Site Discussions

Thank you for solving the mystery of my “garbage gobbler.”

This spring I started separating out the compostable garbage we generate to see if I could cut down on what we send to the landfill.  I was shocked at the amount—30 gallons a month!  Since we haven’t yet built an enclosed compost bin, I decided to bury each day’s compost in our garden, but it would be dug up and totally gone in a day or so.  When I spotted the grey fox I realized it had to be the scavenger—what but a dog creature could smell it under the ground, dig it up, and eat or carry off every bit of it?

I hate to deprive it of food, but much of it was spoiled and seems like it could be toxic. I expect we should move building the composting bin to the top of the list—it’s only been on the bottom of it for 25 years.

Thank you, grey fox! I hope you find more nutritious food that is fresher.

Very surprised by this paper. I live in Canada, near Maine and Vermont borders. There are many stands that have been grazed by livestock in the past here and young trees are often unable to establish by themselves. Also, the non commercial species of the understory that are so important for biodiversity are often just gone. Maybe it could interesting to use sylvopatoralism for cleaning young tree plantations, but the soil can also be compacted. So I am not sure it is such a good idea to promote it.

I have a stand of Red Spruce of all ages at 1600 feet that seems to be doing well.  The understory is Balsam so thick as to be impenetrable.  Should I thin the Balsam?

Im a firm believer in multicultural forests. In the “HIdden Life of Trees” it talks of the interconnected support between pines and oaks.  Whether it’s Oak Wilt, White Pine Blister, Pine Bark Beetle or EAB, if you have variety, you won’t lose your whole forest to one disease. Squirrels are great planter of oaks. Red Maples are prolific reseeders. Pines reseed in rotting logs. In monoculture forest syou risk losing a whole forest which also increases risk of forest fires, because there are no surviving trees to provide shade.

I have 30 acres of natural forest. At least 4 types of conifers, almost every type of oak, sugar and red maple, poplars and birch. It has remained natural with the exception of putting in a trail.  About 3 yrs ago we had a blowdown and about 70 percent of the trees uprooted or became snags. I’ve learned so much from allowing nature to repair.  Snags are very valuable for peckers and cavity nesters. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees all eat beetles and insects. I have all of them. Im hoping they will combat EAB if it arrives. Downed trees and understory hold moisture in soil. I believe this helps PREVENT forest fires (90% are started by humans). Rotting logs provide perfect mediums for new pine seedlings. Many of the uprooted trees still had enough roots in the ground to survive.  I have a green Balsam completely on the ground surviving after 3 yrs.  Mosses, club mosses, ferns, wildflowers and tree seedlings would have all been taken away if I had succumbed to the forestry people. My forest thrives today. I learn something new every time I go there. I did clear my trail again, but put the logs off to the sides.  Bushy pine tree tops, I cut so they dropped to the ground to prevent excessive drying out of needles. There is so much more to a forest than trees.

Claude will be truly missed. I logged for him for a number of years up to him closing the doors of Paul Bunyan Logging. The best boss I have ever had. A truly great friend that I am proud to have known.

Patrick, a great article.  I worked with Claude off and on when I was with the Natural Resources Conservation Service in Bennington County.  I always learned something and I think I was probably on the TV show.  Thanks to people like your Dad, Jim White and Claude working in Bennington county was fun and interesting.

In areas where Black Bears are common, they are a major predator of turtle eggs, both Snapping and Painted turtles. I have seen many times where they have violently dug out nests, scattering eggs far and wide. Raccoons also may be one of the causes of the decline in Wood Turtles. Few nests escape.

I’m sorry but you did not write any positives about woodchucks….are there any?

Thank you for this information! I was curious about all the ants on our peonies.

A.  This is the sort of thing lawmakers do that make people respect them less. 

B.  We do eat waaaay too much sugar.  But I wonder if this will be like when fat was demonized.  Everything in excess is bad for you even sleep, sunshine, exercise, and water. Moderation is the key.  Like “healthy fats”, honey and maple sugar almost have to be the “healthy sugars”. 

C.  Let’s skip all the studies, health articles, and confusion for the next 30 years and just use common sense.

I’ve seen the most snapping turtles this year then ever before.

Had a chance to watch about 20 snapping turtles hatch when I lived on Westover Field on the farm in the late 1940’s. What s treat for a 10 year old!

Nice if you want them otherwise they are very destructive.I do not agree with feeding them they end up dependent of humans. No thanks.

Thanks Dave. I’ve commented.

Are they planning to put “Added Sugar” on bags of granulated sugar?  If not, they can’t do it to honey or maple syrup either.

The term “added sugar” means extra sugar has been added to a product—not that the natural content of the product has its own high sugar content. Will the FDA now require sugar packaging to contain the words “added sugar?” because it has more sugar than is nutritionally appropriate?  How much did the sugar lobby contribute to get this change. Please do not require the words “added sugar” on maple syrup and honey on the packaging as it is NOT true.

“Added” should mean what is added to an item of food. Not that it is “added” to my diet.

Sadly the emerald ash borer has recently been found in Maine. See article

https://www.pressherald.com/2018/05/29/experts-wondered-when-the-destructive-emerald-ash-borer-would-come-to-maine-its-here/

Can this frog be found on a gutter outside a porch?