Site Discussions

Dave, you’re a master and a pleasure to read, and I hold this self-evident truth in my (albeit dwindling) portfolio of unassailable convictions. Thanks for keeping on. We all benefit.

Dave, your last sentence sums it up in a nutshell. I believe too that it is more skill and woodsmanship that kills deer than the newest camo pattern. My dad killed more deer than I can count and never wore anything but red and green. I believe he was just that good, but of course I’m biased! Great article as usual.

I raced in the Maiden days of that event and really enjoyed it.

I took a trip to Sapanta, Romania this fall.  While waiting for a minibus, I was delighted to watch two crows dropping walnuts onto the sidewalk below them to break the nuts open.  When this sometimes failed, they would drop them on the road hoping to have more luck. The Romanian man beside me could not speak English, but we both marveled at their intelligence and ability to come up with new solutions to old problems.

From the description of its voice, I think “My Crow” is probably a raven. :D

I located a wild hive hanging in the trees near my studio (in the woods) late in the summer. I thought it was Honey Bees, but the hive was so high I couldn’t quite tell. They were the same size but seemed darker in color.

I watched it for months and in the fall we had more rains than seemed normal and I stopped seeing bees frequenting it. The rains seemed to be making it deteriorate and then I saw no bees at all.

What would make the bees leave this nest?

Once I realized this beautiful nest was abandon, falling apart and the comb was becoming exposed, I cut the branch that it was hanging from and now it hangs from the ceiling in my studio.

Silly question but - Is there any chance if I take it back out in the spring a colony would patch the damage and use it again? It is amazingly beautiful (as you know). Would a new colony return to this sight? How long do they live in a wild hive? Mysterious to me why they would leave this hive…

I hope you will reply. Thank you!

So happy I stumbled upon this… Love crows!!! Every morning when I take the dog out, the symphony of hundreds of crows chattering away makes me smile.  Always wonder what they are chatting about… I enjoy the articles…

We have lived in this little neighborhood for a little over 40 years. In that time the area crows have developed from staying to the outskirts of the neighborhood to now actually nesting right in our back yard now and spend a fair amount of time on the lawn even when we are sitting out.

Many years ago, I approached a flock of crows feeding at a sewage plant. I was carrying a single shot .22 rifle.  The look-out bird gave the alarm and they all disappeared. Later, I approached the same area where the same gang of crows were feeding (perhaps), and I was carrying a wooden look-alike to my .22 rifle.  Not a single bird moved until I was within 20 feet of them.  I repeated this test several times with the same results.

Everyone seems to see mountain lions in Vermont, so where are all the photos? Everyone has a cell phone today that you can video with. Lets see the proof.

1/2/2016, 5:30 pm, I went outside and saw a opossum in my back yard eating the old dog food my husband threw out earlier.  I watch it and it went under a tarp that covers my fire pit and glider, which is also near our bird feeder.  I came onto this site to see if it was dangerous to my dog but I guess not so I’ll choke it up to just another one of God’s critters living here.

I bought 40 acres a little more than 20 years ago. At that time I had about six Black Birch trees. A forester friend walked my woods and was supersized to see these trees. He said he had not seen these anywhere around. Six years later I have my forest logged but those were spared. As my woodland started to grow back the Black Birch really took over. I like the trees but want more than just allot of Black Birch. I think I will allow them to fight for the light and after many die from lack of sun I think I will cut and replace with Black Walnut. How big do these need to be to have a value?

Hi there,

I found a mourning dove sitting on the snow covered ground this morning.  Still alive, but it did not flee, despite my leashed dog.  The bird seemed cold so I brought it in, thinking it would soon die.  To my surprise, it seems to be sleeping/recuperating.  I have no bird experience and am willing to help the bird through the winter if necessary. 

I would like advice or at least a resource for care and feeding.  Thank you

I live in Atlanta, GA. A 40 ft tall pecan tree (related to hickory) in my neighbor’s back yard was decorated with what I thought was a bioluminescent fungus for a few days beginning December 26, 2015.  It was warm (72 F) rainy, damp weather. The tree had 25-30 little (1-2”) blue/green Christmas lights in the tree.

I believe I have a shrew living in my house. At first I thought it was a regular mouse, but then I got a good look at it.  It’s approximately 3 inches long, dark in colour, and appears not to have a tail.  It’s very bold and loves my dog’s food.  I have been unsuccessful trapping with regular mouse traps.  Any suggestions?

We found the Chaga on our yellow birch trees. We used a ladder as Chaga is usually pretty high in the trees. Cone shaped Chaga is easier to saw off than the wider mass type we also found. Once this is dried and broken up for grinding, I put the fine powder in a tea infuser, and set that inside the coffer maker on top of the fresh grounds, so we could benefit from it’s magical properties. I save the Chaga stuffed infuser leftovers, using it each morning for about a week before either throwing the used wet powder into a nut bread recipe or soup. Today I am cutting up the polypores and will use them as a tincture or make a salve for my face or for a wound cream. My sister threw some slices in her vegetable soup and said they smelled so good cooking. Then she tried a bite of the polypore, and she instantly puckered up stating it was very, very bitter, similar to ear wax! lol

What a hoot!  Very well done. Laugh-riot comes to mind.  :>}

Hello, I found a garter snake basking in the heat of our wood stove in the basement. I left out water but am unsure of what else to do. She or he hides in the 3 cords of wood down there. Can I just leave her be or should I provide some nourishment like earthworms? Thank you for your time.

We saw what we assume is this, but it was high up on the small branches of a living tree. Is that the same stuff?

Michael - not sure if you are still following up on these comments - so here goes.

Do you have information on how long it takes for a temperate tree (conifer or deciduous) to achieve dormancy prior to winter? I ask with respect to the particularly warm winter we are having in Europe and N.America right now and the effect that might have on bonsai trees which are kept outside during the winter.

Thanks in advance.