Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park

11/18/2023

11/17/2023

Take a hike.

No, really. Like right now. Why not? You're at work? It's cold?

No excuses. With more than 21,000 combined miles of trails, there are plenty of options to stretch your legs in national parks. Hiking is also proven to have many health benefits, ranging from the physical exercise you get when out on the trail, to the emotional or mental relief that comes from being in nature. Unless you're being chased by a bear (hmm, cardio workout is amazing) or just don't like the great outdoors. We do offer plenty of activities for indoor hikes too.

Learn more ways to take a hike at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/trails/index.htm

11/17/2023

Kicks Of The Day: Mocs

From November 13-17, week is an opportunity for indigenous folk to express identity, culture, and solidarity by showcasing their traditional footwear. Ranger Izzy rocks his indigeneity every day of the year but loves wearing moccasins during week to champion representation. “It’s feels good to wear my mocs back home.”

Where will you rock your mocs this week?

11/17/2023

Cloudy with a chance of waves…

Check out these rare cloud formations today in the Santa Barbara Channel. A Channel Islands National park ranger captured this while returning from Anacapa Island back to the mainland.

These are asperitas clouds, which are known for their dramatic wave like appearance on the underside of the cloud. Asperitas translates to “roughness” in Latin. Asperitas clouds were officially recognized as a cloud feature in the International Cloud Atlas in 2017. First published in 1896, the Atlas is the international guide referred to by meteorologists for identifying clouds.

Photo credit: NPS Emily Zivot

11/16/2023

11/16/2023

In 1960, when Leona Tate was only six years old, she became a civil rights leader in her community as she and two other students desegregated New Orleans’ McDonogh Public School. Decades later, Dr. Tate reopened the closed McDonogh school building using National Park Service grants totaling $1.5 million dollars in funding. The building, now known as the Tate, Etienne, and Prevost (TEP) Interpretive Center, operates as a community and education center as well as affordable housing for seniors.

Learn more about Dr. Tate’s story and how National Park Service grant funding helped preserve and reface the school she helped desegregate in this week’s .

Listen at: https://www.nps.gov/podcasts/my-park-story-podcast.htm or on Apple Podcasts.

Image: Leona Tate (front) and Gail Etienne (behind) are escorted home from their first day of school at the newly integrated McDonogh #19 Elementary School in New Orleans on Nov. 14, 1960. /WGNO

11/15/2023

On the road again…

Can’t wait to get on the road again? The National Park Service transportation systems provide over 300 million visitors per year with access to America’s most treasured landscapes, natural wonders, and historic sites. These critical transportation networks connect park sites with nearby communities and contribute to local economic activity.

Two years ago this month, the U.S. Department of the Interior and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Regarding Transportation Innovation in the National Park System. Since then, the Departments are working together, along with the U.S. DOT Volpe Center and Federal Highway Administration, to develop and implement policy and regulations and leverage the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) to advance planning and engineering assessments, work on capital projects, and drive research across the National Park Service.

Learn more about projects underway at: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/the-nps-celebrates-transportation-achievements-through-partnerships.htm

Image: Two different Transportation modes in Yellowstone National Park. NPS/Frank

11/15/2023

Planting the seed… 🌱

Many national parks were created because of their unique landscapes and diverse ecosystems. But even protected lands are not immune to threats. Across the country, over sixty ecosystem restoration projects funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed on November 15, 2021, are underway to address, manage, and protect fragile ecosystems.

These projects include growing native seed for landscape restoration, boosting parkland climate resilience, closing abandoned mines that pose dangers for wildlife and visitors, preventing the spread of invasive species, and even enhancing recreation opportunities in parks. Additional projects address fire mitigation and prevention and transportation projects that benefit park communities from coast to coast.

Learn more about current projects underway at ➡️ https://go.nps.gov/BIL-ER


📸 NPS / Jacob W. Frank

11/15/2023

As Indigenous peoples across the world celebrate Tribal individuality and share their traditional regalia in November and throughout the year, Day (and throughout the week of Nov 13-17) is an opportunity for Native peoples across the country to express solidarity and embrace their identities by wearing traditional footwear. The National Park Service invites Indigenous employees, volunteers, and visitors to Rock Your Mocs in parks and share posts on social media using the hashtag .

