National Aquarium

Myrtle, the three-toed box turtle, hangs out inside a pumpkin. Need we say more? Download this not-so-spooky wallpaper: https://bit.ly/3BF4sQ4

We asked staff to share the unique stories behind their nature-inspired ink! 🦎 Herpetologist Drew Roderuck tells us more about his frilled lizard tattoo: "My tattoo is of a frilled lizard that I worked with at the Aquarium when I started working here 6.5 years ago. I got the tattoo to celebrate getting the job here! Frilled lizards are so cool because they have adapted bipedal locomotion to run when threatened. They are also well known for extending the frills of skin around their neck by opening their mouths when threatened! My favorite part of working at the Aquarium is getting to work with such a unique and rare collection of Australian animals as well as such a diverse array of fellow animal care experts in their taxa!" This is the fourth installment of our running tattoo series, inspired by the Seattle Aquarium social series of the same name! Be sure to check back for more ink-credible tattoos. 🖋️ Artist credit: Temple Art Tattoo

You asked, Jack answered! 👀 Find the answers to your Harbor Wetland questions and learn more about the wetland's materials, plant life and recent animal sightings: https://bit.ly/3Bhn3ld

On your way to Jellies Invasion, you'll pass a window with an array of colorful tubes inside. Moving through those tubes is 2.4 million gallons of water. Aptly called Life Support, this system is the heart of the Aquarium. Learn more about our aquatic circulatory system: https://bit.ly/3MVDKVR

Are you registered to vote? You can make a difference—in your community, across your state and throughout the country—by voting for candidates who will stand up for the planet. If you haven’t already, make plans to get out and vote! Get started with your registration: https://bit.ly/2qCPLVJ

Wedged between the Gwynns Falls and Back River/Herring Run subwatersheds, the Jones Falls subwatershed’s jagged triangle shape encompasses a long list of Baltimore City neighborhoods. It gets its name from the Jones Falls stream—the largest waterway that feeds into Baltimore's Inner Harbor.💧 Learn more about the incredible history of Jones Falls and other Baltimore City subwatersheds: https://bit.ly/3zexZiR

It’s the first day of Hispanic Heritage Month! According to a Yale survey, Latinos are more concerned with the effects of climate change than other groups in the U.S. California, Texas and Florida—three states with large Latino populations—all face significant risks from climate disasters. Hispanic communities have risen to the occasion, making great waves in environmental movements, from shark monitoring to encouraging green voters. Join us in celebrating their achievements in conservation and life sciences this month. 👏

Fast to reproduce and difficult to contain, invasive species can wreak havoc on the wildlife and habitats they are introduced to. But with a little practice in foraging and some culinary creativity, certain invasives can become a delicious treat. Watch as Chris Amendola, executive chef and owner of Foraged, utilizes the invasive wineberry in a summer salad. Learn more about eating invasives from the land and water: https://bit.ly/3zcHzTq

As we move from summer to fall, we encourage you to use your vote to protect our beaches, ocean and all the life they support—including us humans. Water supports all life and can offer us many climate solutions. Learn more and get registered to vote: https://bit.ly/4g2YqZu

Pistachio ice cream may be off the menu in these cooler temperatures, but pistachio tides are not. Cool nighttime temperatures bring sulfur bacteria living on the bottom of the harbor to the surface, a phenomenon known as thermal inversion. The reaction results in green-colored water, which is why this event is commonly known as a “pistachio tide.” On top of this, the harbor has been experiencing a mahogany tide in recent days. Mahogany tides are a type of algae bloom that causes the water’s dissolved oxygen levels to plummet. This can lead to die-offs of animals like small fish and blue crabs. Here at the Aquarium, aquatic animals have taken refuge in Harbor Wetland’s shallow channel, which hosts an aeration system. These aerators help increase localized dissolved oxygen levels during negative water quality events. Aquarium staff have reported seeing an uptick in animals in the channel since the arrival of the pistachio and mahogany tides. Learn more about how these water quality events affect wildlife: https://bit.ly/3XfTIyK