Catbird diet japanese beetle
Wondering about these footprints found in Gates Mills Land Conservancy this week. I suspect many people put feed out for them. The prints are deeply formed in the bedrock and very hard in shape. Unfortunately, Little Brown Bats are extremely uncommon now due to white-nose syndrome,. I am assuming that she may have been killed or something. Sometimes the coat can be misleading and make the animal look bigger than it actually is. A: The snake is a Northern Water Snake, and the caterpillar is a Sycamore Tussock Moth caterpillar, which is pretty neat considering the leaves in the picture of the snake appear to be sycamore leaves. The name milksnake originated from the fact that farmers seeing them around the barn mistakenly believed they milked the cows at night. Q: We have a Red-shouldered Hawk that has begun sitting on our porch railing, not far from the tree where we hang four bird feeders. If afraid of them, then just leave them be. The article even features a microscopic view of the cysts. A: It probably will be able to survive the winter in the basement. Q: I saw this opossum outside The West Woods Nature Center last week. Q: I found this attached to a tree in my back yard in Bainbridge Twp. We know all of us living creatures need to eat but we feel guilty calling birds to our feeding tree where they may now get plucked up. Q: This is on a windowsill on the 23rd floor of a dorm at Ohio State. The lack of pigment in the squirrels tail qualifies this squirrel as partially leucistic, meaning a lack of pigment on all or part of its body, which is not the same as albino. But, as apparently not the case, other possibilities, in order of probability, would be a. Q: What causes birds to hit our house windows, and is there anything that can be done to prevent this. I saw what appeared to be a platform on a cell tower. Maybe even worms as both red-shouldered hawks and their nighttime counterpart, the barred owl hunt them on the ground. Q: Got a picture of a fascinating butterfly. Woodpeckers are important predators of EAB living under the bark of ash trees. I overwintered the cocoon on my breezeway where it would be subjected to the necessary seasonal temperatures, but buffered from the extreme cold. Tim Matson, vertebrate zoologist with the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, who I consult with regarding matters of amphibian biology, in this case the possibility exists of inducing hibernation for a mid-winter release. Taken today (August 27) here in Newbury Township. Actually either species, House Sparrow or House Wren could be the guilty party. By predatory, I mean that they use their sharp, needle-like beak to pierce the bodies of other kinds of insects, into which they inject digestive enzymes which further liquefy the insides of their prey. My question for you is whether it is common for birds with one working leg to survive into adulthood. Your sharpie, with its blue-gray upper plumage and rusty barred breast, is an adult bird. She blew on them and they scattered, then returned to the pile. A: If it was that size, it could be bear scat, but I cannot say with 100% certainty unless I see it. I know your Geauga but I am not sure who to ask. As populations increase, so does the chances of mutations such as leucism and albinism. Breeding is sort of a group thing with these snakes that form writhing piles of reptilian reproduction. Question: are the scaled trees dead or live trees. I have enjoyed their presence so much that I will miss them if they go elsewhere. A: You are correct in stating that bat populations have dramatically declined over the last few years in NE Ohio and elsewhere. They would have reached Mexico by November ahead of cold weather in the south. A: It is highly unlikely for these Chickadees and Juncos to interbreed. I would think you may need a picture however these things are huge. The only venomous snake that might be in Northeast Ohio would be the Massasauga Rattlesnake, which is so rare that it is an endangered species throughout Ohio. Looked at field marks and check my books for the rusty crown, eye stripe, chest spot, grey tail feathers and black feet. It was a bit larger than our cats, gray in color, larger ears, no tail she could see. It runs between Melridge Drive and Morley Road. That could also be a helpful clue. That something could be a log, stones or the edge of a building. A family member took the picture in her backyard in Broadview Heights on January 6, 2016. They keep their blood stream from freezing by producing an antifreeze-like fluid called glycerol. A: Your photographs document bark stripping by squirrels. Should I get my car sprayed on the inside. Q: Just wondering if you can identify this very distinctively marked brown spider my daughter saw in Ashtabula. Specifically, I am curious if you are seeing a decline in the occupancy in your bat houses in the parks. A: The opportunity for intimate views of animal life comes with an upside and a downside. As far as them being a problem in your home, they are not. I live in Painesville city and I found this little guy in my garage. Q: I live in Geauga County near Big Creek Park. Q: Noticed something in the front yard Monday evening, possibly some early. We did visit that exhibit once this year. This morning I took a peek and both the male and female were perched on the edge of the nest facing outward on opposite sides. Many solutions have been offered to deter birds away from glass, ranging from inexpensive if unaesthetic homespun remedies such asribbons and suspended pie tins, plastic lids and compact discs waving and twirling in front of the glass, to a variety of commercially available window decals such as falcon-in-flight and leaf silhouettes claiming to deter birds from striking window glass. We were planting some small ones today at the fair building. As for wolves, we do not have wolves in Ohio anymore. A: You had the pleasure of viewing an amazing mammal that occurs in every county of Ohio, but is rarely seen because their tendency to quickly scamper away when encountered. Being that groundwater is going to be at or near a constant 50-some degree temperature, it is warmer and capable of melting surface snow, especially if its flow is bolstered by an infusion of ground-saturating snowmelt. They are less venomous than Latrodectus mactans (the Southern Black Widow), but are still medically relevant. They do not possess enough venom to harm a person, but instead prefer to hunt insects such as grasshoppers. Adult blister beetles feed on plants, while larvae are usually parasitic on grasshopper eggs but can also feed on eggs or larvae of bees. A: The City of Akron usually lowers the level of the reservoir in the late summer through fall. The bird is a member of the flycatcher family and is quite common in Geauga County. Is this guy one of your resident birds or migrating. Note the two very large, round, forward-facing eyes that give the spider its ability to see detailed images and judge distances. I think I heard that these were put up for the shrike that was visiting in the winter. There are chemical applications that give diagnostic color turns to various portions of the flesh. The pine tree in the background was a clue. Matson, Curator and Head of Vertebrate Zoology, Cleveland Museum of Natural