May 2008
As I approached the Nature Center, walking along our winding deck to the front door, I stopped suddenly, as if to avoid a puddle, my eye caught a beautiful set of animal tracks which I followed directly to the front door, then along the back of the Center and veering off into the sagebrush along Spring Creek. A night visitor with mud on its boots. (more)

March 2008
There is more to meet the eye than one might expect in the late winter and early spring seasons in the Tetons.  Birds, among other natural wonders, provide some interesting perspectives for the naturalist within us.  While we see plenty of snow and winter, consider that resident bald eagles are already sitting on eggs and golden eagles, while fewer in numbers, are in the midst of aerial courtship displays.  (more)

February 2008
Is that a horn or an antler on that elk? Visitors to the 3 Creek Ranch Nature Center often comment on the impressive ‘horns’ of the bull elk wandering the National Elk Refuge or around our own Ranch. They are actually referring to antlers. Horns are very different. True horns, like those found on bighorn sheep, mountain goats, bison and pronghorn, grow continuously throughout an animal’s life, and cannot be replaced if damaged or broken off. (more)

December 2007
Lenticular Clouds: a beautiful cloud type common in our winter sky that results from strong wind flow over rugged terrain. In Jackson, prevailing winds whipping over the Tetons from the southwest produce up-and-down wavelike patterns on the lee (valley) side of the Range. Lenticular clouds, which can occur at many levels of the troposphere (up to 20,000 feet above sea level), form at the peaks of these waves. (more)