Little Ray's Nature Center - Syracuse

05/30/2026

05/28/2026

“Did someone say snack time? 😁🐊

This smiling face belongs to one of our caimans — a type of crocodilian native to Central and South America! Despite that goofy grin, caimans are skilled ambush predators with powerful jaws designed to grab prey quickly in the water so she’s actually not ready to eat in this pose. She is just soaking up the ☀️

Fun fact: A caiman’s eyes, ears, and nostrils all sit on top of its head so it can stay mostly hidden underwater while keeping watch for food… or visitors 👀

05/23/2026

🐢

05/23/2026

They are not the same animal. Not even close. They are not from the same continent.

They just got stuck with the same name because an 18th century naturalist thought they looked alike and nobody stopped him.

Here is the actual difference.
Opossum? Americas. Over 100 species. The grey stressed out one with the rat tail living under your deck is just one of them. Possum? Australia and Oceania. Around 67 species. Fluffy, tree dwelling, round ears, looks like it is thriving.
Over 170 species between them and most people think they are the same animal. That is the part that gets me.

And the playing dead thing? Only an opossum behavior. Australian possums do not do it. And here is the part most people do not know, the opossum is not even choosing to play dead. It is involuntary. Like fainting from fear. They have zero control over it.

Also opossums eat thousands of ticks per season, are resistant to most snake venom, and almost never carry rabies. The animal everyone treats like a nuisance is out here doing more for your neighborhood than most people realize.

Two animals. Two continents. Over 170 species. One very confusing name.

Together we are making the anonymous animals known. You can't protect what you don't know exists and knowing is where conservation begins 🐾

04/29/2026

They’re back and ready to meet you! 🦥💚

After 10 weeks of special behind-the-scenes bonding time, Sidney and her new baby Yoko are officially back on exhibit! This important time allowed them to bond, grow, and get comfortable, and now we’re so excited for you to see them together.

Come visit and experience this heartwarming duo up close and watch their sweet connection in person. Moments like these are something you won’t want to miss!

Don’t miss your chance to reconnect with some of your favorites—and meet the newest little star ✨

📍 Plan your visit today!

04/23/2026

🌎 Happy Earth Day! 🌱

Today’s a reminder that the little things we do every day really do add up. Whether it’s turning off the lights, reusing what we can, supporting conservation, or just taking a moment to appreciate the natural world around us — it all matters.

Nature gives us so much… clean air, beautiful wildlife, and places that inspire us. Let’s return the favor by protecting it 💚

Drop one thing you’ve done today to help the planet ⬇️

04/20/2026

From March 24-26, Environmental Conservation Police Officers (ECOs) from Long Island and New York City joined Officers from the NYPD Emergency Services Unit and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Inspectors for a Venomous Snake and Dangerous Reptile Training program. Nassau County SPCA organized and hosted the training, which was conducted by Mike Ralbovsky, an experienced herpetologist with Rainforest Reptile Shows.

The Officers learned to identify and handle a variety of animals, including reptiles common in the illegal pet trade as well as those native to New York State. The training then covered dangerous reptiles that are illegal to possess in New York without a special permit, which is typically granted to zoos and legitimate exhibitors for educational purposes.

Many of these dangerous animals are smuggled through ports of entry or brought to New York from other states. Dangerous animals in New York include, but are not limited to, all venomous snakes and reptiles, all crocodilia, non-human primates, anacondas, and pythons.

04/20/2026

We love our trees!!!🌳

Happy Arbor Week! 🍂🌲🎉

365-day-a-year, trees provide us with clean air, beauty, wood products, improved mental health, and a better environment.
Looking for ways to celebrate Arbor Day, April 24?

🌳 Thinking about planting a tree? Help New York State reach its goal of planting 25 million trees by 2033
🌳 Participate in an Arbor Day celebration near you
🌳 Check out the 25 Million Trees toolkit for resources to promote your event

Check out the comments for helpful resources to help celebrate your Arbor Day 👇

📷: Photo by Josh Clague

04/14/2026

🌎🌱

Celebrate Earth Day with The Nature of Nature! 🌎

There are two opportunities to view our short film, The Nature of Nature: Biodiversity in the Hudson Valley, on the big screen this month. From high elevation forests to the globally rare freshwater tidal marshes along the Hudson estuary, The Nature of Nature captures the beautiful, the complex, the familiar, and the unknown…guided by the plants, animals, and people that call the Hudson Valley home.

🦎 On Saturday, April 18, the film will have its New York City premiere at the American Museum of Natural History’s annual EarthFest event.

🦎 On Sunday, April 19, Columbia Land Conservancy (CLC) and the Columbia County Climate Smart Task Force will cohost Earth Day events in Chatham. Across the street at the Crandell Theatre, a film festival will run from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, where our film will be featured!

04/04/2026

❤️

today is the first ever Jane Goodall Day 🖤
she passed away last October at 91, and the Jane Goodall Institute officially declared her birthday, April 3, a global day of action in her honor
she changed the way the world sees animals. she sat in the forests of Tanzania and proved that chimpanzees use tools, form bonds, grieve, and feel. she made people care about animals they had never met and never would
that is exactly what we try to do here every single day
happy birthday, Dr. Goodall. we will keep going 🐾