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!).
Though they were spotted this fall at the Maine Tree Farm of the Year event at the Hidden Valley Nature Center, these forest pests seem appropriately festive for this time of year. Can you name them both (the pests, but bonus points if you can ID the people, too!)?
Asian longhorned beetle (left) and emerald ash borer (right).
This week’s contest winner was Dave Anderson of Concord, NH