Site Discussions

Botfly larvae on deer mice (Peromyscus spp.) have been shown to preferentially take up residence in the groin area where they apparently inhibit the reproductive urges of male mice causing them to have smaller territories and thus to live longer (being less exposed to predation) - of obvious benefit to the botfly.

In an effort to support the birds and bees and other field loving species, we hold back on any brush hogging until late September or even October. After the goldenrod and asters have made their last call. An exceptional year for monarch butterflies, the last chrysalis just morphed and set sail for southern climes. Earlier brush hogging would seem to endanger or reduce food supply, habitat and ultimately reproductive success in our fields and pastures.

I just saw a wooly bear catapiler on the floor of my room and I was wondering what to do

Twin fawns were born here in MN maybe 5-6 months ago. They were always with the doe, however, lately I see the twins but no mother. Does she set them free this early….before winter? I worry that she may have been hurt.

Hi David

I too have heard this wonderful piece of New England lore….or is it Canadian lore?

Regardless, it has been tested and it seems unlikely to be true.  The details are here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237969156_Shattering_the_folklore_black_flies_do_not_pollinate_sweet_lowbush_blueberry

Cheers

Declan

In Texas we get Cedar Elm deformations. Not sure if they should be considered burls. I think what happens is when the mistletoe soaks the wood along the limb and makes it soft, various insects, (ants, grubs, beetles exc…) take advantage and make it there home, the grains then grow in knots around the hollow inside. I’ve cut into it before and it’s beautiful, but also riddled with holes from the insects. I’ve thought about casting resin into it to try and fill the gaps.

Btw, I love turned wood, but I’m more interested in unique knife scales.

My Friend and I just found a Luna Moth Caterpillar Crawling across a parking lot between landscaped islands, planted with young, small trees. We didn’t think it would do well on the pavement, so we brought It home to release on, or in a Black Walnut tree. The Cat is quite large.
Where would it be best to place it,
Assuming It may be ready to pupate?

I am a member of the sawdust fuisaliers living history display group here in Scotland .
I have approximately 200 saws 1@2 man plus some 20 axes single and double bit axes .
We sharpen all our saws and axes and use them .
Any history of the saws .and in formation of the saws is always helpful to us .we display as Canadian forestry corp and Newfoundland overseas forestry unit
Thankyou for reading this

I often find at least one while mowing my lawn, thinking they are good bugs I always scoop them up and toss them where I have already mowed. I mowed my front lawn last week for the first time this season and saw at least a dozzen green and brown ones mostly around the foundation.  ? The difference between them brought me here

Thank you for your article on the woodland jumping mice.  I found one today (deceased) and was struggling to put an accurate ID on it.  Everything was kangaroo rat/mouse, western US and Eurasia etc.  Great description!  Words matched my picture exactly. (tail = body X 2.)

I love your article!  I am currently looking to hang my shingle as a copywriter promoting forest industries.  I feel strongly that forests need a good market for the products in order to thrive.  The nature of value judgements—and how diversity can be used as a standard—was something driven home to me in the course of my forestry studies at WVU.  You did a very nice job communicating the complexities in a smart narrative, Mr, Mance.  Hats off to the Foundation for Sustainable Forests!

I greatly enjoyed reading about you, Evon and your family’s life as stewards of the land.  You’ve accomplished wonderful things since our Bronx Science days.  I am convinced that your journey has been amazing and only wish that you would share it as an inspiration to others.

Even better than the usual fine articles in Northern Woodlands.
Let’s not forget the boardwalk at TNC’s Eshqua bog in Woodstock, VT.

When laying out skid roads for a logging job in Winter with snow on the ground it is sometimes hard to know for sure if a particular area is a bog.  I would sometimes carry a 6 foot walking staff.  It always surprised me a little when I could shove the staff through a foot or so of snow and 4 feet more into a bog.

Our town of 750 people has a minister that ministers to the whole town not just his congregation.  This keeps him pretty busy and he is always behind on his firewood.  This was noticed and a small group decided to do his firewood for him.  Word got around, as it tends to do in a small town, and about 12 people showed up.  Each year more and more people showed up until it had built up to over 20 people, and the four cords were cut, hauled, split and stacked in about a half day.  Amazingly everyone worked, there was no idle chit-chat until the work was done - then there was plenty along with good food and a nice beer.

In the record book of our Center School, built in 1794, the minutes of the September 12, 1836 meeting of the local school district note that it was voted that “Wm S. Averill is to find the School wood for $2.20 per week provided the Agent Cannot provide it Cheaper.” The year before it was voted that one tenth of the total budget “be dedicated to purchasing a stove”.

Then, as now, energy was a big part of the school budget in northern New England.

While swimming off the beach at Williams Avenue in Strathmere N.J.on 09/12/19 (1:30 p.m.- 4:10 p.m) there was a constant movement of dragonflies and butterflies coming off the ocean from an ENE direction. It seemed that the dragonflies and butterflies would fly over us in clusters.
At the time that we left the beach at approximately 4:00 p.m., the packs of green darners coming off the ocean made us stop and stare in amazement.

With a flock of 30 birds in the garden all summer, they have suddenly vanished completely; even leaving the feeder untouched.
Does anyone know why?

There’s a massive group of green darners that have been zipping around an area about 60 square feet for the last hour.  It’s amazing and I’ve never seen anything like it! Based on your description of migration times, I suspect that’s what we’re watching.

I can’t stand the little pests. They’ve taken over the feeders once again. I guess I need to get out the trap. They’re aggressive little things that shove off all the other birds, till no other birds come. That, to us anyway, isn’t very entertaining to watch.