History. A: The tree foaming is known as slime flux, a disease that affects many of our mature hardwood trees. Gyrfalcons are the largest kind of falcon in the world. Snakes are predators but vulnerable to hawks, raccoons, foxes, coyotes, cats and humans. A: The local gray squirrel population is increasing, as evident at The West Woods feeding station. If the nest is still vacated by the end of the day, then I would presume abandonment, reason not obvious. While still on 87, we stopped next to a pond that had lots of lily pads in it. 5 to 1. I have seen them soaring and calling in the springtime. Q: Here are some pictures of a turtle I found in my yard today. I know there are a lot of them around because I so often see them as roadkill. Q: We decided to move a bed of lilies to another spot in our yard recently and with them went several very large stones that ringed the bed. The other was same type but smaller and darker and was taking a bath with my 4-year-old. I have a suggestion: Could you put up some kind of small viewing platform along that path. You can see the seed, which looks like a sunflower seed. A: Our best guess is a rodent like a squirrel, or chipmunk. When the front of the brain does collide with the skull upon impact, the force is spread out over a larger area. I looked to see if anyone else had thoughts on this and found a few links. They also have the most teeth and smallest brain-to-body size ratio of any NA mammal. The smaller eyes track movement, as you may have observed this spider looking at you and moving its head to follow you as you snapped its photo. A: Oh yes, ranavirus is here and has been here for some years. Q: My husband and I took a drive from Burton to Cleveland on 87 and 422 this past week. It uses the spines on its legs to hold onto the prey and injects it with a neurotoxin which immobilizes the prey, as well as enzymes which begin to digest the insect. A: No, this is a mink, another member of the weasel family, as are otters. Duchesnea indica (sometimes called Potentilla indica ) - known commonly as mock strawberry, Gurbir, Indian strawberry or false strawberry - has foliage and an aggregate accessory fruit similar to true strawberry, though this is apparently an independent evolution of a similar fruit type. The seed probably fell in there and the rest happened naturally. If there were thaws, how long and warm, and time. Their song is the best way to tell them apart (at least for Naturalist Linda). According to my eBird records, I saw an osprey on July 30 of this year (2013). A: Based on the size, location and content (animal fur), it is definitely coyote fur. Did these squirrels hitch a ride from Indiana or Michigan. Q: While canoeing Friday in the Vermilion River under the water near Mill Hollow, I noticed many deer-like hoove prints embedded deep into the bedrock under the water near a large shale bank. If they are wolf spiders, is there anything I can do to discourage them from coming inside. The observation of a lurching gait indeed suggests a member of the weasel family. Today I found this animal, which looks like an oversized caterpillar, eating some of the leaves of a virginia creeper outside my kitchen window. Reply: So far no problem with the chipmunk or the cat that sometimes sits below gazing at the nest. Q: Saw this hawk in a low branch of a White Pine at the Naturerealm in Akron. - John Kolar, Chief Naturalist. A: Well, part of the privilege of having a bird nest in such a handy viewing area is having a front row seat to the drama of nature. The Montgomery County park website does not offer what you guys do - no help at all. Is there any vital information that I am leaving out that could help decide what is the best decision, dye the pond or not to. It is called erythrism, an unusual and little-understood genetic mutation caused by a recessive gene similar to that which affects albino animals. It grows in rich woods, often on stream hillsides that get some sun. As for their singing, they should start fairly soon, with their long melodic song which they do to stake out nesting territory and attract a mate. Place the wire cage over the nest excavation and pin it down with tent stakes (available from hardware, sporting goods or discount stores) being careful not to penetrate the clutch. The birds were quite large and almost owlish-appearing as well. I found this spider in my back room warehouse at work in Ashtabula. Here is a link with more information about Northern Short-tailed Shrews. Use a drip system or safe heater (from a bird feeding store) to keep the water open, never use glycerine of oils. Reports for the species in Geauga this year come from Frohring Meadows, Hayes Road in Middlefield, Walter C. It appears that the stump is so rotten that the weight of a bear would likely topple the entire trunk. Q: Hello, can you tell me what kind of spider this is. Q: This came to the Meyer Center front desk. The nymphs pictured here belong to the insect order Hemiptera. Thank you. A: Nice to talk with someone studying at Hocking College (many of my very best employees have come from Hocking College). Also, the rear pseudo-feet arrangement is all wrong. You are correct, your image is not a dragonfly, but ichneumon wasps are also beneficial to humans, helping to control many agricultural and forest insect pests. Here is the web page I used to read about the differences in the two shrikes. Q: I was with Tami on her bluebird walk at the Earth Day Extravaganza and I showed her my bluebird eggs. I brought the bird inside, assuming it was injured and that it would not make it. I also have some trees in my yard near the house and get nesting robins. There is quite an odor, I suspect from her urine. Several branches, including the main growth stem, have lost all of their leaves, and some small branches have just fallen off. Indeed they are small compared to the more familiar ring-billed gulls and the even larger herring gull found in great numbers wintering on Lake Erie. The prints are deeply formed in the bedrock and very hard in shape. They are not harmful to humans, and as you have noticed, are actually pretty interesting to observe. I thought maybe they have more resources with people putting out more feeders and planting more flowers, but I was also wondering if temperature could be part of the equation. jeff and unisexual larvae for ranavirus and the virus is not uncommon. Click here for a link about Northern Cardinals. Not aggressive unless taunted, content to warm its cold body in the April sun after a long winter, there to excite and enthrall visitors as part of our wildlife heritage to be enjoyed in Geauga Park District. Click here for the ODNR fish field guide, in which information about bullheads can be found on page 22. I saw by your recent eBird report that there are a lot more shorebirds there now. A: Think it is some kind of bolete, but I sent it to Tom Sampliner for an ID. My grandson, age 2, picked it up out of a bushel of apples I picked last night, thinking it was a stick. Q: Found this at Punderson on a fallen oak tree. Hello, we want to build a large bat house on our Bainbridge property that crosses the Chagrin River. Thanks for setting the record straight with those who were afraid. Efforts are underway in large cities, including Cleveland. We have documented ranavirus in some