Hormel Nature Center Staff
Luke Reese - Director/Naturalist
Favorite Mammal: Beaver
Favorite Reptile: The Blanding's Turtle that lives at the Nature Center
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Japanese Barberry
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"In my life, humans have both shown we can work to improve the planet for other creatures and make it worse. I want to make it a better place."
FUN FACT about Luke: "I have trouble swimming in a straight line. I blame my webbed toes on one foot."
Favorite Mammal: Beaver
Favorite Reptile: The Blanding's Turtle that lives at the Nature Center
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Japanese Barberry
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"In my life, humans have both shown we can work to improve the planet for other creatures and make it worse. I want to make it a better place."
FUN FACT about Luke: "I have trouble swimming in a straight line. I blame my webbed toes on one foot."
Meredith Maloney - Office Manager/Naturalist
Email: Meredithm@hormelnaturecenter.org - scheduling rentals/general questions
Favorite Bird: Bar-tailed Godwit, nature’s most persevering creature!
Favorite Plant: Lily of the Valley
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Cyanobacteria
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"To love, explore, and understand the natural world fills my cup. To be a part of increasing accessibility to the love, exploration, and understanding of the natural world is the best way I could think to spend my life."
FUN FACT about Meredith: I studied abroad in three different countries in college, conducting research about the rainforests of Costa Rica, shorebirds of New Zealand, and Bottlenose Dolphins of Panama!
Email: Meredithm@hormelnaturecenter.org - scheduling rentals/general questions
Favorite Bird: Bar-tailed Godwit, nature’s most persevering creature!
Favorite Plant: Lily of the Valley
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Cyanobacteria
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"To love, explore, and understand the natural world fills my cup. To be a part of increasing accessibility to the love, exploration, and understanding of the natural world is the best way I could think to spend my life."
FUN FACT about Meredith: I studied abroad in three different countries in college, conducting research about the rainforests of Costa Rica, shorebirds of New Zealand, and Bottlenose Dolphins of Panama!
Sydney Weisinger - Teacher/Naturalist
Email: sydney@hormelnaturecenter.org - Austin school field trips/summer field trips
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Cats and Chickadees
Favorite Reptile: Painted Turtle
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: White Pine and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
"I grew up camping and hiking so being in nature is where I go to find my center again. I want to help kids find themselves in nature so that they can feel connected to something every time they step outside."
FUN FACT about Sydney: "I have a scar on my leg shaped like a half moon so my mom calls me Moon Child."
Email: sydney@hormelnaturecenter.org - Austin school field trips/summer field trips
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Cats and Chickadees
Favorite Reptile: Painted Turtle
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: White Pine and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
"I grew up camping and hiking so being in nature is where I go to find my center again. I want to help kids find themselves in nature so that they can feel connected to something every time they step outside."
FUN FACT about Sydney: "I have a scar on my leg shaped like a half moon so my mom calls me Moon Child."
Kelly Bahl - Outreach Naturalist/Teacher
Email: kellyb@hormelnaturecenter.org - out of town field trips/special events/Sola Fide Observatory
Favorite Mammal: Hippos, beluga whales, cats
Favorite Reptile: Chameleon
Favorite Invertebrate: Cuttlefish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Nature is magical and awe-inspiring and we as humans owe it to the world to help protect it against ourselves."
FUN FACT about Kelly: "I once talked to a beluga whale and it talked back."
Email: kellyb@hormelnaturecenter.org - out of town field trips/special events/Sola Fide Observatory
Favorite Mammal: Hippos, beluga whales, cats
Favorite Reptile: Chameleon
Favorite Invertebrate: Cuttlefish
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
"Nature is magical and awe-inspiring and we as humans owe it to the world to help protect it against ourselves."
FUN FACT about Kelly: "I once talked to a beluga whale and it talked back."
This position was created through a grant project. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Akiko Nakagawa- Teacher/Naturalist Intern
Email: akikon@hormelnaturecenter.org
Favorite Bird: Scarlet Tanagers
Favorite Mammal: Cat
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch Trees and Black Eyed Susans
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels (also humans :) )
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple syrup
"Minnesota is home to so much incredible nature. It's so special to be able to spend every day working in and teaching others about this magical place."
FUN FACT about Akiko: I practice a niche Japanese martial art called naginata! It's similar to fencing but with two meter sticks instead!
Email: akikon@hormelnaturecenter.org
Favorite Bird: Scarlet Tanagers
Favorite Mammal: Cat
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch Trees and Black Eyed Susans
Least Favorite Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels (also humans :) )
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple syrup
"Minnesota is home to so much incredible nature. It's so special to be able to spend every day working in and teaching others about this magical place."
