March 27th, 2025

Texas has its fair share of rodents. Typically small, they scurry around with minimal effects on our day-to-day lives. Few, however, are big enough to cause trouble for human engineering endeavors, specifically stormwater collection systems. Many people have seen both beavers and nutrias before but aren’t aware of the problems they can cause for these systems. Known as ecosystem engineers, these flat-tailed rodents create elaborate dam structures that create a sanctuary for other individuals in the community. They are stubborn creatures that hyper-fixate on building their dams in a certain spot and will continue to build even if destroyed. Some Read More »

April 21st, 2017

SSCI will be celebrating Earth Day tomorrow, April 22, 2017 at the Party for the Planet  at Armand Bayou Nature Center.  Earth Day is an annual event created to celebrate the planet’s environment and raise public awareness about the environment.  The day, marked on April 22, is observed worldwide with rallies, conferences, outdoor activities and service projects. The first Earth Day was in 1970.  For more information about the history of Earth Day, visit Live Science. Party for the Planet is being hosted by Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) Board of Trustees.  ABNC stands out as one of the largest urban wilderness preserves Read More »