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Site Discussions

Ken
Dec 24, 2018

Great article. I always marveled at the way Martin and fisher could move through their environment almost ghost- like. I have seen a few in Alaska.

From "The Disappearing, Reappearing, American Marten" »

Ellen Arnold
Dec 24, 2018

I love how this was written, with humor and info to educate the casual naturalist.  (I especially enjoyed the part about having the long torso ad short legs in common with mammals…I can also relate!) I have never KNOWINGLY seen a Marten, I hope my luck changes!

From "The Disappearing, Reappearing, American Marten" »

Angelyn Cochran
Dec 24, 2018

Three years ago, I saw a pine marten in the trees next to my yard. I live in Marshfield, Ma.  I was shocked at how cute his face was and that he was perfectly comfortable climbing even the tiniest branches at the top of the huge white pine trees.

From "The Disappearing, Reappearing, American Marten" »

Dave
Dec 24, 2018

What you’re describing seems high risk to me.  You’re right that a tree that dead could snap, and it’s hard to say where it would snap.

From "Felling Trees Against the Lean" »

Jim English
Dec 23, 2018

I have seen a black, white and gray wolf appx 90 to 100 lbs on my 285 acre lot just south of the Canadian border. in North Troy, VT I have heard them during deer hunting, which caused me to leave my hunt because I was on the ground. The wolves are alive and well in the Northeast Kingdom and I am happy for them.

From "Waiting for Wolves" »

Tom Sutkins
Dec 23, 2018

I saw our first flying squirrel in the winter of 1994 and watched as he glided across the yard from the maple tree just behind our rural home.

That was 24 years ago and had not seen one since until a few nights ago. As I walked onto our deck about 6 pm a beautiful sight caught my eye, three flying squirrels were together on the side of the same maple tree peering down at me only 10 feet away. This time I had to show my wife her first flying squirrel. She too was delighted as they appeared calm and in no hurry to glide off. It looked as though they were after the sunflower seeds that filled the bird feeders only a few feet away. I hope to see them again some night in the near future. I have cell phone photos of one them that I can post.

From "Flying Squirrels: North vs. South" »

Deborah J Volpe
Dec 23, 2018

We saw a white (not grey or tan) rodent in the collapsed stone wall near the house. The body appeared to be 3-4 inches with a thin tail about the same. Didn’t get a very good look at it before it went underneath the rocks. This area is full of chipmunks and garter snakes in the warmer weather.

From "Shrew or Mole? Mouse or Vole?" »

Dan Scribner
Dec 22, 2018

Last year a young porcupine, about the size of a volleyball, spent the entire winter in our yard.  It was probably the porcupette I had encountered in our back lot in early summer.

He or she was promptly named “Spike” by our granddaughter.  At seven o’clock every morning Spike would climb a hemlock tree in our front yard and spend the entire day nibbling on bark, often on unbelievably thin branches.  Neither sub-zero temperatures nor heavy snow altered Spike’s routine.  The quills evidently provided excellent insulation since Spike was often covered with falling snow.  At sundown Spike would come down and spend the night in an inverted kayak under our deck, which was undoubtedly an ideal shelter.

Although porcupines are normally nocturnal, our game camera showed an unending nighttime stream of red and grey foxes, raccoons, possums and deer while Spike slept through it all just a few yards away.

When spring arrived Spike wandered away and hasn’t been seen since.

 

 

From "The Porcupine" »

Marc
Dec 21, 2018

I love these trees , we call them dogwood trees up where I live, great article!

From "American Mountain Ash: a Rosaceae by Any Other Name" »

My2centz
Dec 20, 2018

I have a dead tree about 80’ tall and I’d say around 10” to 12” at the base. It goes up about 25’ then it starts bowing out about 6’ then back to the top leaning over my driveway. It’s not gonna hit anything except maybe another tree when it falls but I’d guess it’s so dead it will probably just break which also poses a problem but I’m sure I’ll be out of the way. It does look like it wants to fall where I want it to however this thing is Dead Dead Dead and I’ve never cut down a tree this dead. I’m afraid that when I start cutting it will just snap and I can’t find any good examples online to assist me with this. Any ideas of how I can do this safely and the risks I face attempting this would be helpful. If it does hit a tree it would be about 80% of the way up and it has no branches on it at all its so dead.

