Discover Nature Notes

Little Armored One: That's the spanish translation for armadillos, kin to anteaters and sloths. Their hard, outer shell can't protect them from a habit that turns deadly along roads. Armadillo's jump when frightened, which is poor timing when cars are passing overhead. For this, they've earned the nickname, Texas speedbumps. Armadillo's fare much better crossing ponds. They can inflate their stomach and intestines and paddle across the surface or sink to the bottom and stroll across. Learn more fun facts about Missouri's only armadillo, the nine-banded, in this week's Discover Nature Notes blog.

The Long and Short of Animal Life Spans: Some take a wild ride to exotic places but don't make their first birthdays. Others live longer, quieter lives close to home.  The fast lane of the natural world is an adventure in survival for most. See the monarch's story up close in stunning time-lapse and learn about animal life spans in this week's Discover Nature Notes.

Missouri's Marsupial Moms: They may be scruffy scavengers, but these mammal moms are made for mobility. Opossums are the only marsupials in North America. Females have fur-lined front pouches to raise their large broods who are born blind, hairless, and weighing less than a dime. Their young will feed and grow in the pouch. Opossum mothers will carry them on their back after that. In May, the babes will head out on their own. Watch opossums in the pouch and on the go and learn about their special skills, like playing possum, in this week's Discover Nature Note.

BE BEAR AWARE: Black bears have been making a comeback in Missouri's southern forests. Get to know the black bear, how to identify their tracks, watch them in the wild, and learn how you can be bear aware in Missouri in this week's Discover Nature Note.