Image: At Petrified Forest National Park, a member of the Diné (Navajo) tribe wearing traditional footwear Kélchí (Moccasin).

11/14/2023

The National Park Service is responsible for many of our nation's most treasured places. Efforts to restore ecosystems, recover imperiled species, enhance visitor infrastructure, and protect night skies are all important to preserving our parks for the benefit of all visitors.

As human activity drives rapid changes to our modern climate and ecosystems, we similarly respond to the impacts it brings to parks. National parks and other federal lands are responding with a Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) approach. Resisting means working to maintain current ecosystem conditions. Accepting means allowing things to change. Directing means actively shaping ecosystem changes in ways that we prefer.

Learn more about climate impacts and possible RAD responses happening at one park, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and how park managers are responding at: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/climate-impacts-in-cuyahoga-valley.htm

Image: Fall colors along a wooden boardwalk at Cuyahoga Valley in Ohio.

11/14/2023

“As I always say, look to mother nature for the best of everything.” - Ms. Frizzle

Seat belts, everyone! National parks are America's largest classrooms. During American Education Week, find lesson plans, out of this world field trip options, distance learning opportunities (the digestive tract of a bison?), and more!

Okay, parks—do your stuff! Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/teachers/index.htm

Image: Was that a lizard driving? A ranger waves goodbye to a school bus as it is moves along the road at Catoctin Mountain Park, MD. NPS/John Zuke

11/14/2023

When the Wi-Fi goes down…

I daresay, to stroll in the park on a fine day is the most perfect refreshment. I assure you, the printed pamphlet was not without charm and we find ourselves in excellent spirits.

You say the Wi-Fi is down? I declare, whatever shall we do? Did you know you can download content on the NPS App for offline use? It’s especially handy if you’re exploring remote areas in parks or concerned about data limits. Or, if you accidentally venture into a time portal and find yourself in need of invaluable knowledge such as next weekend’s living history demonstration on candle making with Ranger Darcy. Umm, that could be rather enlightening.

The free app is available for iOS and Android devices. What’s this device you speak of? If you don’t find what you are looking for now, check back regularly as our rangers continue to add more ways for you to experience parks through the NPS app.

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/digital/nps-apps.htm

Image: National park volunteers in early Regency era dress at Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, MD.

11/13/2023

Winter is coming!

As the temperatures drop and the days get shorter, our shelled friends are making a cozy retreat into their burrows! Like many other reptiles in Saguaro National Park, the desert tortoise seeks refuge in underground dens or rocky shelters to escape the frigid temperatures of winter. There, they go into a hibernation-like state, known as brumation, to conserve energy. This period of dormancy helps them reduce their metabolic activity and protect themselves from the harsh weather and limited food sources. What do you do during your period of dormancy?

During the winter season, Saguaro National Park attracts many visitors for recreational activities. To ensure the well-being of tortoises and other wildlife, please stick to designated trails, keep your pets on a leash, don’t talk too loudly, and responsibly dispose of waste while enjoying your time on the trails.
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(BS; 📸, NPS)

11/12/2023

Yep, riding, petting, and tickling a wild animal is not covered. Time to back away. In general, if wild animals react to your presence you are too close. If you’re close enough for a selfie, or a tickle fight (Let’s be honest, you’re not going to win. But I’m laughing so hard my sides hurt? Oh, that’s a moose antler), you’re definitely too close. In conclusion, let wildlife be wild and observe from a distance.

Learn more tips at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/watchingwildlife

11/11/2023

11/11/2023

The National Park Service invites all visitors to honor our veterans by visiting any National Park Service site for free on .

Many national parks have direct connections to the American military—there are dozens of battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. In addition, every national park is part of our collective identity that defines who we are and where we came from as a nation. They are tactile reminders of the values, the ideals, and the freedoms that our veterans protect.

A free lifetime Military Pass is also available for Gold Star Families and US military veterans. Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/veterans-day.htm

Image: Fall colors frame the historic Fort McHenry National Monument & Historic Shrine, Maryland.

