Monthly Archives: September 2012

West Nile Virus, Urban Vector Control, and the 50th Anniversary of Silent Spring

Posted on September 27, 2012 by KristiV

According to the September 18 update at the Centers for Disease Control website, over 3000 cases of West Nile virus (WNV) disease in humans have been reported in the US this year. Approximately half of these cases were classified as … Continue reading →

Posted in urban public health | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Urban Heat Islands and Climate Change

Posted on September 17, 2012 by KristiV

A recent story on NPR’s Morning Edition piqued my interest in the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon, which has been recognized since the late 1980s. In the radio piece, the rather startling claim was made that cities are heating up … Continue reading →

Posted in climate change, urban landscape | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Suburban Wildlife: Texas Spiny Lizard

Posted on September 9, 2012 by KristiV

In spite of (or perhaps because of) another very hot, dry summer here, my suburban backyard is a small refuge for a variety of insects, birds, and reptiles. Among the largest of the reptiles I’ve seen recently is the Texas … Continue reading →

Posted in art journals, urban wildlife | Tagged , , | 6 Comments