November 21st, 2024 What in the Woods is That?

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!).

Mossy Trail Mystery

While out walking on a little-used woods trail beneath a steep cliff in central Vermont, we found this patch of yellow moss attached to the vertical rock face at the base of the cliff, surrounded by green moss of the same species. Closer inspection revealed that some of the moss had been rubbed away, and there were scratched up leaves below this spot. What's going on here?

Answer

This is a bobcat territorial marking. Bobcats will spray urine onto areas within their territories, including on absorbent plant matter such as moss or wood that holds scent well. The scent warns off interlopers and announces a bobcat’s presence to potential mates. Bobcats will also sometimes rub against these marks (hence the worn away moss), and scrape up leaves that they also spritz with urine.

This week’s contest winner was Charles Wohlers

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