at some recent feathered visitors to determine between yellow-rumped warbler and siskin.

Bear in CT machine

Virginia Bear Update #5, CT scan

Virginia receives a CT scan at the NCSU Veterinary Hospital.

Eastern gray squirrel sits on boulder chomping on nuts.

Busy time for squirrels

Early winter is a busy and important time, check out what the squirrels around campus have been up to.

Bear crate with description

Virginia Bear Update #4, Sedation and Safety

How many people does it take to safely transport and sedate a fully grown black bear?

Staff move crate with bear

Virginia Bear Update #3, People

Meet the people involved in transporting Virginia bear to NCSU Veterinary Hospital for evaluation.

Bear in hay bed

Virginia Bear Update #2, Transport

We take a look at what goes into moving a bear from a cliff, into a crate, and to the NC State vet school.

Bear looking into camera

Virginia Bear Update #1

Our health concerns for Museum bear Virginia and the plan to get a diagnosis and treatment plan