Nature Battles: The Northern Water Snake vs. The Bullfrog
On Thursday, May 10, I was out with my 5th grade students on the trails of Prince William Forest Park in Virginia. We were visiting different sites with bodies of water collecting data for our science investigation.
The goal of our investigation was to answer the question: "Is Lake 1 or Lake 4 a better habitat for a Bullfrog?"
I've done this same investigation once before, but this time it was most exciting. While at one of the sites, Lake 1, we were concluding our collection of qualitative data on the site when we heard a loud croak and a splash nearby.
I looked to see from a distance what the sound was, and I saw a large frog jump and land near the shore. My first instinct was to walk over quietly and direct the students to move quietly behind me so we could all investigate the sound we heard. When we got closer to the shore, I looked into the water and I saw the tail of a snake right next to a Bullfrog.
At that moment, I knew we were about to see something really cool go down.
The snake had just caught the frog by his front leg! We all watched the frog try to jump away but the snake did not give up. At first the students were all sad for the frog because they all knew if he couldn't jump away he was going to be eaten. I reminded the students that everyone has a right to eat and the snakes’ life was just as valuable as the frogs. We watched the entire thing from beginning to end; this took about 20-30 minutes.
In the end, when I asked students to share their opinions on the two habitats we investigated (Lake 1 and Lake 4) it was surprising to me that some of them still thought that Lake 1 was a better habitat for a Bullfrog. Their evidence was that there was a variety of habitat space for mating/laying eggs, and the presence of many Bullfrog tadpoles in the lake.
Stories
In Memory of Ty Cobb: A Visionary Leader of Resilience and Impact
Ty Cobb, former CEO of Yosemite National Institutes (now NatureBridge), passed away on Saturday, December 7, 2024 in Reno at the age of 84. Known for his visionary leadership, resilience, and ability to inspire collaboration, Ty guided YNI through some of its most difficult moments while building a foundation for its future growth and success.
WildLink November 2024: Woodlake High School
This November, Woodlake High School students and chaperones arrived in Yosemite for their first year as a WildLink school, and we are so excited to have them on the team! That means that the brave students who signed up for this expedition had virtually no idea what to expect before signing up for the trip, because none of their peers had experienced it before them! The week, although quite frigid, was full of lovely views, learning about Wilderness, spending lots of time by the river, and enjoying the beauty of Yosemite Valley and Wilderness. Their educators Sarah and Amelia were excited to help this group feel a sense of belonging in this place. They were also lucky enough to be joined by Ranger Lissie on their first day in the Wilderness!
Fall Reflections from NatureBridge Yosemite
As an environmental science educator, I spend a lot of time teaching about nature, but this season I’ve been finding that as it turns out, nature has a lot to teach us, too. Sometimes I can let the trees, the meadow, and the lichen teach for me. They show us how to respect each other’s boundaries, how to celebrate differences, how to work together, and how to lean on each other’s strengths in order to exist in a new place. These lessons felt incredibly relevant to me heading into the first week of November, a notoriously busy time at NatureBridge Yosemite. I wanted to focus on messages of kindness and inclusivity with my students, I wanted them to feel a sense of belonging in this new space, and I also hoped that they would share those messages with others.