From candied apples to warm pumpkin pie, fall fruits make amazing treats. Schmeeckle’s animals have their own fall favorites too as the forest becomes a cornucopia of seasonal delights. Experience how the autumn harvest unites us with our wild neighbors.

As the sun sets and the woods go dark, our resident opossums set out on a mission. From finding food to navigating the night, see what makes Wisconsin’s marsupial a successful nocturnal agent.

Weasels, fishers, badgers, oh my! Join this indoor adventure and ferret out how these clever creatures use their unique traits, behaviors, and survival strategies to thrive across Wisconsin.

Unearth the fascinating lives of fungi and the crucial roles they play in the ecosystem. Dig deeper to see how mushrooms and other fungi grow, communicate, and interact with us and the world around them. 

Have you ever wondered what folktales were inspired by your backyard plants? Delve into the plants that have shaped our stories, health, and habits through the seasons.

Winter is on its way, and most leaves have fallen. How can you identify the trees along the trail without their leaves? Practice different ways to identify our barky friends in winter, and pick up some tips and tricks to use on your own. Dress for the weather.

Why do so many creatures have tails? Take a stroll through Schmeeckle to meet some critters with terrific tails and reveal the exciting, daring, and unexpected stories behind them. Dress for the weather. Photo courtesy of Eli Wess, USFWS.

From mammals to birds, reptiles to insects, some of the creatures that call Wisconsin home have found themselves on the endangered species list. Meet some of these rare animals, peek into the challenges they face, and leave knowing ways you can help Photo courtesy of USFWS.

When the weather gets chilly, the most sensible among us seem to fly south, and most of our ducks and geese are among them. Still, not every so-called snowbird actually leaves Schmeeckle when the snow falls. Come home to roost and take a gander at the local waterfowl that spend their winters in Wisconsin.  

Where do animals go when winter arrives? Uncover the cozy and creative ways Schmeeckle’s critters find shelter from the cold and make themselves at home. Dress for the weather.