Given the prominence of feeding activity, and the sheer volume of supplemental food dispensed into the environment, it is worthy to examine the impacts of feeding on nature and to improve one’s understanding of the proper care and responsibilities that come with feeding wild birds.

An overview of information to help readers improve knowledge and understanding of human interactions with snakes common to Virginia and methods to avoid conflicts with these often maligned animals.

This brochure provides information to improve readers’ knowledge and understanding of black bears and discusses various options designed to minimize negative consequences from our interactions with black bears in Virginia.

Six hundred fifty different species of snails are widely distributed across the streams, rivers, and lakes of North America. There are unique species associated with every type of aquatic habitat from the Canadian Arctic to the Everglades of Florida.

The diversity of insects can only be described as amazing. More than half of all known species of living things (microbes, plants, and animals) are insects.

Of the many wildlife management practices the private landowner can do, few are as rewarding as those which favor wood ducks. Wood ducks and a multitude of other wildlife species respond readily to managed wetlands.

Small home pond gardens support aquatic plants and also attract a variety of wildlife. Turtles, frogs, birds, snakes, lizards, and raccoons as well as many other animals may use these ponds. Most wildlife needs water to survive and will seek out ponds for drinking, bathing, habitat, and in some cases, reproduction.

The area where an organism lives and meets its basic needs for food, water, cover, and space to survive is called its habitat. Each species of wildlife has different habitat requirements.

This publication provides an overview of the study of mammals in Virginia. It includes an up-to-date listing of mammals found in Virginia and information on the biology and natural history of mammals. The intended audience is Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers and others seeking to gain a basic understanding of this topic.

Because of the coyote's versatility, adaptability, and its current wide distribution throughout Virginia, the likelihood of encountering a coyote is real. Thus, residents of the Commonwealth should become more aware and informed about the traits and behaviors of this species to avoid undesirable interactions. This publication provides basic information about the coyote, its expected and normal behaviors and other life history aspects, and suggestions on how to minimize or avoid problems that can arise from our interactions with this fascinating creature.

Estimates of the economic damage caused by meadow voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus) and woodland voles (formerly pine vole) (Microtus pinetorum) exceed $5 million annually to agricultural commodities (e.g., vegetable and grain crops, fruit orchards, flowering bulb production), nurseries, Christmas tree plantations, residential landscape plantings, and woodland parcels recently replanted with pine seedlings. This publication focuses on methods to resolve problems associated with the injurious meadow and woodland voles.

Several different insects are found in Virginia that cause concern due to their large size and coloration. They are for the most part harmless and just curiosities of nature.