Marbled Salamanders that I raised from eggs (1999). Any thoughts or info on this is appreciated. Their migration always precedes the Spotted Salamanders by one or two warm spring rains. This feeding behavior exposes lighter colored bark underneath the outer bark. That corner is open at the bottom and chipmunks can be seen and heard at times during the active season. Q: I was hoping you could give me some tips on building and properly erecting a bat house. I did however see my first fecal sack gobbling by the adults. Here and here are a couple of good references to learn more about them. Most of the time I encounter this jumping behavior when I try to net them with large nets called seines. It is not the best video, but thought you would have more experience than us. Well I came home today and all 5 eggs were pulled out of the nest. Its defensive posturing includes flattening out to make its girth look wider, making itself convincingly resemble. A: The American Robin has been seen around the area. Could not capture any pics as I was driving both times. Are there any other reports of fishers in Geauga County. A very cool sighting, and I am not sure how common they are in Ohio. I have lived in Geauga County for many years and have just started to notice black squirrels in the area. How do I identify the culprit in our backyard. S. Try this: if you put your hands on either side of the leaf on a hot day it will feel about 10 degrees cooler. Had no idea that was part of the process until today. I now have mounts of mink, otter and fisher here at The West Woods Nature Center. I believe it is a Broad-winged Hawk, but I am not sure. They have multiple field guides for various animals (birds, mammals, dragonflies, etc. Many kinds of galls are commonly associated with oaks. A: This insect is a female Ichneumon Wasp. There is a widespread belief that the black squirrels came from Kent, Ohio - released or escaped from a KSU study - and have spread from there. These fully-grown larvae spend the winter folded inside a small pupation cell constructed in the outer sapwood or outer bark. A: Click here for a great website with details about construction. These snakes are quite timid and pose no threat to people if they are left alone. Even one foot in height would improve the view to the wetlands. (L. A: Canada Geese began nesting on the platform at Headwaters three years ago, forcing the pair of ospreys using it to move to a nearby cell phone tower. Most birds are done breeding this late in the summer and are not defending territories as much, thus the lack of bird song this time of year. They are found more in the southeastern portion of the US and are most common in Florida. The website you mentioned by Jim McCormac, an excellent Ohio naturalist, does a good job describing it. I have lived here for more than 20 years and not seen one of these animals before. If you zoom in on the photo you can see this. I am hesitant to spend the money only to learn that bat populations have decreased enough that the house would never be occupied. A: I am glad you asked, which means you are interested in spiders or fear that this one might be dangerous. If you can recall, did the specimen have two distinct body parts or one. They are a smaller member of the giant silk moth family that includes luna, cecropia, polyphemus and promethea moths. Geometer moths are the second largest group of moths in North America, numbering over 1,400 species. Q: In most places eagles already have several eggs or hatchlings on March 12. We thought it was very different because of the way the hind legs curl upwards towards the head. A: I saw the Snow Buntings off-trail where the new wetland was installed along the south-west-ish part of the park. Good job getting a photo of this little guy, since most of the time shrews are beneath logs, leaves, snow or underground. A: This is the Ash Bolete, Boletinellus meruloides. Stinkhorns are amazing mushrooms, notorious for popping up suddenly and unexpectedly in urban settings. They are masses of baby spiders just hatched from their egg case. And, the one decent photo I was able to get (attached) showed that the black mask of the bird I saw was not covering the eye and extending up onto the forehead. Spraying your auto interior with insecticide may likely pose a greater health risk than this baby beetle. Hard copies can be requested through 1-800-WILDLIFE, or if you would like, contact me and I can set some aside for you to pick up either at our Big Creek Park (Chardon) or The West Woods (Russell Twp. I know it is very faint, but I am wondering what bird is singing the very long song. These beetles are 0. You may not get to see the animals you became familiar with in the city, but you will find some new ones to admire in Geauga. When I placed it on an apple to get its picture, it attached to the stem and assumed its stick pose. mactans can occasionally be found in Southern Ohio, but NE Ohio would be out of its range. Fungal spores invades a crack, hole or wound in the tree. Hope to hear that they returned by mid-morning. Also click here for a good article on fishers. My wife is afraid they will harm our cats if they happen to be outside and the fisher confronts them. About 40 percent of their body can freeze during the winter. Hello, I live in Munson Township and just walked out my front door to find this snake in the mulch next to my porch. It is native to eastern and southern Asia, but has been introduced to many other areas as an ornamental plant. I saw it hunting from the post and also hovering over the field. My son Daniel who gave you the caterpillar was very happy to hear the story. Now I have a question about another spider that is invading my home. Can you tell anything by just this scanty description. Lovely. Q: I saw a recent eBird report by the Geauga County Naturalists. Click here for Crane Flies on the BugGuide. A: Caterpillar ID for small species is tough. Regardless of what it really is, I can picture a Red-tailed Hawk using it for a perch as it surveys its domain. Q: I am wondering if you can help me identify this animal that I followed from my boat along the shoreline of Lake Roaming Rock in Roaming Shores, Ohio (Ashtabula County). Possibly take a photo of the scat with a nickel next to it next time so that we can observe the size scale. I am looking for oak trees in forests, can only find a few here and there. The control specialist, even if he is an entomologist, is not so well qualified by training, and besides he is not psychologically disposed to look for undesirable side effects. This is said to makes it more resistant to concussions. A: Great Blue Herons are partial migrants going to where they have access to food. The reasons why squirrels do this is not fully or well explained. That they enter the ear canal and lay their eggs. A: This could be the Mourning Cloak Butterfly. Any chance you got a good look at its head. A: Yes, there are coyotes in all 88 counties of Ohio. Non-toxic deterrents (found at home improvement stores) can be sprayed onto the siding to prevent future damage. With just one working leg, and now injured wings, I shall try to take it to a wildlife rehab place, if they will take it. As far as I know, your caterpillar could be one the following species. Summer OK so far full of nature happenings. Certainly