Here’s an animal that needs no introduction. As well-known as skunks are by sight, it’s probably their notorious predator protection that makes them famous. Skunk spray is an oily liquid produced by glands under its large tail. When threatened, a skunk turns away from the threat and blasts it with a hard-to-remove, horrible-smelling spray, which can travel as far as ten feet. Skunk spray is a marvel of chemistry, made up of seven different major volatile components. If you can look past that one, obvious, negative feature, skunks do us a lot of favors: they eat stinging insects, for example. And they are naturally immune to snake venom, so they eat venomous snakes, too. And then there’s the cuteness. The undeniable cuteness. Photo by Michael Schramm, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

I like fat bears and I can not lie. Fat Bear Week is finally here! In preparation for the long, harsh winter, brown bears at Katmai National Park & Preserve in Alaska have spent the last months stuffing themselves and packing on the pounds. The chubbiest bears are the ones most likely to emerge healthy next spring. Every year, Katmai features before and after photos of some of the park’s bears so that the public can vote for their favorite husky bears. It’s tons of fun. Vote now: https://explore.org/fat-bear-week Photo of 128 Grazer by A. Ditta, National Park Service.

We don’t want to put words in this red fox’s mouth, but maybe this pup is just silently amazed that more than 3,000 species of wildlife live on more than 245 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management in 23 states. In fact, the BLM manages more wildlife habitat than any other federal or state agency. Walking a historic trail or paddling a scenic river, you can encounter all kinds of wonderful wildlife, including red foxes. With excellent eyesight, a keen sense of smell and acute hearing, they are patient and clever hunters. And judging from this picture, deep thinkers. Photo by Ken Henke, Bureau of Land Management.

Once near extinction, bison walked the tightrope of survival. If not for the foresight of a few individuals including Theodore Roosevelt, the American bison could have been gone forever. In 1956, 29 bison were brought from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge in Nebraska and released in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park – named in honor of the conservationist president. Today, small herds of bison roam in both units of this amazing North Dakota park – examples of the power of conservation. Photo by R. Honeyman, National Park Service.

It’s National Park Week and we’re excited to share virtual visits to some of our country’s greatest treasures. Our first national park, Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, was established in 1872 to protect the area’s incredible natural scenery, unique geothermal features and wonderful wildlife. Every day, bison herds move through picturesque valleys and geysers erupt in towering clouds of steam. Each visit to Yellowstone – and all our national parks – is a chance to see something new and connect yourself to the natural world and generations of human history. Photo by Jacob W. Frank, National Park Service.

The American alligators at Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida are hard to miss. Growing up to 15 feet long, they’re a sight most visitors won’t forget after exploring this amazing 729,000-acre freshwater swamp. With their long tails, scales and giant jaws with sharp teeth, these predators are often a symbol of fear in the swamp. About those teeth, alligators have around 80 in their mouth at a time. As the teeth wear down, they are replaced. An alligator can go through as many as 3,000 teeth in its lifetime. Photo by Robert Sullivan (www.sharetheexperience.org).

Happy birthday to us! On March 3, 1849, Congress passed a bill creating the Department of the Interior to take charge of the nation’s internal affairs. Interior’s diverse mission – which includes conserving and managing our public lands, wildlife and cultural heritage, providing scientific solutions, powering our nation’s future and honoring trust responsibilities to our nation’s first people – has earned it the nickname “The Department of Everything Else.” With the stalwart bison as our symbol, the Interior family is proud to serve the American people. Photo by John Carr, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Look at those paws! Acting like snowshoes, the wide feet of the Canada lynx keep it nimble in the snow. These regal cats have long tufts of black fur on the tips of their ears, a ruff of long hairs that frame their faces, and short, black-tipped tails (distinguishing it from its smaller relative, the bobcat). Their fur varies from yellowish to rusty to reddish-brown, muted with silver and tipped with white – an ideal coloring for an animal active in the shadow hours of dawn and dusk. Though found in Alaska, most of Canada and some states along the northern border and in the Rockies, lynx can be hard to spot. Excellent hunters – hare are their primary prey – they’ll probably see you before you see them. Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

This time of year, bald eagles are working hard to prepare their nests for future little ones. The nests they build are massive and can be anywhere from 5 to 9.5 feet in diameter, 2-4 feet tall and may weigh a ton or more. Seeing our national symbol building for its future across the country is a good reminder of what we can accomplish when we work together. 

It was forty-six years ago, today, that the Endangered Species Act was signed into law - helping recover some of America’s most treasured wild animals, like the majestic bald eagle. And because of it, we get another wonderful winter season of watching bald eagles. 

This photo is of a bald eagle on Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Washington, swooping low with nesting material. Photo courtesy of Angie Vogel.

Hang with us during #BatWeek! Just another example of a beautiful bat, spotted bats are found in the western United States and are insectivores, feeding mostly on moths. They are said to have the largest ears of any North American bat species and are distinguishable by their jet black fur with white spots and pinkish ears. They’re just one of over 1,300 species of bat worldwide! Each year, Bat Week takes place the last week in October to celebrate the role of bats in nature and all they do for us. Next time someone says bats aren’t cute, you can tell them right off the bat that they’re wrong. Photo by Paul Cryan, U.S. Geological Survey. 🦇