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!).

Icy Inquiry

We spotted this only partially-frozen circular spot amid newly formed ice on the Ompompanoosuc River. What happened here?

Answer

This is a frozen-over hole used by an otter to access the water – and the fish (and crayfish) within. As explained in this recent Outside Story essay, otters tend to move upland during the winter, seeking access to food.

This week’s contest winner was Joseph Poynton