NEWS

John Gerwin, Research Curator of Ornithology at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, holds an adult male prairie warbler. The bird models a metal ID band on its leg. Photo: John Gerwin/NCMNS. By Paige Miranda, WUNC On a muggy prairie just southwest of Asheboro, Gabriela Garrison and her 12-year-old daughter Eleana huddle around a… Read More >

We loaded our bus full of excited teachers and lots of luggage! After three years of waiting, the Educators of Excellence Tropical Ecology Institute team finally landed in Belize. Here is an excerpt from their first blog post: “The early morning was worth it — we took off from RDU at 5:05 AM. We had… Read More >

  The largest terrestrial leech in the South, Haemopis septagon, has terrifying eating habits. Yet, its presence in pristine ecosystems indicates that it might be beneficial in a way yet to be discovered. “A wise tinker saves all the pieces,” says NC Museum of Natural Sciences Emeritus Curator Alvin Braswell, “It’s a little dangerous to… Read More >

Our state is a hotspot for discovering fossilized shark teeth. We talked to an expert to learn why — and get some tips on how to find them. by Emma Deal, Nelie Tahssili & Eliza Martin Shark in the water. Photo: Joshua Steadman. Among our bragging rights here in Raleigh, we like to remind folks… Read More >

Eastern glass lizard with full tail. Photo: Jeff Beane/NCMNS. The Ocracoke Observer recently highlighted the glass lizard, and interviewed Museum Collections Manager of Herpetology Jeff Beane. Glass lizards, also known as legless lizards, got their name because their tails easily break (sometimes into several pieces like glass) when grabbed by a predator. People often confuse… Read More >