11/10/2023

11/10/2023

“You can tell it’s an Aspen tree because of the way it is.” - Lenny Pepperbottom

If you still can’t tell, what are doing with your life?Just kidding. But really? Okay, but aspens can also be identified by their smooth, white bark marked by scars where lower branches are naturally self-pruned. (We knew not to cut bangs! Shake it off!) Shake, shake, sorry, quake. Quaking Aspen leaves are somewhat heart shaped (work with us), with finely saw-toothed margins and range in size from 1.25-3” (3-8 cm) long. The leaves attach to branches via a long and flattened petiole, so that even the slightest breeze causes the leaves to flutter. Nice, err, neat! This gives the overall tree the appearance that it is quaking or trembling - hence the common name Quaking Aspen (it’s all coming together) and the scientific name’s specific epithet - tremuloides.

Image: Golden colored Aspen trees at Great Basin National Park, Nevada.

11/09/2023

Boozhoo! (Hello)

This week, the Ojibwemowin (Ojibwe language) Word of the Week is Binaakwe-giizis.

As the trees lose their brightly colored leaves, we have reached the end of Binaakwe-giizis. This giizis (moon) name refers to binaakwii, meaning it (a tree) has its leaves fall. This time of year is also called the Combing Leaves Moon. As the leaves cover the ground in a blanket, we think about raking them out of the way.

It is important not just to see these words but to hear them. Listen and practice saying the words here:
Binaakwe-giizis: https://ow.ly/rcYX50Q1zGa

Gigawaabamin miinawaa (I'll see you again) next Sunday!
For more Ojibwemowin words and phrases, visit our website at https://ow.ly/lv6i50Q1zGb



[NPS Photo/ A Hernandez]

11/09/2023

Is reading cursive your superpower?

Nah? Okay, have a good one. Wait, come back!

Just in time for , uncover stories of the American Revolution told by the people who lived it. You could be the first person in 200 years to learn their stories! The National Park Service and US National Archives are collaborating on a special project to transcribe the pension records of more than 80,000 of America’s first veterans and their widows. The project will make a permanent contribution to the historical record for the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

Learn how to register and start transcribing at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/americanrevolution/revolutionary-war-pension-project.htm

P.S. You do not need to be an expert at reading cursive. It may help, but not everything is in cursive. Just saying.

11/08/2023

Tombstone tourists (also known as “taphophiles”) who have visited the Northeast will no doubt be familiar with the Death’s Head headstone design like those found at the cemetery at the William Floyd Estate. This particular stone belongs to William Floyd’s father, Nicoll Floyd, who died in 1755 of Typhus or Typhoid Fever. It is one of the oldest stones in the cemetery.

The Death’s Head symbol was a popular 17th-Century symbol used on grave markers, as it served as a biological depiction of death. For those who were illiterate (as many were in the 17th and 18th centuries), it was a simple and direct way of communicating the spot as someone’s final resting place. For those who could read a tombstone’s inscription, the design was a representation of the eventuality of death and the feathered wings perhaps signified a journey of the soul elsewhere.

As with most things, fashions in tombstone decoration have changed throughout history. Prior to the 17th century, grave markers were often plain stones with inscriptions of the person's name and details of their passing. Plain stones were soon phased out with the rise of the popular Death’s Head, only for that symbol to be replaced during the Victorian Era. Historians note a change in attitude toward death during this period, as the skull with wings is replaced with winged cherubs, depicting a softer attitude towards one's death instead of the harsh reminder of a skull.

The next time you walk the hallowed grounds of a cemetery (if you're into that kind of thing), take a closer look at the design of gravestones. While dates are an obvious way to tell how old a marker is, for older stones with faded text, you can often tell what period the grave is from by the design details.

NPS Photo

11/08/2023

Me: I’m going to be so productive today.

Also me:

You tried. A little power nap never hurt. It’s 6pm? Sigh. Yep, missed lunch. It’s okay, maybe you just work better in the evening?