From "Felling Trees Against the Lean" »

Brenda Watts
Dec 19, 2018

I have pet skunks. Legally owned. In Oregon. They started this Torpor in November, but they were crazy for more food from September to October. Now they just come out to eat 2 times a day and go back to their skunk bunk. In the summer they each sleep in their own, now its December and they are sleeping together. Both females. They sleep in my closet in a large dog carrier with no door and stuffed full of fuzzy blankets. I noticed the younger one wants to come get in bed with me when it’s really cold out. They have been de-scented by the way. They eat mealworms and scrambled eggs. Vegetables nuts and fruits. Chicken and bits of dog food for treats. Cat food is not good for skunks.

From "The Winter Life of the Skunk" »

Gisela
Dec 17, 2018

We discovered a toad in the city water valve well in our front yard. It has a tight cover and I can’t imagine how he got inside. After reading this article we’ve decided to leave him be until Spring. We will check on him from time to time.

From "How Do Toads Avoid Croaking in Winter?" »

Gary
Dec 15, 2018

Hello everyone,

I came across this thread by accident trying to identify what I had at my house this morning, but from all the replies I have come to the conclusion it was a shrew, as it was a younger one I think at 2-3im. long, with a pointy snout, short legs, and sharp little claws, five I think, and also had no ears, or eyes, and his favorite meal of last night or this morning was peanut butter, but he, or she chose the wrong place to find it, as it was on a trap in my garage. if he squealed, it wasn’t for long, as the trap got him on the head, and I know that was an instant kill with no suffering. WE usually get a deer mouse about once a month that comes under the garage door, and they are all white on their bellies, and grey on top with long tails and beady little eyes. Just thought I would let you guys, and gals in on my critter story.

Thanks, and have a great weekend, and holidays, coming up. Gary.

From "Shrew or Mole? Mouse or Vole?" »

Carl E Belanger
Dec 15, 2018

Thank you for a great write up on Gray Jays. When I see one, I always think of my grandfather who was a woodsman and want to treat them well.

From "The Soul of a Dead Woodsman" »

Martin
Dec 14, 2018

This is a wonderful article. I’ve been time-poor the last two years and had to go a butcher—and, while ultimately I’m glad to have the meat, I’ve missed the experience of breaking it down. The Hank Shaw stuff is great. Also, if you haven’t tried making a venison ham yet, I recommend it!
Thanks for the great piece!
Martin

From "Using More of a Deer" »

Brian Weeks
Dec 14, 2018

We have been tapping earlier every year and last year (2018) we tapped the first week of January and the sap was already flowing as we had 3 January thaws. The sap flow started and stopped all season and we were done by the first week in April. The Walnut trees we also tap never produce the sap that the Sugar Maples do.

From "When is the Best Time for Sugarmakers to Tap their Maple Trees?" »

Jim M
Dec 14, 2018

Why is it that in late fall when overnight temps are bellowing freezing the 4-8” diameter stones on a woods road (or hiking trail), appear to sink about 1” below the slightly frozen surface of the road or trail?
Thanks-
Jim

From "Frost Heaves: Nature’s Speed Bumps" »

Ari
Dec 12, 2018

Fascinating. Your writing makes such a little creature seem so grand. Go, Caterpillar, go!

From "The Caterpillar: A Larval Marvel" »

Steve
Dec 12, 2018

T Just match the pitch and gauge of the existing chain and it should work, albeit without having the anti kickback features of the recommended chain.

From "Tricks of the Trade: Understanding Low-Kickback Saw Chain" »

Joe Ladouceur
Dec 11, 2018

The first week that we moved into our new home at which no one had lived at this home sight for many years our dog Hanna saw and ran after a porcupine I called hanna back before she got to it and put her in the house.  I then went back with a rifle to where the porcupine was (which was close to the house) it turned around and looked at me.

As we both stood and looked at each other I started talking to it, telling it that I did not want to kill it but if I was not there when my dog went after you the dog would have been full of quills. I then told it that we would be living here now and if it would stay away from the house I would not kill it.

For about two years it was never seen then one day when we were out on the front lawn a porcupine was coming slowly up to us I walked up to it and could see only it’s front legs were working it was dragging itself with its front legs and in pain I then knew what it wanted. To this day over 40 years later I keep wondering could it be the same one That I talked to in the past?

From "The Porcupine" »