nothing natural looking for an aquatic biologist to appreciate. or not. A: In late June, I counted a grand total of three bats in the Eldon Russell Park bat house. A: We have NO venomous snakes in Geauga County. I could clearly see the limp vole from the trail on the plant. toxic to the real experts. Check out this Reptiles of Ohio Field Guide published by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. They form large colonies on small branches and the undersides of leaves. You are right, a gyrfalcon appearance in Ohio, or anywhere in the lower 48 for that matter, is a rare occurrence for sure. Do you know about when the eggs for the migrating generation will be hatching. There is no way to prevent our kids from exploring the woods. Q: Last spring at this time I recall finding a lot of dead Wood Frog late stage tadpoles (legs present, tails shrinking) in one of our ponds here at The West Woods. Our nice cold winter this year may have a negative effect on any Adelgids in the area. If your frog has access to the drain pipe, it may stay in there. Q: Can you tell me the difference in coloration between the goose in the forefront and the rest of them. We have not seen one squirrel, chipmunk, birds (other than geese) since we moved here in September. A: I would guess that these photos were taken near one of our ponds at Swine Creek because these are Eastern Kingbirds, a bird that usually nests near water. The parent salamander often curls around the eggs to guard them from invertebrate predators. It is one of the silphiums in the sunflower family where only the ray flowers produce seed. Q: I sent a question in the fall regarding spiders I was finding in my home. A poultice of the crushed leaves is used to treat skin ailments such as eczema. Tami, our field naturalist was feeding steak to the hawk visiting her yard, and one of our park volunteers currently has a Red-shouldered Hawk cleaning out her suet feeder. Dramatic enough that I was compelled to look online. It is such a treat to see something like that. Some are found around here in the winter feeding on wild fruit, poison ivy berries being a favorite. Such animals are available from exotic animal breeders in Ohio. She has friends telling her it is a coyote and wolf hybrid. This spongy bone is concentrated at the front and back of the skull and functions as a shock absorber. A: Dick Tuttle will answer in italics below. The small purple flower also in the picture is creeping Charlie or ground ivy. The Massasauga (also known as the Swamp Rattlesnake) lives closest to Geauga County in pristine wetlands in the Grand River Watershed in Ashtabula County. As far as where they breed: I have found many L. Click here to learn more about the problems this tree is facing. Stink bugs are so named for a general trait of having chemical defenses which render them distasteful to predators. If it were a caterpillar, the butterfly which it will become would be tremendous. A: The possibility of a fisher in Geauga County: improbable, but not impossible. ) location. A: Noting the deeper cavity below the entrance hole, this would be a nesting cavity. Also, a bird bath with fresh water (especially in the winter when most water is frozen) will also attract many birds. In the state of Ohio there are three venomous snakes (Northern Copperheads, Timber Rattlesnakes and Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes), none of which are very common. These are the safe, low-power laser pointers with an output power of five milliwatts or less. It probably crawled up into the bush to bask in the sunlight. Q: Are there coyotes roaming in Geauga County. The solution is to place bird feeders further away from windows. A: Well, droughty summers tend to mean less nectar available in flowers. net, a Podisus serieventris. I know what my stargazer will be getting for her anniversary now. Since The West Woods park was established, trail hikers have noted and, by most accounts, delighted each spring in seeing up to three large black rat snakes basking high overhead in the branches of the big hollow beech trees that they hibernated in. Hope this helps and let us know if you are successful with the bats. Unfortunately, we do not have Corn Snakes here in Ohio. Q: Why does it seem like so many pine trees are dying in Geauga County. To see a demonstration of accipiter aerial abilities, check out this video featuring a goshawk. I had not seen him but when I turned around he was almost the width of the trail. Jenks Creek is entirely on private property, so there is no public access for exploring it. I am currently at home back in Ashtabula County, and me and my father had a very disputable conversation about aquatic life. The larvae doing the pruning this year are frequently a year old, and have over-wintered within their tunnels. -Sal Germano. From winter to late summer the reservoir is allowed to fill up, and the cycle repeats every year. Reply: So you think a squirrel did all that in three days. Both mink and otter are uniform dark brown in color. Check the bark-sheared areas for woodpecker feeding holes. They were so terribly RED that they worried us. Q: Attached are photos I took this morning of a very large inchworm type caterpillar, if you can, help me identify it please. But understandingly, not everyone does, so I am hoping to answer your question and alleviate any fear you may have. It is a predator and will attack other insects by lying in wait. A friend was visiting from Minnesota a few years back and pointed them out to me and called them pump n glides. It appears to my very untrained eye that all the beech trees along the Beechwoods Trail are under severe distress, perhaps even dying. Why Corporate America Must Stand Up to Trump. As for your other question, the ball-like structure on the one flower is caused by a gall, an insect laying its egg in the flower. Fungi, in its great diversity and variety of form, feature many look-alikes, some deadly poisonous. I hope this has been helpful, and I hope you can narrow down which owl is living near you. Otters are large mammals: three to four feet in length. Success of the nest will depend on the vigilance and aggressive defense of the parent cardinals. A: They could very well be salamander eggs, as both the Red-backed Salamander and Dusky Salamander lay their clutches of eggs on land. They were in a pile on the side of her garage. I began Hemlock Wooly Adelgid surveys in Geauga Park District last year. The history of recent centuries has its black passages—the slaughter of the buffalo on the Western plains, the massacre of the shore birds by the market gunners, the near extermination of the egrets for their plumage. We thought salamanders laid their eggs in water and the larvae lived in water, then they moved onto land as an adult. If the photographs showing nibbled oak leaves are from the same tree as the wormy twig, this is a bit of a puzzle. A: This is a Jack-in-the Pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum. I was given your contact information concerning questions that you have about dead trees on your property. I am always happy to see their larva on stream surveys. A: Your sister appears to have found a Pale Green Weevil ( Polydrusus impressifrons ). Fact sheet from the Maine Department of Conservation. Q: This animal was wandering