Site Discussions

Hello Penelope,

It sounds like your Titmouse is as determined as my Junco - who is still at it!

Thank you for writing and for the compliment.

Carolyn

Your article on frog metamorphisus is interesting.  I am just now learning about their development as they laid eggs in my little dogs plastic pool.  Looks like I will be tending tadpoles all summer.  However I have noticed that new tiny tadpoles keep hatching, so it looks like the frogs have been returning at night to lay even more eggs.  I currently have about several hundred in a 4’ wide pool.  I hope this will be large enough for them to complete their transition to frogs.

To:  Nancy Verba → in Wonder Lake Illinois

Hi Nancy:

Most likely you’re seeing meadow voles and/or shrews. Meadow voles often frequent the ground beneath feeders to eat seed.

Short-tailed shrews can often be seen in similar locations, but would most likely be stalking a meal of meadow vole.

If, when the snow melted from around the base of your feeder this springtime, you noticed shallow burrowings along the surface of the ground, and little piles of bunched up grass, then you definitely had meadow voles.

Best,

Michael Caduto

Patricia → in Bridgewater, NH

The ultrasonic echolocation sounds made by a shrew are above the range of human hearing.

Shrews do, however, make several other sounds that humans can hear, especially when they’re being territorial. It’s possible that, with the number of critters you had living in your roof space, the shrews were encountering other animals and marking their territories with calls.

Thank you for sharing your interesting experience.

Best,

Michael Caduto

To: Lisa Jean → in Ontario, Canada

Dear Lisa Jean:

It’s hard to tell for certain without more details, but—judging from the size, color, boldness of the animal and it’s fondness of dog food—the animal that was eating your dog’s food was likely a northern short-tailed shrew. Hungry shrews will commonly come out into the open to get food.

Best,

Michael Caduto

To: Kendra Moll → in Du Quoin, IL
Nov 14, 2015

Dear Kendra:

From your description—yes, it sounds like you had a northern short-tailed shrew. The fact that you couldn’t see any eyes or ears is a major clue, plus the short tail. I also know from experience that, when distressed, shrews emit a piercing, high-pitched call.

Good observation skills!

Best,

Michael Caduto

To: Lois Hoyt → in United States
Oct 28, 2015

Hi Lois:

Setting aside the nursery rhyme, Three Blind Mice, there are no short-tailed mice. You likely saw a vole or mole, but it’s hard to tell without more specifics. Both can reach the size you describe.

Keep looking!

Michael Caduto

To Barbara →
Oct 25, 2015

From your description, and the fact that your critter was going after seed, it does sound like a meadow vole.

Shrews are largely carnivorous, but they will eat seeds, especially when food is scarce during winter months.

Thank you for writing,

Michael Caduto

To Nancy Goodenow:

It does, indeed, sound like the small mammal that your dog brought home is a shrew. Please email the photo to me and I’ll try to identify it.

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Thank you for writing,

Michael Caduto

Hi Carolyn, Every year a male Titmouse lands on a lilac and fights his reflection in the window of a “people” garage door. We finally had to put a blanket up on the window to stop his frenetic actions. There was a small corner that we didn’t cover and didn’t he start up on his reflection there!  This year he gave up pretty quickly. Must be learning…thanks for a great article

This is yet another in a string of recent studies that describe the critical role beavers play in our ecosystems and their potential value as an ally in the fight against climate change.

Is it bad to give chipmunks hulled black oil seed in the spring? Do they start storing right away or eat most everything in the sporting? Don’t want their stored seeds to go bad due to no shell.
David

Hi Kevin,

I’ve heard that there is a difference, most recently by wild food harvester Nova Kim on a VPR radio show. I guess the wild leeks have the pure white bulbs (like the ones pictured above) while the ramps have that reddish/purplish color above the bulb. The leeks are said to have a milder flavor. I tend to call everything ramps, which I probably shouldn’t do.

Wow. You nailed it. When I come in from turkey hunting, I collect ramps (and certain mushrooms, if lucky) and smoking turkey is a perfect way to highlight it. We will be having this menu this weekend.
Aging Orion, Bill Shaw

My husband Wade Dimick just caught a Connecticut River Mudpuppy in North Haverhill NH. in the Connecticut River. I noticed in your story that they’ve been found in Lebanon NH. I just wanted to report my husbands catch to you so that it’s documented that they are as far north as North Haverhill NH. I took many pictures of it if you’d like to see them.

Looks tasty.  Some of us have been having a discussion about ramps and leeks. Is there a difference?

We would glue a 6” long dental floss dyed red to the thorax behind the head. You can just see it in the air and you can go all the way back to the hive.

Luckily, robins nest low so my young children can easily view the eggs and nest. Unfortunately, these low nests are prone to predation. Therefore, we tend to view the nests at a distance so as not to give away its location to the potential prying eyes of the chipmunks that live near.

A question for Mr. Jagels:  I have an antique wooden juggling pin with a stamped (ink? paint?) label that is faded so that I’m having difficulty reading the Manufacturer information.  Is there a recommended method (cleaning, oiling, waxing, other?) that I could use to try to recover more of the information from this label?  I believe the wood is oak or maple.  Thank you.

We once had a robin build its nest on the wide rung of an extension ladder, where the sections meet, fully exposed to weather and predators. We left that ladder up for a long time.