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!).

Perplexing Polypore

We found this tasty-looking polypore growing on an oak stump while picking low-bush blues in mid-July. What is it?

Answer

While it may appear to be hen of the woods, a choice edible, it’s actually Meripilus sumstinei. They’re edible and can be good if they’re very young, but they soon turn into pleasant-tasting rubber.

This week’s contest winner was No winner this week