FUN FACT about Akiko: I practice a niche Japanese martial art called naginata! It's similar to fencing but with two meter sticks instead!
This position was created through a grant project. Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).
Adrianna Meiergerd - Teacher/Naturalist Intern
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Email: adrianna@hormelnaturecenter.org
Favorite Bird: Common Sandpiper Favorite Mammal: Three Banded Armadillo Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Ginkgo tree and Purple Prairie Clover Least Favorite Invasive Species: Common Carp Maple Syrup or Honey? I’ll eat both by the spoonful! “To share space with the natural world is a privilege. To educate and share with others how to appreciate it is only a small way we can make a larger impact." FUN FACT about Adrianna: I’ve worked almost every job at the nature center! I was a Kevin Dammen Mentorship program mentee, ski renter, volunteer, summer intern, and now full time intern! |
Sue Crabtree - Custodian
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Dolphin and Owl
Favorite Reptile: Gecko
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
FUN FACT about Sue: I swam at the Nature Center as a kid!
Favorite Mammal and Bird: Dolphin and Owl
Favorite Reptile: Gecko
Favorite Tree and Wildflower: Birch and Sunflower
Maple Syrup or Honey? Honey
FUN FACT about Sue: I swam at the Nature Center as a kid!
Duane Champlin - Custodian
Favorite Mammal: White-tailed Deer
Favorite Reptile: Skink
Favorite Tree: Aspen - because I love the gold color in the fall.
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
FUN FACT about Duane: I worked at a resort in northern Minnesota for two summers. My second year I cleaned over 2,000 fish.
Favorite Mammal: White-tailed Deer
Favorite Reptile: Skink
Favorite Tree: Aspen - because I love the gold color in the fall.
Maple Syrup or Honey? Maple Syrup
FUN FACT about Duane: I worked at a resort in northern Minnesota for two summers. My second year I cleaned over 2,000 fish.
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Sha - Education Bird Favorite Food: Rats. I may be a picky eater, but I am always happy with a rat! Why do they call me Sha? Sha is the Lakota word for Red. Why am I a Nature Center Staff member? When I was a fledgling, I was hit by a car. I sustained injuries that made me "non-releasable", meaning I wouldn't be able to hunt on my own. Now, I work at the Nature Center and teach visitors about my species and why we are important to protect. Favorite Bird: Wiyaka, we've been together since the beginning! FUN FACT about Sha: As a red tailed hawk, I have a lot of adaptations that make me an excellent predator. Red tailed hawks have super sharp talons that help them snatch their prey, great eyesight, and the ability to dive for prey at a speed of 100 mph. |
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Tiger Salamanders - Educational Amphibians
Favorite Food: Worms, mealworms, and nightcrawlers. We don't have the best eyesight, but we do our best to catch worms dangled in front of us by Nature Center Naturalists. Least Favorite Species: Opossums. They try to eat Tiger Salamanders! Some other predators include bobcats, owls, great blue herons, coyotes, snakes, and more. Luckily, our home here at the Nature Center is protected from predators. FUN FACT about our Tiger Salamanders: Tiger Salamanders don't have teeth, and eat their prey whole. They actually use their eyeballs to crush and push food down in order to swallow! |
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Gray Tree Frogs - Educational Amphibians
Favorite Food: We munch on mealworms, brought to our enclosure by Nature Center Naturalists. Least Favorite Species: Lots of animals try to eat Tree Frogs, but one invasive species that eats our food and sometimes us is the Bullfrog. FUN FACT about our Tree Frogs: Gray Tree Frogs can freeze in the wintertime. They rest under leaf litter, rocks, and logs, and up to 65% of their bodies can freeze solid, while the frog is alive! In springtime, they thaw and return to normal. |
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Blanding's Turtle - Educational Reptile
Favorite Food: I am fed a diet of Nutritional Sticks and Shrimp, but Shrimp is my favorite. FUN FACT about our Blanding's Turtle: I am a super rare turtle, so rare that our Naturalists had to get a permit to hire me! I've been at the Nature Center ever since I was little; when I first got here, I could fit in the palm of our Directors hand! Why am I so rare? Habitat destruction and fragmentation make it hard for us to survive. We also have a hard time crossing the road and often get squished. Protecting land like the Nature Center does helps animals like me have room to roam! |
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Fox Snake - Educational Reptiles
Favorite Food: Our Naturalists feed me mice when its time for me to eat. I like to swallow them whole! Favorite Plants: I love forested areas, particularly near a river. That's where I can camouflage the best! FUN FACT about Fox Snake: I've been handled all of my life. I know I might look scary to you, but I love meeting new people and showing visitors that I am a lot nicer than I might look! That's why I'm so good at my job. |
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Russel the Monkeyface Mussel - Educational Shellfish
Favorite Food: I may not be real, but you can open me up and look at what the inside of a mussel looks like. If I did eat, I would filter feed, meaning I would get my food like bacteria and phytoplankton out of the water by sucking it into my siphon. Least Favorite Invasive Species: Zebra Mussels, yuck! FUN FACT about Russel: I was the lead actor in a movie that you can watch here at the Nature Center. Come and check it out to learn more about me! |
In Memory of Guka the Barred Owl
It is with great sorrow that we bring the news of the passing of our beloved barred owl, Guka. He has been a staple of programs and visits to the nature center for 17 years and has touched thousands of lives of adults and children alike. Barred owls’ live expectancy is 8-10 years in the wild and upwards of 20 in captivity so while our staff is devastated it is not completely out of the blue.
