Meet This Month's Species
Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginiana
A native woodland shrub that flowers after most leaves have fallen, its narrow yellow petals bright against bare late-autumn branches.
White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
As the canopy opens in late autumn, deer become easier to spot, and bucks travel more widely during the peak breeding season.
Turkey Tail Mushroom
Trametes versicolor
A thin, banded shelf fungus that grows across dead wood, its layered rings of color becoming especially noticeable in the open late-autumn forest.
American Black Bear
Ursus americanus
As autumn settles over the Blue Ridge, black bears forage for acorns, nuts, and berries, building fat reserves before winter denning.
American Beautyberry
Clusters of brilliant purple berries brighten woodland edges in autumn, providing a seasonal food source for birds and other wildlife.
Callicarpa americana
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
These large native birds roam forest floors in search of acorns, seeds, and insects, often gathering in flocks as the seasons change.
November Small Wonders
Eastern Red Bat
Lasiurus borealis
As leaves gather on the forest floor, Eastern Red Bats disappear beneath them for shelter, curling tightly and wrapping their furry tail membranes around themselves like tiny winter blankets.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
White-breasted Nuthatches tuck seeds and nuts into cracks in tree bark, creating tiny food stores to return to later. These hidden caches help sustain them as insects become harder to find through the colder months.