Marian University Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab

03/31/2026

Watch your step! Today, EcoLab staff assisted 4 painted turtle hatchlings with their journey to the pond, away from high foot traffic. These hatchlings probably emerged the previous fall and remained in the nest until this spring.

01/12/2026

In addition to tracks, wildlife can be identified using other signs.

1st photo: Beavers chew on trees from the outside in, leaving a distinct point on the stumps, unlike man-made cuts. If you look closely, you can see the marks made from the beaver's teeth.

2nd photo: A white-tailed deer buck has rubbed on this tree with its antlers, shredding the bark.

3rd photo: Coyote s**t on the access lane. Canine s**t typically twists and will taper on the end. Coyotes are omnivores and their s**t can contain a mix of fur and plant materials. Coyote s**t will be larger than fox s**t and have a more irregular appearance than dog s**t due to their varied diet.

12/19/2025

Sometimes, identifying wildlife is in the signs.

1st photo-coyote tracks: note how the track from the hind foot steps inside of the front track.

2nd photo-coyote track: see how the track is longer than wide and the nails point forward, the outer two almost hidden under the middle toe pads.

3rd photo- dog tracks: see how the tracks are splayed outward, with the outer nails clearly visible and not hidden. Dog tracks also tend to be more equal in length and width.

4th photo- eastern cottontail: notice how the toes are not distinct and the outline of the collective prints is almost triangular. This rabbit was sitting on the ground when it made these prints.

Take a look for wildlife signs on your next hike for a more engaging experience!

12/02/2025

It's that time of year, when the EcoLab becomes a snowy winter wonderland! Come out and enjoy a cool season hike!

*We are currently asking visitors to please park at the Major Taylor Velodrome and walk over. Thank you!

10/30/2025

Shuckle, the eastern box turtle, is preparing for winter! As it cools down, box turtles bury into the leaf litter and soil to wait out the cold weather. Rather than hibernating, box turtles brumate. During this time, they sleep and their metabolism slows. Unlike hibernation, brumation is unique to cold-blooded (ectothermic) animals.

10/20/2025

Greenbrier can seem like an abrasive plant with its stout thorns, but this plant serves as a host for turbulent phosphila caterpillars. Undeterred by the thorns, these caterpillars congregate to eat.

If you're lucky, you can see droves of these moth caterpillars while visiting the EcoLab in the late summer/early fall.

08/26/2025

06/24/2025

This summer Gabi will be conducting research on our population of eastern box turtles in the EcoLab as a Marian University Summer Scholar. These charismatic critters are threatened across their range and Gabi’s work will help us to better understand their ecology so that we can more effectively conserve their species. Favoring terrestrial habitats (instead of the aquatic ones other turtles prefer) comes with risks—predators like raccoons, foxes, and coyotes can cause damage, as can run-ins with humans (especially on roads) 🐢🐢🐢🐢

05/27/2025

Rooster Found in EcoLab

Anyone missing a rooster? Or suggestions for where to take it? Please let us know! In the last week we've rescued abandoned baby raccoons and a baby American Robin. Always something new at the NMP EcoLab!