Back when Guka was around a year old he got hit by a car, sustaining injuries that made him un-releasable back into the wild. He found his forever home with us shortly after and lived the next 17 years of his life completely spoiled and loved by all nature center staff. The past few weeks his health started to deteriorate rapidly and to ensure the utmost comfort for him in his last days the decision had to be made to say goodbye with heavy hearts.
Guka taught thousands of children in his life and instilled a love of the natural world with his unparalleled cuteness and relaxed attitude. We know he will be in the hearts of many and his memory will live on.
Some of you might be asking what’s next? While Guka’s enclosure will remain empty for the immediate future, there will be a time where we will find another raptor in need of a great home and another education bird will join our family. Until then, fly high Guka, you will be missed.
-Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Staff
It is with great sorrow that we bring the news of the passing of our beloved barred owl, Guka. He has been a staple of programs and visits to the nature center for 17 years and has touched thousands of lives of adults and children alike. Barred owls’ live expectancy is 8-10 years in the wild and upwards of 20 in captivity so while our staff is devastated it is not completely out of the blue.
Back when Guka was around a year old he got hit by a car, sustaining injuries that made him un-releasable back into the wild. He found his forever home with us shortly after and lived the next 17 years of his life completely spoiled and loved by all nature center staff. The past few weeks his health started to deteriorate rapidly and to ensure the utmost comfort for him in his last days the decision had to be made to say goodbye with heavy hearts.
Guka taught thousands of children in his life and instilled a love of the natural world with his unparalleled cuteness and relaxed attitude. We know he will be in the hearts of many and his memory will live on.
Some of you might be asking what’s next? While Guka’s enclosure will remain empty for the immediate future, there will be a time where we will find another raptor in need of a great home and another education bird will join our family. Until then, fly high Guka, you will be missed.
-Jay C. Hormel Nature Center Staff
In Memory of Wiyaka the Red Tailed Hawk
It is with heavy hearts that we bring the sad news of the passing of our female red tailed hawk, Wiyaka. She was around 8 years old and with us here at the nature center since the new building opened in 2017. Her name comes from the Lakota word for feather and Wiyaka’s plumage was unmatched. A beautiful specimen of a red tailed hawk from her extremely dark brown back feathers, her very fluffy and light colored pantaloons, to her vibrantly orange tail.
Wiyaka had a fiery spirit and attitude fit for a top predator making her such a great education bird. Her highest motivator in life was food (extremely relatable) and she didn’t like anything to get in her way when it was lunchtime. Her motivation, smarts, and sharp wit made her such a fun challenge when it came to training. At times we wondered if we were training her or she was training us! For the past few years Wiyaka and our staff worked hard to get her gloved trained so she could enjoy walks in the sunshine, do programs for visitors, as well as have more one-on-one training. Her unique and strong personality made it impossible to not love her.
Fly High Wi, the skies are yours once again. We miss you already.
It is with heavy hearts that we bring the sad news of the passing of our female red tailed hawk, Wiyaka. She was around 8 years old and with us here at the nature center since the new building opened in 2017. Her name comes from the Lakota word for feather and Wiyaka’s plumage was unmatched. A beautiful specimen of a red tailed hawk from her extremely dark brown back feathers, her very fluffy and light colored pantaloons, to her vibrantly orange tail.
Wiyaka had a fiery spirit and attitude fit for a top predator making her such a great education bird. Her highest motivator in life was food (extremely relatable) and she didn’t like anything to get in her way when it was lunchtime. Her motivation, smarts, and sharp wit made her such a fun challenge when it came to training. At times we wondered if we were training her or she was training us! For the past few years Wiyaka and our staff worked hard to get her gloved trained so she could enjoy walks in the sunshine, do programs for visitors, as well as have more one-on-one training. Her unique and strong personality made it impossible to not love her.
Fly High Wi, the skies are yours once again. We miss you already.