Outside Story - Archive
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“Record” Snowfalls Not Always So Impressive
January 05, 2009
Snow: Love it if you ski, but hate it if you have a long driveway.
I happen to cross-country ski and like lots of snow, and so far, two weeks into the new winter, I have few complaints. Maybe it will be as good as last year.
But wait: Was last year, in fact, a heavy snow season? Actually, it …
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Snow fleas: Now You See Them, Now You Don’t
December 29, 2008
The other day I noticed snow fleas dusting new snow around a maple trunk. These minuscule creatures — broadly known as springtails — are out early this year, and I didn’t hear them coming. Not that I could. But I like to imagine the thunder of millions of tiny footfalls as they migrate upwards from the snow cover, pushing and …
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Squirrels: Chatty, Feisty and Briefly Romantic
December 22, 2008
They are essentially introverts, yet they hunt and feed and breed in plain view in our own backyards. They can be ruthless predators, merciless vandals, or unwitting comediennes. Sure, they’re rodents, but spend some time this winter getting to know your squirrels.
After all, squirrels are among our most abundant and accessible wild mammals. With thousands of miles in …
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Not Your Grandfather’s (or Father’s) Woodstove
December 15, 2008
Wild swings in the price of home heating oil and propane have caused many residents of Vermont and New Hampshire to dust off and fire up their old woodstoves. Those who have looked into buying a new stove for parlor, kitchen or basement are discovering something new: wood gasification.
The evolution of wood burning from the outdoor bonfire to …
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Lake’s Depths Show Signs of Approaching Winter
December 08, 2008
With patches of snow on the ground and wood smoke drifting in the air, late-autumn changes are everywhere. Many species of birds have left for southern warmth; weasels and hares have put on winter white; other creatures have retreated to burrows and dens. Smaller lives die, their span complete by the frost, leaving egg, larva and pupa.
Another major autumnal …
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Living with the Eagerness of Beavers
December 01, 2008
Creators of fabulously rich wildlife habitats or nuisance animals that cause flooding and property damage? It all depends on how you perceive the beaver, North America’s largest rodent. It’s hard to tolerate these animals after they destroy favorite trees or flood and damage a road. However, what many people fail to appreciate is the biological diversity and other benefits that …
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Wild Nuts: Autumn Bounty, Holiday Treat
November 24, 2008
From hickory nuts and beechnuts to hazelnuts and acorns, nut-bearing trees and shrubs produced a bounty this year. Local wild nuts are free and healthy to eat. Plus, they don’t require burning carbon-emitting fuels to transport them from growers thousands of miles away. Wild nuts are organic, unless someone has sprayed chemicals on local trees and shrubs. And it’s fun …
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Embrace Them, Gull Darn It!
November 17, 2008
They soar and glide with the grace of our most elegant birds. They are content exploring the high seas for fish or picking through dumpsters for fast-food leftovers. They are approachable and audacious.
Now that we have put men on the moon, ended the Cold War and elected an African American man president, surely we have advanced enough as a …
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Make Room for Daddy, Who Will Cause No Harm
November 10, 2008
On many mornings I share my shower with a long-legged friend. In fact my friend has eight very long legs and the same number of eyes. She usually hangs upside-down in a loose web above the shower head, and she is popularly known as a “cellar spider” or a “daddy-long-legs.” The latter name is confusing, perhaps, since she is not …
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Fall Back, So Look Out for Deer
November 03, 2008
Around this time of year drivers are more apt to notice dead deer along the sides of highways. You may have heard that hunting is the cause – that hunters scare deer from the woods and that the roving animals are then more likely to be struck by cars. This is not true.
But a human activity does play …
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