What Nature's Doing

As the winter chill finally breaks, the Eastern Redbud stages a breathtaking, magenta-pink magic trick! Often called the "harbinger of spring," these cheerful understory trees don't bother waiting for leaves to appear. Instead, they explode in a profusion of rosy, pea-shaped blossoms that cover their bare branches and even sprout directly from the trunk in …

Breeding occurs earlier in the year, peaking from mid-February into early March, with a gestation period of roughly 60 to 63 days. April through May is a high-activity period as parents hunt more to feed their young, often leading to increased sightings and potential conflicts. Both parents care for the pups, which start emerging from …

When the dogwoods bloom, it's as if the forest decided to throw a fancy white-and-pink party to celebrate spring! These trees shake off the winter blues, covering their branches in showy, star-shaped bracts (which are actually modified leaves, not petals!) before the green foliage even appears.   It’s a brief, magical, two-week spectacle that makes …

Most does produce twins after their first year. Newborns are hidden in dense cover or tall grass for the first few weeks to avoid predators and are often left alone by the mother, which is normal. They can walk within hours and begin following their mothers after about a month. Appearance: Newborns have spots and …