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!).

Unidentified Fluffy Stuff

Nope, this is not another early snowfall. But what is this fluffy, white stuff on the ground?

Answer

This is stream foam – sometimes called scum – washed up onto land due to recent flooding and left behind once the waters receded. While you may have grown up hearing that the foamy white bubbles were frog spit, in fact, they’re created when organic compounds from decomposing plants or animals mix with air. When such compounds dissolve, they release cellular matter into the water, which reduces the water’s surface tension. Wind comes along causing waves, agitating the surface and forming the bubbles.

This week’s contest winner was Deb Grabber of Millinocket, ME