Naturalist News

Fireflies, also known as lightning bugs, are soft-bodied beetles. These bioluminescent beetles emit light to communicate to mates and deter predators. While they are commonly associated with the eastern United States, fireflies can also be found during th...

Weed season is here in Park City! In addition to seeing weeds, you may be hearing terms like noxious, invasive, weedy, native, and non-native- what do they all mean? Weeds are unwanted plants. What qualifies any plant as a “weed” changes with context and ...

As a kid, you probably remember jumping in puddles, feeling mud squish between your toes, and proudly serving up “mud pies” from your backyard kitchen. There was something magical—and just a little rebellious—about getting messy for no reason other than i...

Did you know that May is American Wetlands Month? It's the perfect time to celebrate the amazing wetlands right here in the Wasatch Back! Wetlands are one of the most important—and rare—ecosystems in Utah. In fact, less than 1% of our entire state is cons...

April is Earth Month, bringing to the forefront that I have always loved everything about nature and wildlife. I’m always wishing I could do more to make sure all I love about the natural world around me is preserved.

Towards the end of April, you have a unique opportunity to become a part of something big – the City Nature Challenge! In Park City, this event is a collaboration between Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter and Basin Recreation, and it's all about observing and d...

As our days begin to grow longer, the first signs of spring are quietly starting to emerge. One of the earliest and most audible signs is the return of our feathered friends who call Park City home for the warmer months of the year.

Although winter can be cold and dark, it is also a great season to explore and engage with nature in new ways! A fun and easy way to do this is by building your own snow gauge! With a paint stirrer and a few materials, you can measure snowfall and connect...

If you enjoy summer days hiking in the local mountains or sitting among the flowers in a nearby garden, you have undoubtedly observed butterflies flitting from flower to flower or gliding on updrafts overhead. These small fragile creatures have withstood ...

While winter in Park City tends to bring the hustle and bustle of ski season, winter for wildlife often means a time to migrate, hibernate, hunker down, or reduce activity to survive the long and cold season. Lucky for us, a blanket of snow across the lan...

Places like the Swaner Preserve have become increasingly rare. Behind a shopping plaza with diverse restaurants, boutiques, and condos, there lies a 1,200-acre piece of permanently protected open space. It starkly contrasts the life around its border—a sl...

With the holiday season just around the corner, many of us are planning festive meals to share with friends and loved ones. The abundance of large dishes and special treats often exceeds what we normally consume. Unfortunately, this often results in exces...

If you’ve driven, ridden, or walked past the Swaner Preserve on Highland Drive, you might have noticed a scattering of little pink flags dotting the landscape. What are they all about? Let us fill you in!

As fall arrives in Park City, we begin to see an incredible sight unfold in the sky above. With their distinctive red crowns and prehistoric calls, flocks of sandhill cranes embark on an extraordinary migratory journey to their southern wintering grounds....

Did you know that Utah has several native thistles, including Wavyleaf Thistle (Cirsium undulatum) and Elk Thistle (Cirsium scariosum), which are commonly spotted at Swaner Preserve? Learn more about the differences between native and invasive thistles.

Want to learn more about innovations in wine production that put people and the planet at the forefront? Swaner Preserve and Vine Lore have teamed up to bring a sampling of sustainable, biodynamic, or innovative wines to this event!

As snow slowly melts from mountain peaks - allowing the world around us to bloom into vibrant colors and lush habitats - we encourage you to slow down and zoom in! There are many small wonders to be found in the broad landscapes we inhabit here in Park Ci...

It's weed season, Park City! Help our native ecosystem by tackling invasive weeds in your area, or joining in one of Swaner's upcoming volunteer events!

It’s spring, which means baby animals of all kinds are starting to appear! Learn what to do if you find a baby bird during this time of year.

Between March 23 and April 2, five dead beavers were discovered near the Swaner Preserve & EcoCenter by Swaner staff. All five beavers shared one lodge outside the EcoCenter, and samples collected from one of the beavers tested positive for tularemia.

We are thrilled to announce our new executive director, Lewis Kogan. Learn more about his impressive career and excitement to join the organization.