Awesome Animal Academy

09/02/2026

A non-linear guide to working with bats after graduation

08/29/2026

If you love bats like we do, here's a few tips to attract more bats to your yard:

🪰 Plant a bat garden. Many bats eat night-flying insects, so you’ll want to plant flowers that either stay open through the night or bloom through the evening.
🌸 For a tasty, long-lasting buffet, choose 2-3 plants that bloom in spring, summer, and fall.
🌱 Use native plants that match your region and site conditions, as they have evolved to attract native insects. Remember: native plants attract native insects that in turn provide bat food!
🪵 For many bat species, dead trees are a comfy place to call home!
🛖 Bat house curious? Bat houses are complicated to get right, and can even harm bats if installed incorrectly. thoughtful construction and placement can increase their chances of being occupied.

For more information on bat gardens and bat houses, visit our website. Link in comments!

08/27/2026

It's so sad to see them go. It sure is incredible to follow the distances they travel 😁

Hummingbirds are making their way south!
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Each fall, these tiny dynamos travel thousands of miles from breeding habitats across Canada and the United States to nonbreeding grounds in Central America. Along the way, they rely on networks of flowering native plants and healthy habitat to fuel their journey.

If you want to help these little jewels on their journeys south, remember to keep your feeders clean! Use a 1:4 white sugar-to-water ratio and change the mixture every few days, especially in warmer weather. No one likes mold or ants ruining their food — hummingbirds included!

Learn more about these tiny travelers on our website:
https://abcbirds.info/4qD0nld

08/27/2026

🍁💙FALL FUEL-UP MIGRATION WAVE!🍁Reports of Hummer Swarms Fueling-up in ILLINOIS, CONNECTICUT, GEORGIA, PENNSYLVANIA, MISSOURI & TEXAS!

Hummers need to double their body weight for the Fall Migration.
Keep your Feeders full for the Tiny Travelers.

Photo by: Twila Orr
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💙HELP TRACK HUMMERS ON THE MOVE!🍁
Let us know when they leave.
And when the New Migrating Hummers arrive.
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?mid=18Hq54z_1js5QdXQnqn7I5Q72qEOey68&usp=sharing

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Camping and cooking dinner with Alma & Cory. It is quite an adventure. Alma the Amazon keeps tugging on my shoulder to cook faster ❤️

08/22/2026

08/19/2026

Please join us in celebrating our newest accredited facility: Ochsner Park Zoo ! 🎉🐻

Located in Baraboo, Wisconsin, Ochsner Park Zoo has been connecting the community with wildlife for nearly 100 years. Since opening in 1926, the zoo has grown from its beginnings with two bear cubs and two deer fawns to a diverse collection of more than 30 species.

Ochsner Park Zoo is committed to providing a safe and engaging home for animals, with many of its residents being rehabilitated wildlife or animals rescued from the exotic pet trade. Through educational talks, keeper chats, enrichment programs, and meaningful animal experiences, the zoo creates opportunities for visitors of all ages to learn about and appreciate wildlife.

We’re proud to celebrate Ochsner Park Zoo for its dedication to providing exceptional animal care, inspiring learning, and creating opportunities for its community to connect with wildlife.

Please join us in welcoming Ochsner Park Zoo to the ZAA-accredited community! 🎉

Learn more at: https://baraboowi.gov/ochsnerzoo