• Not Quite!


    Great guess! Some caterpillars really do make silky webs and tents around leaves and branches. But look closely at the shape. This isn't quite their style.

  • CLEVER GUESS!

    This one is tricky! Some sawfly larvae live together inside web-like shelters on plants. But they usually cover leaves and branches rather than building a big circular web.

  • You solved the mystery!

    You caught our nighttime builder! Some orb-weaver spiders build beautiful circular webs in the evening and may take them down or rebuild them again. This one left us a pretty big clue!

  • SO CLOSE!

    Webworms can make huge silky nests around leaves and branches—but their webs look more like messy tents than this carefully patterned circle.

  • Not Quite!

    Rabbits do nibble on plants, but they usually prefer grass, clover, flowers, and tender garden plants. These leaves have tiny chew marks that tell us someone else stopped by for a snack!

  • Try again!

    Snails love soft leaves too, but they usually leave smooth, scraped patches instead of neat little bite marks. This mystery points to a different leaf-loving visitor.

  • You solved the mystery!

    Great detective work! Caterpillars have tiny but powerful jaws that munch holes in leaves as they grow. They need to eat lots before they transform into a chrysalis and eventually become a beautiful butterfly or moth.

  • Almost!

    Squirrels love nuts, seeds, berries, and tree buds, but they’re not usually the ones leaving tiny holes in leaves. Keep searching-our mystery muncher is much smaller!

Need a little help?
Tap the paw to explore and discover our
Backyard Flyers

  • Not Quite!

    Blue Jay feathers often have bright blue, black, or white markings. This feather’s softer reddish-brown color belongs to another backyard bird.

  • Try again!

    A hummingbird’s feather would be much smaller-almost tiny enough to miss. Take another look at the feather’s size and color.

  • So Close!

    Robins have grey-brown feathers and a rusty-orange chest, but this feather has a warm red and grey tone. Try again!

  • You Found it!

    This soft reddish-brown feather belongs to a female cardinal. Female cardinals have warm tan feathers with touches of red.

    Mystery Solved!

 
Need a little help?
Tap the paw to explore and discover our
Backyard Creature Tracks

  • Nope!

    Take another closer look at the toes and the shape of the tracks. Every clue tells a story!

  • Nope!

    Look carefully at how the prints are arranged. Is this animal hopping or walking?

    Try again

  • Hooray! You solved the mystery!

    Raccoons leave tracks that look almost like tiny human hands. They have five long fingers on their front paws and longer back feet that almost look like little footprints.

    Nature Detective Tip:

    Raccoons often walk with one from paw beside the opposite back foot, creating an alternating trail. They love exploring gardens, streams, and backyards in search of food!

  • Nope!

    Cats leave different clues in their tracks.

    Keep investigating and try another answer!