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!).
We discovered a series of these shallow holes, about 2 inches wide, underneath an eastern white pine tree. Who made them – and why?
Striped skunks made these holes, likely digging for grubs or some other skunky delicacy. Skunks are omnivorous and will eat a variety of insects and amphibians, as well as earthworms, rodents, eggs, nuts, fruit, and fungi.
This week’s contest winner was Mark JL VanDerwater