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Bear Marking Territory
Ah! That feels so good! Sure looks like it, but that isn’t what is happening here. Black bears, young, mature, female, male, all bears mark trees, utility poles and wooden sign posts along their paths of travel. Most bears that do this marking are males during mating season. They do this marking by rubbing their…
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Cabbage White Butterfly
As summer arrives the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) Butterfly is ubiquitous. A medium sized butterfly with a wingspan of 1.5 to 2 inches. Not a native to this continent but of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. Cabbage White Butterfly larvae are a pest for anyone growing cruciferous plants in their vegetable garden. So, like a…
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Common Buckeye Butterfly
A beauty in the world of butterflies. Common Buckeye (Junonia coenia). It’s common in the southern states, along the California coast and in central America. Also found in other areas of the US, though not as commonly seen. Here at my cabin I see the Common Buckeye butterfly on apple mint, which is what it’s…
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Leaf-footed Bug
The Leaf-footed Bug (Acanthocephala terminalis) is found in the eastern United States west to Colorado and Texas. Adults are about an inch in length. Their antennae are in four segments, the last segment is orange, (this is what I normally see) or yellow or white. Their common name, shared with other species (making things a…
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Golden-backed Snipe Fly
Every year, in late May and early June I see Golden-backed Snipe Flies (Chrysopilus thoracicus) mating. These snipe flies are quite attractive with their golden thorax. Very little is known about them, even what they eat. Or whether the adults eat anything at all. The males have large eyes which meet, while the females have…
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Blackberries
Wild blackberry bushes (Rubus allegheniensis) have just finished blooming up here in the mountains. The list of insects, game birds, songbirds and mammals that these bushes benefit goes on and on. Needless to say the ecological benefit of these bushes to wildlife is quite high. Many insects benefit from the pollen and nectar available in…
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Broad-headed Skink
Repairing the porch. Lots of noise and commotion. It brought out something I’ve not seen before. A Broad-headed Skink (Plestiodon laticeps). A male during breeding season, with orange-red head that is puffed up which gives it the name “broad-headed.” I’ve seen lots of these skinks before, smaller ones, younger ones. Cute little ones just a…
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Carolina Wrens
Over the years I’ve had many Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) nests built here at my cabin. At least one out by the vegetable garden in a bird house. Another in a five-pointed star bird house on the porch. And in what seems to be a favorite spot, in an antique graniteware coffeepot hanging from the…
