What in the Woods is That?

While snowshoeing in central Vermont, we found a number of these sideways scrapes on hardwood trees by a talus slope. What made these marks?

Reader Tammis Coffin sent in this photo of a somewhat hairy thing tucked into the crevice of a beech tree in western Massachusetts. What is it?

What caused the horizontal split in this maple tree?

Ben Kilham at the Kilham Bear Center in Lyme, New Hampshire, found this quarter-sized structure under the bark of a pine log. What is it?

Ducky dance moves? We came across this mallard twisting himself into some strange – and impressive – positions. What on earth is this duck doing?

We found this holey orb-like structure on a dried stalk near the edge of the woods. What happened here?

We found a bush covered in these fluff balls at the edge of a field. What plant is this?

Reader Tammis Coffin snapped this photo of a curved, twisted-topped pod in western Massachusetts. What is it?

A boy went into the woods and came home with his shirt and pants covered with these clingy customers. What are they?

This fallen sugar maple leaf was one of many, discovered in close proximity, marked with odd rings of faded color – and a few holes. What’s happening here?

A Tale of Two Berries: What's going on in this picture?

We discovered a series of these shallow holes, about 2 inches wide, underneath an eastern white pine tree. Who made them – and why?

Like many woods-wandering dogs, this Brittany spaniel regularly returns from romps with small balls sticking to her ears. What are they?

To bee, or not to bee: What is happening in this photograph?

Kelly Stettner, director of the Black River Action Team sent in this photo of a 6-foot-long something in the water of Muckross Pond in Springfield, Vermont. What is it?

We found this odd structure growing next to several Amanita mushrooms. What made it?

We found these weird brown bundles fastened to a log. What are they?

Bob Shafto of Falmouth, Maine, submitted this photo of a fuzzy growth he found attached to a white oak seedling. What is it?

We discovered this orange marshmallow complete with its own campfire stick. What is it? 

We found this tiny bird cage – just a few inches high – on a trail in central Vermont. What is it?