July’s full Moon, called the Buck Moon, rises on July 29th, 2026, at 10:36 AM EDT. Unfortunately for us the Moon will be below horizon by this time. Not to worry though, if you want to see the full Buck Moon it will still look full and bright later that night when it rises at about 9:00 PM. The Moon will also appear to be full and bright on the day before, July 28th, and the day after, July 30th. Of course, this comes with the disclaimer” weather permitting” for all these days. Native Americans named Moons after what they were observing in the natural world around them. July’s Moon has a fitting name. Bucks (male deer) shed and regrow their antlers each year. Beginning in late March a buck’s antlers begin to grow. Deer, like all other animals, depend on Earth’s cycle of light and dark. The increasing daylight hours trigger the hormones that start the new antler growth each spring. And antlers grow fast – one and a half inches per week, making them the fastest growing bones in the world! It’s this time of year when a buck’s antlers are in full growth mode. By early August the buck has a new set of antlers bigger and more impressive than his last set. Native Americans observed this incredible transformation and it’s no wonder why they named July’s full Moon the Buck Moon. Although Buck Moon is the most common name for July’s full Moon there are others. The Haida and Tlingit Tribes in Alaska call this Moon the Salmon Moon. The Wishram of the Pacific Northwest call it the Salmon Go Up Rivers in a Group Moon. Both names refer to the return of the Salmon to their local rivers. There are many names that relate to plant growth and harvesting such as the Mohawk name Time of Much Ripening Moon, the Shawnee Blackberry Moon, the Lakota Moon When the Chokecherries are Black, the Zuni Limbs are Broken by Fruit Moon, the Ojibwe Blueberry Moon and the Potawatomi Moon of the Young Corn, to name just a few. This Moon was also called the Thunder Moon by the Western Abenaki because of the large number of thunderstorms that happen this time of year. July is rich with the sights, sounds and smells of nature; Native Americans used all of them in their names for the July full Moon. Take the time to experience the Buck Moon on July 29th and the richness that nature has to offer for yourself during July.
It’ssssssss #WildlifeWednesday and tomorrow is #WorldSnakeDay, so let's learn about one of our resident animal ambassadors, Zea the corn snake! The corn snake is a type of rat snake found in North America, mostly in the central and southeastern United States. It is not venomous and kills its prey instead by constriction (squeezing). It is a beneficial animal to humans as it keeps populations of wild rodents in check, particularly near agricultural land and crops. There are two origins of the name “corn snake.” One says the name comes from the tendency of the snake to live near stores of grain and maize, where it hunts rats and mice. The other suggests that the name comes from the distinctive checkered scales on the belly, which resemble variegated kernels of corn. The lifespan for wild corn snakes is 6-8 years, but in captivity they can live to well over 20. Zea is 13 years old. Corn snakes are popular to keep in captivity for educational purposes and as pets due to the ease of their care, calm temperament, and tolerance for being handled. Zea is a curious snake with a gentle disposition. She is very receptive to being held and enjoys meeting visitors and audiences at programs and outreach events. She also likes supervised exploring and slithering outdoors, exercising on her tank's climbing wall, and making tunnels in her substrate. Join us tomorrow, World Snake Day , for a special free presentation featuring Zea!