a subdivision in Kirtland in early June. A: Cowbird guy is seeing his reflection in the window thinking it is a rival male to challenge. I thought it was just one tree last year and then this year more trees. In winter they are pretty keen on rodents, less so on birds. As a quick rule of thumb when shopping for a laser pointer. The birds ran him off when he was only about an inch from the nest. They were behind the Valley Shelter sign at Swine Creek. (I was thinking of carrying a small step stool on my next visit. They consume perhaps three times their weight in food each day and need more food in the winter to keep warm. A: It looks to me like what you saw was a Muskrat. In any case, make sure you clean out the box thoroughly and take away all the destroyed materials so as not to attract predators. Q: This guy was just checking out all the tasty little birds at my feeder. Q: Taken at Penitentiary Glen on the side of a valley leading down to a creek, wondering what type of flower this is. A: Click here for a great website with details about construction. Crane Flies are harmless, however, and many are beautifully marked. Those protective spines would have caused quite an irritating rash on soft toddler skin. The main characteristic of these plants is that their flowers are composed of a spathe (a modified leaf that covers the flower spike like a hood) and a spadix (a flower spike on a fleshy stem that is inside the spathe). Fortunately we still have our nest of baby Robins right outside another window and we have been watching them grow everyday. Backyard birdwatchers are perhaps more likely to see young Sharp-shinned and Coopers hawks in their mottled, streaky brown plumage. A: The snake near the frog in the water is actually a Northern Water Snake, and the frog is a Green Frog. The size of this individual in the picture indicates it is a female. The caterpillar is amazing and can be green or brown. The best thing to do is to teach them how to identify this plant so they can avoid it. Favored habitat is upland fields with underground burrows lined with grass or fur. There appears to be a seed attached to it. They flew, or something eating them flew, not sure. If it was in the tub and it seemed to walk on water and was getting around easily, this would be my guess. Is there anything we should know about having these critters in the neighborhood. Q: We recently moved into a home that has a rather large woodsy area in the backyard. This seemed pretty unusual to us as well. A: There is nothing to worry about because this is a very common foliar fungus occurring on maples during this time of the year. Sometimes found near houses (judging from the picture, as this was), but are not considered dangerous. It has been sprayed for cattails, and also has about 10% coverage of other aquatic plants in the summer season. Therefore, September, October, even November in a year that presents proper circumstances does result in an occasional bloom for typical spring ephemeral. A: Bobcats are pretty wary of humans, so I would doubt that they would enter a barn. It, too, was during an brief break when the Polar Vortex took a day off from deep freezing. It is considered edible when newly formed and very white, although its convoluted form tends to envelope a lot of dirt and detritus making it a challenge to clean. Last night he came, prodded the eggs a little and then left. Within days, bees starting buzzing around the damp, shaded, alcove in the clay soil. To survive the harsh prairie environment, it aligns its leaves north-south to avoid evaporation in the hot mid-day sun. Our best guess is a pitcher plant. They would be very hard to find them, as they are under about 10 inches of flowing water but certainly deeply embedded in the hard bedrock. Lisa Rainsong, a local expert on the insect order Othoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, katydids), for an explanation of this unusual color form. Thank you. The natural reforestation of Geauga County that has been taking place over that last 70 years or so have provided them with more habitat. ) is nearby, and sometimes other chipmunks pick up on the call and begin to echo the sound. My guess from your picture and description is that you have the Field Wolf Spider (Hogna helluo), a very common spider around homes. Is there anybody who can give me some insight about these prints. ). Have there ever been reports of them nesting in that area. Anyway, before the caterpillar could be released, it spun its cocoon. There are some over the counter products at pharmacies that help wash off the poison ivy. Ground water pushed up by the weight of the snow. The biologist on the scene is certainly well qualified to discover and interpret the loss of wildlife. This lighter bark is very obvious to even ground-based observers and looks a lot like the mark the might be left if an adjacent tree had fallen and removed outer bark on its way down. What you behold is a really interesting arachnid, the Nursery Web Spider ( Pisaurina mira ). To find out, an inquiry with the owning cell tower firm would be the way to find out. I know they stick dead prey on thorns in trees. Soaring above, they are crow-sized, smaller than Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks with broad black and white bands on their tail. Q: Any idea who made this deep hole and why. They were on the beach at Mentor Headlands. The net vein appearance of the pores underneath is classic. Unfrozen water is an attraction to birds of all kinds in winter. A: Hard to know for sure without a picture, but I am assuming that the eruptions in your yard are the piles of dirt made by mole activity. It is reddish phase Coyote with its full winter coat. A: Your picture is a Golden-backed Snipe Fly. Q: I took a short hike at Frohring Meadows a couple of days ago. Sometimes a little bigger and sometimes a little smaller than this one. Wrens are more likely to remove the eggs, whereas House Sparrows just start building right over them. I could use the same money in other forms of wildlife habitat around our home. This year (2013) I saw a total of three monarchs the entire summer. Just be sure to have the feeders near bushes or some type of cover in case the birds need to hide from a visiting hawk. They are bio-indicators of good water quality because they need clean, cold, well-oxygenated water for survival. I searched the southwest area for the Snow Buntings. The explanation that seems most logical is that chickadees are bolder and more observant than some of the other birds. I wonder if you know what tree it was on. Not sure what kind, but it seems early for them. We have tested many tadpoles and A. It is weakly parasitic on the roots of conifer trees and does not kill the tree. The downside is that we are also exposed to the drama and reality of mortality that exercises itself on wildlife on a greater scale than we experience as humans in our relatively safe existence. Q: My sister-in-law would like to know what kind of spiders these may be. A: Depending on the habitat, the snake you saw is probably a non-venomous Northern Water Snake or Milk Snake. Fawns cannot get around well enough to keep up with their mother so they may be left alone for long periods while the doe feeds. Many turtle nests are pillaged by our overly-abundant raccoons as