Haley SelenDec 13, 20181 min readTaking a DrinkWater is an amazing molecule. The oxygen atom pulls on its two hydrogens in a way that creates a slightly-negative side and a...
Haley SelenDec 6, 20181 min readTough GuyDigger the Western Hognose Snake is usually pretty docile. She arrived at the Museum in 2013 as a hatchling no bigger than a pencil....
Haley SelenNov 28, 20181 min readZero PercentOne thing I love about the animal care community – from bird trainers to zoo keepers – is the ability to find delight in small, peculiar...
Haley SelenNov 23, 20181 min readTurkey DaySometimes enrichment is more enriching for me than it is for the birds. I had fun last weekend designing, cutting, and painting ...
Haley SelenNov 20, 20181 min readTurkey DaySometimes enrichment is more enriching for me than it is for the birds. I had fun last weekend designing, cutting, and painting ...
Haley SelenNov 13, 20181 min readDrawing SnakesI usually rely on science to learn more about an animal or plant. I instinctively scour scientific articles, my animal physiology...
Haley SelenNov 7, 20182 min readScience of Behavior Change: Negative ReinforcementLast week I wrote about positive reinforcement, giving a reward to increase a behavior, as the most important tool in training our...
Haley SelenNov 1, 20182 min readScience of Behavior Change: Positive ReinforcementStepping onto a human’s hand, coming out of a crate, perching calmly while 50 sets of human eyes stare at him. These are not behaviors...
Haley SelenOct 24, 20181 min readWeighing a snakeHow quickly does a 5-year-old hognose snake grow? As animals with indeterminate growth, snakes continue growing throughout their life,...
Haley SelenOct 17, 20181 min readAldo Visits Crex MeadowsLast weekend I loaded up the Museum van with biofacts, 30 pounds of rocks, and our American Kestrel, Aldo. Our road trip landed us at the...