For the most part, red foxes sleep during the day, as they are mostly nocturnal. However, sometimes they will venture out during the day, particularly in more urban areas, or if they promised to share their screen with the team’s PowerPoint presentation. Umm, you haven’t registered it yet? *That* is why I won't do two shows anymore. I won't. We hear ya. By the way, did you know red foxes have almost supersonic hearing! They can hear can hear a mouse squeak from 100 feet away. Not bad. It’s in the PowerPoint.

Image: Three red foxes ready for a much needed nap. 🦊

11/07/2023

11/07/2023

America is a vast land of many cultures dating back thousands of years to the original inhabitants of the land. The history and heritage of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Island communities are part of all national parks today. Throughout the year, and especially during November during Native American Heritage Month, the National Park Service and our partners celebrate together the rich traditions, languages, and contributions of Indigenous people.

Join the conversation by using or . Explore the stories in honor of Native American Heritage Month, but also find resources to learn about Indigenous history and heritage in national parks year-round at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/native-american-heritage-month.htm

11/06/2023

👀 Looking for internships in historic preservation, cultural resource management, museum studies, or related fields? Check out The National Council for Preservation Education (NCPE), which has collaborated with the National Park Service since 1992 to connect post-secondary students and recent graduates to opportunities in these fields, along with other agencies. The deadline to apply is TOMORROW, November 7th at 5pm ET!

👀 Apply for opportunities through the NCPE-NPS partnership.

Internships include:
🔵 History Collection, Conservation at Harpers Ferry Center
🟠 Russian Artifact Conservation at Sitka National Historical Park
🟢 African American Historical Archeology or Archives Outreach and Engagement at Everglades National Park
🔵 Historic Preservation at Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
🟠 Historical Research and Museum Collection at Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
🟢 Archeology at Joshua Tree National Park
🔵 Cultural Resources with the Alaska Regional Office (remote)
🟠 Museum Collection and Archiving at Whiskeytown National Recreation Area
🟢 Industrial and Social History Museum Collection at Keweenaw National Historical Park
🔵 Digitization at Yellowstone National Park and Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
🟠 Indigenous America 250 with the Northeast Regional Office
🟢 Visitor Services at Harry S Truman National Historic Site

Applicants must be currently enrolled in a degree-seeking academic program or recently graduated (within the past 12 months) and be a U.S. Citizen or permanent resident.

Get your applications in ➡️ https://preservenet.org/ncpe-internships/

📸 NPS - Former NCPE Interns Lauren and Avra standing between shelving units, holding books from the Cane River Creole National Historical Park museum collection in gloved hands. They visited the park’s new Curation Facility to familiarize themselves with the material culture of Oakland and Magnolia Plantations. The interns examined leather bound volumes of the Complete Works of Voltaire originally published in the 1820s.

National Park Service

11/06/2023

Did you know veterans of the U.S. Armed Services and Gold Star Families can obtain a free lifetime pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation sites? Veterans can present one of four forms of acceptable ID (Department of Defense ID Card, Veteran Health ID (VHIC), Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on a state-issued US driver’s license or ID card) at participating federal recreation areas that normally charge an entrance fee. Gold Star Families can obtain information, self-certify they qualify, and download a voucher on NPS.gov

Every year, the National Park Service offers free entry for all visitors on Veterans Day (November 11). In addition to the fee waiver, national parks will offer programs, hikes, and other activities. Many national parks have direct connections to the American military—dozens of battlefields, military parks, and historic sites commemorate and honor the service of American veterans. In addition, every national park is part of our collective identity that defines who we are and where we came from as a nation. They are tactile reminders of the values, the ideals, and the freedoms that our veterans protect.

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

Image: A veteran stands next to a park ranger and points to a lifetime park pass.

11/06/2023

When somebody says “Happy Monday”…

The American mink (Neogale vison) is a semiaquatic species of mustelid native to North America. It's known for a long, thin body, short legs, pointed snout and claws, and disdain for a perky disposition. When threatened, they may growl, hiss, screech or discharge a strong, musky scent. At the very least, a passive aggressive email may be sent. “Correct me if I’m wrong, Carol…”

Image: American mink at Alaska’s Lake Clark National Park & Preserve warning you to keep your distance with its mouth, face, eyes...why are you still here!

