Notes from the Wild

Small wonder so many salamanders are active at this time of year, seeking last suppers of grubs and spiders, crickets and millipedes.

I’ve written about our remarkable caterpillars before, but so many interesting ones inhabit our hills that another look is warranted.

To the casual observer the flight of a butterfly appears haphazard and inefficient, something like the bobbing of a cork on turbulent waters.

I recently had the pleasure of watching a pair of house wren parents feed their babies in a backyard nest box.

These botanical wonders sport whimsical – you guessed it – slipper-shaped blossoms.

Chorus frogs are vulnerable to a who’s who of predators from ground-foraging birds, to shrews, to big spiders to small snakes.

Cottontails conceal themselves in dense thickets of shrubs and brambles.

Winter is the best time to find evidence of mink. With snow cover, mink tracks can readily be found along streams or the verges of ponds and lakes.

Myths, legends and modern literature feature owls, a notable example being Hedwig the snowy owl, loyal companion of Harry Potter.

Skunks, in contrast to porcupines, are positively cuddly with soft, luxuriant fur, just begging to be stroked.

Do you know of a bigger tree in the Headwaters Region?

Northern flickers are boldly and beautifully marked woodpeckers that are common throughout the Headwaters.