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
2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz
At NatureBridge, we celebrate the stewards of today and foster the development of the stewards of tomorrow, working to inspire environmental stewardship in all our participants. Our goal is to motivate our students to make waves and be changemakers in their communities and for our planet.
Each year, NatureBridge honors a student who has demonstrated leadership, growth and a commitment to protecting our natural world as a result of their participation in a NatureBridge program. This year’s honoree will be recognized and will speak at An Evening Outside with NatureBridge on Thursday, May 16 at our Golden Gate campus.
We are thrilled to announce our 2024 Student of the Year: Kai Diaz.
An Interview with Evening Outside Keynote Speaker Dr. Britt Wray
The minute we found out about the work of Dr. Britt Wray, we knew we wanted to learn more about her. A well-respected author and scientist, Dr. Wray possesses expertise in an area of research we talk about a lot at NatureBridge—specifically how we can be resilient, hopeful, and actionable amid a changing world, including the climate crisis. We’re thrilled that Dr. Wray will be joining us on May 16 for An Evening Outside with NatureBridge as our Featured Speaker. Ahead of the event, we had the chance to ask her a few questions relating to her work and her connection to the mission of NatureBridge.
Staff Spotlight: Appreciation for Miho Aida
Miho Aida (she/they) has held multiple roles at NatureBridge over the past twenty-four years, including Environmental Science Educator, Community Connection Coordinator, Field Staff Scientist, Marine Project Coordinator, Pacific Rim Environmental Education Specialist, Armstrong Scholars Educator, Diversity Coordinator, Equity and Inclusion Manager, and Director of Equity and Inclusion. Now, on the eve of Miho's departure, we asked them to reflect on their time at NatureBridge and share a bit about their upcoming adventures.