11/06/2023

My toxic trait is that I’m toxic.

Is that plant looking at me? Don’t make eye contact. Actaea pachypoda, the white baneberry or doll’s-eyes, is a species of flowering plant in the genus Actaea, of the family Ranunculaceae. The plant’s most striking feature is its fruit, a 1 cm diameter white berry, whose size, shape, and black stigma scar give the species the name, “doll’s eyes”. Did it just blink? No. You did.

A variety of birds, which are not affected by the toxins, or the creepy eyeball aesthetic, eat the berries and help disperse the seeds. However, the berries and the entire plant are considered poisonous to humans and can lead to vomiting, delirium, and stomach cramps. On that note, don’t eat it. Have a good one!

Image: Eye am what eye am…👀 A flowering white baneberry with a pinkish-red stalk and white berries with black dots and fall foliage at Shenandoah National Park.

11/05/2023

Baskets are one of the oldest utilitarian art forms in Southern California. Indigenous communities associated with the land, now a part of Joshua Tree National Park, had several types of baskets, each with a particular use, including cooking, gathering, sifting, gifts, and ceremonial offerings.

This basket was found in a cache in Cahuilla territory along with plant seeds, an olla, and a metal pan repaired with pitch. The metal pan dates from 1895 – 1910 and indicates that this family group was still coming to the area, even as the presence of miners, cattlemen, homesteaders and ranchers increased. The Cahuilla, Serrano and the other associated tribal groups continue traditional harvests of seeds and other plant materials today.

Carrying or Burden Basket
Cahuilla (attributed)
ca. 1900

Cahuilla: Sáqahval (specific name), ne’at (general term)
Chemehuevi: nengapive
Mohave: kari

Yucca, black juncus, red juncus, deer grass. Coiled construction with grass foundation.
H 29.5, D 47.5 cm
Joshua Tree National Park, JOTR 8887

11/04/2023

11/04/2023

Hello darkness my old friend, soon you’ll start at 5 pm.

Get the lantern out! Don’t forget, this weekend the clocks for many "fall back.” On the plus side, you do gain an hour of sleep.

Image: The Schuyler House at Saratoga National Historical Park illuminated at night. NPS/Kristin Vinduska

11/04/2023

Friday night! Time to party! LOL, Just kidding, I’m already in my burrow.

Nice marmot (burrow), dude. Does this look like a comfy spot for a cozy night in? Or a cozy season? Hoary marmots hibernate every winter, usually starting in late September/October lasting until April/May.

Marmots live in burrows that they dig themselves, or sometimes in the deep crevices of rocks. Gneiss! Burrows have a vital impact on the survival of many animals. They provide a place to rest, hide, hibernate, stream their favorite shows in peace, and help them avoid bad weather and predators. Have fun going out! We’re good right here.

Image: Hoary marmot peering out from rocky outcrop at Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska. A rug would really tie the room together. NPS/S. Wright

11/03/2023

What’s your favorite park podcast? Oh, the podcast? Ours too! 🎙️

National parks tell the stories of America. My Park Story, a “parkcast” hosted by the National Park Service, tells the stories of individuals who share their unique connections to the parks and the National Park Service in their communities. Listen as we explore personal stories of enjoyment, education, and inspiration in these special places and spaces.

In the latest episode, host Dave Barak speaks with Kelli Jones, Indigenous Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park and how her Native background has brought more depth to her role as a National Park Service ranger.

Listen at: https://www.nps.gov/podcasts/my-park-story-podcast.htm

Image: Grand Canyon National Park, NPS/M. Quinn

11/02/2023

November is Native American Heritage Month! Chaco Canyon is a sacred and deeply personal place for many Indigenous peoples all throughout the Southwest. The sites and landscapes of Chaco Culture National Historical Park are traditionally associated with 26 tribes, many of whom refer to Chaco using their connected place name. The Hopi place name for Chaco Canyon is Yupkoyvi, “the place beyond the horizon.” The Acoma place name for Chaco is W’aasrba shak’a which means a “place of greasewood” and it may have been shortened to “Chaca.” The Navajo name for the canyon refers to a large boulder that used to stand behind Pueblo Bonito. The term Tsébiyaanii’ áhá refers both to this rock and to the canyon itself. When visiting your national parks, it is important to remember that we are merely guests on the homelands of people who knew these places long before we arrived. Listed below are the tribes traditionally associated with Chaco Culture National Historical Park:

