Outdoor Almanac

July brings summer into full swing, and with it, an abundance of fascinating wildlife activity. From toadlets crowding pond edges to fireflies lighting up field borders after dark, nature is putting on a vibrant display. Native plants are in full bloom, attracting everything from hummingbird moths to Primrose Moths, while songbirds grow quieter as nesting season winds down. This month’s almanac highlights the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs of summer all around us—whether it’s a beaver tending its dam, a moose cooling off in a wetland, or a bat feasting under the night sky.

What will you discover this July? Visit a nearby wildlife sanctuary or join us for a program to make the most of your month. 

JULY

1

American Toad tadpoles have hatched and are clustering together in the shallow edge of ponds for the next few weeks. Once they transform into toadlets, they’ll head to land and linger in the surrounding vegetation by the hundreds.  

5

When not eating their summer diet (mostly grasses, ferns, and aquatic plants), beavers spend a lot of time building and maintaining their dams and lodges and raising young. 

6

Look for native summer-flowering plants, including milkweeds (common, swamp, and butterfly weed), nodding onion, bee balm, black-eyed Susan, native honeysuckle, and more.  

8

Along with the beautiful butterflies that float from flower to flower during the day, stunning moths like the Primrose Moth visit twilight-blooming plants, such as Evening Primrose, in the evening. Primrose moths are easily distinguishable with their soft pink and white wings.  

10

Full Moon 

11

When juvenile Red-tailed Hawks start hunting independently, they may spend several days incessantly squealing for the food their parents are no longer supplying. 

15

Fireflies can be found along grassy field edges after dark. Head for an area away from external lights, turn off your flashlight, and watch for the flashing patterns. See if you can pick out the flashing patterns of different species. 

21

The Virginia Opossum’s breeding season is ending. At birth, newborn opossums are not fully developed and are no larger than a honeybee. They spend two months growing in their mother’s pouch, emerging fully developed and about the size of a house mouse. 

22

Around field edges and orchards, watch for Eastern Bluebirds feeding their newly fledged spotted young. Young Eastern Bluebirds look a lot like young American Robins; except they are smaller and have blue on their wings. 

24

Moose are feeding on aquatic vegetation, tree leaves, and twigs near wetlands. Wetlands are not just great places for a moose to find a meal, but the cool water helps these large mammals beat the heat and escape pestering mosquitoes and deer flies.  

26

Once they are on territory and have nested, songbirds are much quieter for the rest of the summer. One voice you can still hear is the sharp song of the Indigo Bunting. 

29

In sunny, moist meadows, look for the white blooms of common dogbane and the hummingbird moths that use them as larval host plants. Get close to the plants, and you may be rewarded with the sight of a small, iridescent green and copper dogbane leaf beetle—one of our most beautiful beetles. 

30

Bats consume half to three quarters of their body weight in insects every night. While bats locate insects via echolocation, some have excellent eyesight as well, contrary to popular belief.