What in the Woods Is That?

Play our biweekly guessing game!

Whatever draws us into the forest—be it birdwatching or logging, hiking or hunting—all of us are unified by the sense of wonder we feel in the outdoors. The forests, fields, and streams of our region are full of mystery, and if you stop and look closely, you’ll see all sorts of oddities.

Below find a picture of one such woodlands curio. Guess what it is and you’ll be eligible to win a Northern Woodlands woodpecker magnet designed by artist Liz Wahid. A prize winner will be drawn at random from all the correct entries. The correct answer, and the winner’s name, will appear when the next column is posted and in our newsletter (sign up here!).

Barking Up Which Tree?

We took this photo in a forest in northern Aroostook County, Maine. Can you identify the species by its bark?

Answer

Although it would be easy to mistake this tree for hop hornbeam – which many guessers did – this is a brown ash tree, also known as black ash or basket ash, with slightly atypical bark. The bark of many tree species can vary due to age and other factors, which makes ID tricky. To learn more about the brown ash’s habitat and uses – including in traditional Wabanaki basket making – check out this species profile from the USDA.

This week’s contest winner was Paul Harwood