Hopi Tribe of Arizona
Jicarilla Apache Nation, New Mexico
Kewa Pueblo, New Mexico
Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation, New Mexico
Navajo Nation, Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah
Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico
Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico
Pueblo of Cochiti, New Mexcico
Pueblo of Isleta, New Mexico
Pueblo of Jemez, New Mexico
Pueblo of Laguna, New Mexico
Pueblo of Nambe, New Mexico
Pueblo of Picuris, New Mexico
Pueblo of Pojoaque, New Mexico
Pueblo of San Felipe, New Mexico
Pueblo of San Ildefonso, New Mexico
Pueblo of Sandia, New Mexico
Pueblo of Santa Ana, New Mexico
Pueblo of Santa Clara, New Mexico
Pueblo of Taos, New Mexico
Pueblo of Tesuque, New Mexico
Pueblo of Zia, New Mexico
Southern Ute Indian Tribe of the Southern Ute Reservation, Colorado
Ute Mountain Tribe of the Ute Mountain Reservation, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah
Ysleta del Sur Pueblo of Texas
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico



Image description: A sunset peeking out from behind a wall of Pueblo Bonito. NPS Photo/Meghan Murphy.

11/01/2023

National Park Service law enforcement rangers, special agents, and United States Park Police are stationed around the country and work to fulfill the National Park Service mission by protecting the natural and cultural resources parks were established to preserve, and by keeping people safe when they visit. Today. the National Park Service announced a seven-year initiative to focus efforts on hiring more women in law enforcement positions across the country. The National Park Service will be joining hundreds of law enforcement agencies in committing to increasing female representation in our law enforcement workforce by signing onto the 30X30 pledge, an initiative to advance the representation and experiences of women in police agencies across the United States by 2030.

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1207/women-in-law-enforcement-pledge.htm

Image: Law enforcement ranger overlooking the Grand Canyon.

11/01/2023

Art has been part of the history of the national park movement since the 1870s when Hudson River School painters captured majestic Western landscapes. Through their awe-inspiring works, many came to see these special places for the first time. The works captured their imaginations, spurring them to preserve these lands for future generations.

From the sculptural gardens at Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in New Hampshire to the Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon National Park, to the home and studio of Impressionist, J. Alden Weir at Weir Farm National Historical Park in Connecticut, explore some of the special areas near you that are protected for their role in telling the story of the arts in America.

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/arts

Image: A painter next to a rock wall under a canopy of golden leaves at Weir Farm.

10/31/2023

Boo.

10/31/2023

“My whole life is a dark room. One big, dark room.” — Lydia Deetz

Did you know the National Park Service manages over 4,700 caves with at least four that extend for more than 135 miles and are so complex that the casual visitor would be lost among the hundreds of passages to choose from? True story.

Check out these enlightening stops. Do you have a favorite? Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/caves/

📸 Mammoth Cave National Park

📸 Carlsbad Caverns National Park

📸 Wind Cave National Park

📸 Jewel Cave National Monument

📸 Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve

10/30/2023

I don’t always ch ch ch ch…but when I do, I ah ah ah ah!
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Felt cute, may go camping later. The Jewel Box Spider, also known as a Spiny Orb-weaver (Gasteracantha cancriformis), is a diminutive spiny spider that can resemble a tiny, jewel-encrusted box. It may also resemble a hockey mask wearing figure who likes to take long walks near the lake. Good times. These spiders mainly prey on whiteflies, moths, teenagers, and beetles. Did you hear something?

What else is crawling around out there? Find out at https://www.nps.gov/foma/learn/nature/insects.htm

Image: Skulltula? A Spiny Orb-weaver, with distinct markings, rests quietly in its web at Fort Matanzas National Monument, Florida. NPS/Linda Chandler⁣



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