First Day in the Urban Wild



Day 1 at the Fort Worth Nature Center was a success! The drive out there was effortless and we kicked things off with a fascinating meet and greet with Dog, the alligator, followed by a safety lesson on our tools and objectives for the day. 
From there, we explored the refuge, spotted bison and fed the prairie dogs, and got to work cutting back brush along a fence line. 
An interesting thing I learned was that male bison horns are straighter while female bison horns tend to curve inward more. 
I also thought it was interesting that prairie dogs eat sweet potatoes. 
Though next time, I will definitely bring more layers because it was chillier than I expected!
Overall, I thought it was a very rewarding and exciting start and I can't wait for what's next. 

Comments

  1. williams.dan76March 11, 2025 at 2:23 PM

    Great photos. you have some of the best cell phone photos of prairie dogs I've ever seen. Nice shots.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Before the Flood reflection

Image
                             On Thursday, we watched the movie Before the Flood , produced by Leonardo DiCaprio. It was a thorough and eye-opening exploration of climate change and its impact on our planet. In the film, DiCaprio embarks on a global journey, visiting locations where the effects of climate change are highly visible, from melting ice caps in the Arctic to deforestation in Indonesia caused by the palm oil industry's expansion. He interviews scientists, world leaders, and activists, emphasizing the urgent need for collective action to combat global warming before it is too late. One part of the documentary that I found the most striking was how it exposes the political and corporate obstacles that prevent meaningful change, like scientists being paid to say climate change is a hoax and name-dropping the Koch family. I was surprised by the film's boldness in calling out the big corporations and oi...
Read more

Final Reflection Justification

Image
Final Reflection This semester, we learned about environmental issues, movements, and writers and got familiar with the Fort Worth Nature Center. One particular excerpt that stuck out to us was Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac . We learned the hidden meaning of thinking like a mountain is prioritizing long-term sustainability over short-term gains and comfort. We also gained a hands-on understanding of habitat restoration by helping the FWNCR team cut back privet, later to be burned and mulched.  We learned more about environmental issues from the documentary Before the Flood . In the film, Leonardo DiCaprio visits locations where the effects of climate change are evident, from melting ice caps in the Arctic to deforestation in Indonesia. The film connected climate change to human activities, showing how industries that rely on fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable consumption accelerate the planet’s destruction. It also offered potential solutions like calling for ind...
Read more

Oak Motte Trail

Image
April 10th at the Nature Center, my group took on the Oak Motte Trail. At just two miles long, it's a short and easy hike—ideal for beginners. With plenty of benches scattered along the path and virtually no elevation, it’s especially well-suited for older visitors or those who may have difficulty walking longer distances.      We had perfect weather for the hike, and the wildflowers were in full bloom. At the beginning of the trail we saw where the prairie dogs had been relocated. They had a little tent for shade and were playing together. Along the way, we spotted a bunny scurrying through the brush and butterflies dancing around us. The trail winds past prairie lands, which looked especially serene and beautiful this time of year. We also noticed a few sections where controlled burns had been conducted to manage invasive privet. Thankfully, the privet didn’t seem too overwhelming in this area. Near the start of the trail, we saw a patch that had been both...
Read more