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Discover Nature Notes
Published Display Date
May 21, 2018
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A journey to exotic places and riding the wind are part of life for some animals, but a first birthday is NOT.
The Monarch butterfly travels over a thousand miles to Mexico when it’s just 3 or 4 months old. Despite this excitement, they won’t live to see their first birthday. Watch their story in cinematic time-lapse below.
Some larger animals, like the red fox and red-tailed hawk, can live a long time in captivity, but in the “fast lane” of the natural world, life for most birds and mammals is an adventure in survival.
Box turtles live longer but quieter lives. While most Missouri turtles live 15-30 years, box turtles can live between 50 and 80 years, often sticking close to home and spending half their time hibernating.
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Red Fox
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Animal Life Spans
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Mdc staff, Learfield
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A Monarch Story
Credit
Mdc staff, 90 Degrees West, Bad Dog Production
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Red-tailed hawk in flight
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Use of this image is restricted to MDC only
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Animal Life Spans
Credit
Mdc staff, Learfield
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Recent Posts
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Published Display Date
Oct 31, 2025
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More hairy than scary, tarantulas live a hidden life in Missouri. Here in the northern part of their range, the Texas Brown Tarantula is an uncommon sight living in desert type environments. Discover what MDC and UMSL Scientists are finding out about this reclusive creature of Halloween lore in their Tarantula Study.
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Published Display Date
Aug 22, 2025
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Discover how a massive ancient fish is making a comeback in our big rivers. With a sharklike body, a long snout, and no teeth, Lake Sturgeon live long and travel far and wide. Reports of them spawning in the wild have led to an historic event for MDC Fisheries staff at our Blind Pony Hatchery. Journey underwater in the Osage River, to a spawning site on the Mississippi River and inside the hatchery to see the restoration of a species with a long circle of life in Missouri waters.
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Published Display Date
Jun 06, 2025
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Shirley Carpenter has gone where very few have travelled. Up a hacking tower to help feed young bald eaglets. Jeff Cantrell was there during the incubation process and research as a college student. Both helped out during a 10-year program to restore America's iconic bald eagle to nesting and winter population success in Missouri. Watch their story that Shirley describes as the adventure of her lifetime.