well as skunks. Most kinds of bryozoans are marine animals, but there are a few freshwater kinds such as the Magnificent Bryozoan that you have found. I presume it happened in the winter, since the bottom 18-24 inches are untouched. Rodents are mostly herbivorous, but yes, they are opportunistic omnivores as well. A: Our vote is that this is the work of a Pileated Woodpecker. It keeps life dangerous for snakes of all kinds in the presence of humans. I got another shot of an eagle today, possibly the same one, doing the same thing. I also consulted Richard Bradley from the Ohio State University to see if there are any spiders that it would likely be. I wanted to ask you about something else. 6 of a mile from County Line, and have a large stand of woods in the back of our home as do most of the neighbors. These are tiny, tiny birds with one of the most beautiful songs in the bird world. My initial thought was that it was a Coopers, but then after looking through all my bird books and the Cornell website, I talked myself out of it. A: While the bracket fungi could possibly be one of the Ganoderma, particularly lucidum, which would be the one attributed with the common nomenclature of Reishi in Japanese, the image is of such poor quality and fails to show the underside so that one cannot be sure. I was wondering why there seems to be fewer hummingbirds this year. Although they might look like red blisters, like Judy says, they are not harmful to the tree. As their name implies, they live in and around bodies of water. On the other hand, the insect-control specialists tend to deny that such losses have occurred, or that they are of any importance if they have. A: Yes, you are correct that River Otters are essential nocturnal animals and can most likely be seen at dawn and dusk. I have seen them in great numbers in Canada and southern Ohio, but not around here. You recorded a prime example of the trill. Several of our parks have Hemlocks in them, and if the Adelgids do make it here, hopefully they can be caught early. A temporary re-arrangement of the furniture, thus eliminating the perch, may solve the problem. Best way to protect the nests is to fashion a cage from wire mesh fencing with spaces large enough for half dollar-sized hatchlings to get out, but to keep paws from digging. Naturalist Judy Bradt-Barnhart is correct, it is one of the stink bugs - one of over 500 species of stink bugs in the country alone. Last summer I enjoyed photographing the ospreys at Bass Lake, and just bought a 150-600mm telephoto lens so I can get better pictures. Q: Our son who lives in Munson took this pic of a mosquito in his garage. It occurs in two forms or subspecies - Limenitis arthemis astyanax, the Red-spotted Purple, and Limenitis arthemis arthemis, the White Admiral, which has a broad white band across both wings. Left to right: Red-backed Salamander (photo by Mike Benard), Dusky Salamander, slug eggs. Their relatively short wings build speed while their long tail works like a rudder to maneuver unhindered through thick tangles of branches. A few massive spiders have been hanging around d my house. A: I have seen this in several Geauga parks including Bass Lake Preserve, The Rookery and Big Creek Park. A: These photos, although plants with three leaflets, look to me like a plant commonly known as Indian strawberry although the fruit is not a strawberry and is tasteless. The leaves are trifoliate, roughly veined beneath, dark green, and often persisting through the winter, arising from short crowns. Q: I took my dog for a walk on the path by The West Woods Nature Center. While these hammerheads whack their way into the heartwood of insect-infested trees leaving conspicuous oval-shaped holes, another feeding mode is bark-scaling: chiseling off the bark to get the bark beetle larvae found between the bark and the wood. Is there a salamander that lays its eggs on land. The yellow flowers are produced in mid spring, then sporadically throughout the growing season. The deer you saw is tagged because it is part of a fawn survival study being conducted by Cleveland Metroparks. The previous owners of the home had small children also and never had a reaction of any kind in the three years they lived here. My colleague, Tim Matson, curator of vertebrate zoology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, said. This choice of nest location may be a way of avoiding Great Horned Owl predation. The purples are often seen landing on limestone gravel from which they derive salts and minerals. You might discourage the hawk by scaring it away - or you could buy some suet or raw hamburger and offer it on a platform and maybe it would eat that instead. A large body of evidence behind the tree frog points to a successful night of insect-eating near one of your exterior lights. I have also given him a suggestion that my Field Biology Instructor had also offered with a possible grass carp, and is currently a possibility for the future, but the owner has to do more research considering the pond size, fish population, and proper environment for it to grow. But I have a pretty good idea of what it is based on where you were at The West Woods and the size of the snake. Unfortunately, the transmitter only worked for ninemonths, but she has returned to nest in the Aquilla watershed every year since. Fact sheet from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They produce these small nuts which are covered in the prickly little pod. Some non-venomous snakes even rattle their tails on dry leaves if when they are threatened. I had just started to hike the trail at The West Woods that leaves the Nature Center heading down by the beige ramp over the swamp. They were quite calm and basking on fallen branches and logs by the large marsh pond. For the last five years or so I have raised and released Monarch butterflies. They can show extreme variations in their color and pattern, which could be why it looked like nothing you have ever seen. I did see a shrike in the southeast section of the meadows where there are three small trees in the middle of the meadow. A: This is a newly emerged annual cicada. The second photo shows it mating, no less. A: Since you saw the deer in Cuyahoga County, I checked with the Natural Resources Department of Cleveland Metroparks for this answer. As you indicate, your specimen is past its prime. The length, extent and depth of the cold weather. Q: We found this hole in a tree on the Affelder Link trail on Christmas Day. Since they are the smallest carnivore in the world at six to nine inches in length, they are seldom seen. They would be very hard to find them, as they are under about 10 inches of flowing water but certainly deeply embedded in the hard bedrock. In Quebec a few years ago we saw a number of foxes and about half were cross. One is to use an organic, horticultural oil, such as neem oil. Have never had one bouncing around on our front lawn. There were some white ones but they burrowed into the old bolt holes before I could snap a picture and got done being creeped out a little bit. ). Last year the Red-breasted Nuthatches and this year the Turfted Titmice have picked up on the easy source of winter food. Male minks may reach two feet in length, females smaller. Other than a visiting feral cat, I do not know what she might have seen. But the species adaptability - switching from remote cliff ledges to downtown city skyscraper ledges as nesting sites - is at least as miraculous as the success of human efforts on their behalf. Due to a late winter storm in March that wiped out almost half the overwintering population in Mexico, monarchs were late to arrive in Ohio. It was not scorpion, but it had a scorpion tail and 2 wings. Look no farther than your local naturalists, the people at your Park District whose job it is to help you understand the natural world around you. The name milk snake originated from the fact that farmers seeing them around their barns mistakenly believed they milked the cows at night. There are many other free field guides as well. Q: I have been noticing a blue heron that is still hanging around the north side of the Headwaters reservoir, and it seems a bit late for it to still be here (November 25). This appears to beone of the predatory stink bugs. The bluebird parents keep going in the nest looking for their eggs. Thanks. A: This looks like Pseudocolus fusiformis, commonly called the stinky squid or octopus stinkhorn. The larva of stoneflies are aquatic and live in streams. This in turn hypothetically reduces unwanted algal blooms. Over the years of EAB attack, woodpecker feeding can be observed lower and lower on the ash trunks. I thought it was interesting that they were hanging out so close together. The last is a fascinating video of up-close shots of these tiny insects. At first glance I assume it is a wolf spider. I was confused though because I thought I was hearing a Screech Owl every night for the past few years calling but with an actual screech noise. I checked Cornell for sound and description, and it sounded like their recording of female harrier alarm call. They are usually the last of the warblers to pass through our area on their journey south. A: Looks like a Black-capped Chickadee nest with the downy material. Q: Can you identify the bird pictured, please. Q: I spotted these two just off 322 near Taylor Wells Road. Another take by Naturalist Tami Gingrich, and her pictures of this condition she observed, can be seen at this link. I can see now how someone came up with fairies. I have only seen them growing under the high tension wires that cross the north end of Frohring Meadow and on the First Energy right-of-way south of Chagrin Road at Cats Den Road. A: Judy provides a good explanation of galls. We see the effects mostly on maturing tadpoles and larvae. You can also find more species on this website. He has, for the last 40 years, been long been a promoter of bluebird conservation through nest boxes. Both are voracious predators of fish and other aquatic animals. Unfortunately, I did not have my camera with me. However, all laser diodes will burn out eventually. Recently launched and on its own, young birds of prey face the challenge of feeding themselves. Chances are that pair of bluebirds will start over. The plant spreads along creeping stolons, rooting and producing crowns at each node. For more information on this species, along with many other commonly found spiders in Ohio, I would highly recommend the Spiders of Ohio field guide, put together by The Ohio Division of Wildlife and Dr. Q: I noticed two large birds flying about and landing on the top of a cell tower. Note the white markings on the back of the abdomen that form a cross. I was wondering why there seems to be fewer hummingbirds this year. It does have some characteristics of domestic dog. A: I knew they were treehopper nymphs, but I wanted to see if I could get to a species (well, at least a genus) and, after much searching, I think this is as close as I can get. The one at Headwaters is starting to lean and will likely be removed, as well. I would not handle it, though, but just admire it for its massiveness. But do they also put them on top of plants like this. A: Click here for a link to Ohio Division of Wildlife nest box plans. We came from Lakewood and these are all normal animals we saw in the city. And, the best early sign of EAB infestation in an area is woodpecker feeding on the main upper limbs and large branches of ash trees. It would be best if you could keep them in a container and set them outside. Q: First of all, thank you for all that you do - I am truly grateful to live in an area with such an amazing park system and staff. They eat a wide range of prey from earthworms to large insects to amphibians, snakes, etc. Beaverponds fly earlier than Commons, but there is a period of overlap when both are on the wing. A non-native beetle, it was originally from Europe. Turn around and calmly head the other direction. Q: At your convenience can you look at these pictures and tell us if this is a hawk. A: The snake in your photo is an Eastern Milk Snake, a wonderful snake to have around since they feed on mice and other rodents. He has been a major contributor to publications by ODNR, the Ohio Bluebird Society, North American Blue Bird Association, etc. Thank you. I enjoy a wonderful career explaining nature to humans, but it can be very difficult to explain human nature. Can you tell my if there are any areas that have different types of oak trees. Although they eat mostly aquatic creatures like fish and frogs, they can also switch to other creatures like small mammals and other birds if there is no open water around. Several weeks ago I got some really good shots of one eagle that flew right over us while we were sitting on the bench by the lake. No osprey were observed using the platform prior to it being removed in 2013. It scampered to some rocks near a pier and disappeared. 3-foot black snake. Q: What poisonous snakes can be found in Geauga County. Daytime window collisions claim legions of migratory and resident birds with the carnage often heavy among residential, commercial and institutional buildings. Enjoy Geauga County for all it has to offer. Have there been any Northern Harriers spotted in Geauga County recently. Q: I know that the Monarchs are in decline this year. We live on 608 between 322 and Middlefield. The showy rose-colored flowers make it stand out. As I discussed it with my colleagues, we had a question. There were many of these at Eastlake Sunday. In order to hatch properly and safely, they must be hung back up the way they were found. And then today a friend at work showed me. Q: In the past week and a half, I have removed four of what I believe to be wolf spiders from my home in Middlefield. If disturbed, the spiderlings may fall off, but the mother will attempt to help them get back on. As my daughter was opening our barn door she said an animal ran out. You probably will stop seeing them as the cold comes, as they are not as active, and when they do move around they provide the service of getting other household pests that can potentially be problems. Q: I fish mostly the inland lakes and have always wondered why the Amur (grass carp) breach like they do. they are late arriving this year (2015). Their aquatic, accordion-pleated larva are much uglier and live in streams where some species can be indicators of decent water quality. Q: I have attached a video clip that I took out my window this morning in Burton. am hoping you can identify. It was millions of them and went on for hours. Seeing at least three snakes in this serpentine bundle, I suspect that mating is in the offing. A great spot to look at oaks is at the campfround within Big Creek Park and surrounding trails. Anyhow, because the pond is only so big and deep, artificial and lentic, I was in questioning of the use of it because of the drawbacks it could have on the ecosystem and pond life. The reasons that seemed most plausible to me is that, being that this activity takes place mostly in the spring when there is a lot of sap flow in the trees, squirrels are going for the juicy, nutritious inner bark. Q: We recently moved to Geauga County from Cuyahoga County. The rest of their body fluids usually become frozen during hibernation. What kind of critter did this to our attached garage. Click here for a nice article about the Common Water Snake. It seems the sound we hear are a warning that a predator (cat, hawk, person, dog etc. I hope this answers your question, and I am sure you can find more great information from the above field guide. They would be swollen looking and eventually the bird would go blind as the eyes would be completely shut.
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in higher latitudes than Ohio. The good thing about feeding is we get to see them and all their interesting behaviors. A: We had one locally like this for a while. Oftentimes predators, especially raccoons, dig up the nests and eat the eggs, so it is not unusual to find eggshells and sometimes even one that is still intact. In a fingers-crossed effort, Observatory Park will be open to the public overnight on Friday, May 23-Saturday, May 24. I collect the eggs from the milkweed plants I have growing in my yard. My husband and I sure enjoy your programs, whether they are on turtles, chimney swifts, bats, etc. Considering that the eastern population of Peregrine Falcons became extinct in the wild well before the end of the 20th century, their comeback is a remarkable conservation success story. Q: Hi, could you please let me know what kind of snake this is. Then it started to pour, so I brought it back inside. The other source for finding rocks deposited by the glacier from both near and far would be the bare soil of farm fields, gardens, construction sites (if allowed onto) or yet-to-be landscaped areas. Q: Can you tell me what sort of beetle this is. I was told this by a staff member at a garden. The aggregate accessory fruits are white or red, and entirely covered with red achenes, simple ovaries, each containing a single seed. A: Throughout January, we here in Ohio have a chance. The caterpillars must have managed to get inside somehow (perhaps brought in on a plant) and crawled up to that sheltered spot to form a chrysalis. Q: I live in Parma, Ohio, I have White-tailed Deer in my backyard with orange ear tags. A: You probably observed the dispersal of spiders. I think the titmice have been interested all along but have not been bold enough to land on a hand before. Q: I have not seen any robins or hear their songs. This is another reason you might not be seeing or hearing as many birds near your home. Even though it is green in your picture, it is able to change color and blend in with whatever it is sitting on. They can be seen during the day, however you increase your odds of seeing them earlier or later in the day. You can find them living under stones and logs. Our property contains a mature beech maple forest and we regularly get a variety of wildlife but this is a new sound for us. A: This is most definitely a butterfly chrysalis. The predicted maximum is expected to occur about 3 AM Ohio time on the morning of Saturday, May 24. He had asked me then if I had heard from you. These concretions weather out of the soft shale that surrounds them leaving a depression or pockmark in the shale bedrock. Q: The snake in the photo was found on the baseball field at West Wood School. Your pesky pal, as you describe, appears to be lifting its middle pair of legs and then turning the tips forward. The male and female would switch off sitting on the nest, but now I see neither of them. The best treatment is to keep feeders clean, and if you see a bird that looks like it has this disease, take your feeders down and wash with 10 percent bleach water. This is a prime example of the devastation of white-nose syndrome. Q: My neighbors told me they saw a fisher in their backyard a few weeks ago. Food is a powerful motivator, so my guess is that the chipmunk will be returning. My husband and I are looking for oak trees in this area, Geauga County. A: Well, size is relative to the observer, but a fox (Red Fox) would be reddish in color, have a black-tipped tail and be more on the order of a small dog in size. Plant material like the sunflower seeds under our Bird in the Hand feeder may be eaten, especially in the winter, when their preferred food is not as readily available. We are in Chesterland, 0. The last that I can find is from 2009 in Cuyahoga County. It was taken this past weekend at a fruit farm near Dayton. I live in Perry, Ohio about a mile from the lake near Lane Rd. Additionally, these shrews have salivary glands that produce venom, which immobilizes prey and enables the shrew to prey on small vertebrates like mice and salamanders as well. If you do find more, no fear, as they are not venemous to us. Based on the photos, it looks like the young are over a week old. I remember seeing it soaring low over the meadows area. They can be found at most garden centers. Sometimes they can be seen on warm winter days at the end of February and early March - and yes, even when there is still some snow. If it was round like a ping-pong ball, it probably was a snapping turtle egg. Q: My son found a very small nest with tiny eggs in a tree. From an ecological and aesthetic standing, would the use of this product limit or help the life of this pond stay in a proper balance. I would only confirm it is a bracket fungus without ability to go beyond that. Q: We have lived In Munson Township for 10 years. First of all, our local Canada geese population is pretty much non-migratory. Snakes are usually well camouflaged and try to disappear to escape if they can. Q: Hello, I am a natural resource student at Hocking College, and currently in a little dismay of my own knowledge of pond life and its functions. The male landed on the post in the field just to the north of the road. Best observed walking about after a rain, the bright red or orange color is a warning color to potential predators of their skin toxins. I found one on Monday on the pavement of a mini-mart. A: The dead vole in the crook of the plant is indeed the work of the Northern Shrike. I have seen insects that look like a ball of fluff before, and when you look closely they have small wing stubs that move the silk so they can determine their path. I suspect that they are close by, even when foraging and, in the case of the male, defending territory. We have never seen any wildlife other that opossums, raccoons, coyote, turkey and deer, so we were wondering if these are otters or mink. This scenic cascade may be viewable from the Pearl Road bridge. Q: My daughters and I were at The West Woods. If you are hearing an actual screech or scream, I would suggest you check out the various calls of the Barred Owl at this link as well as the Great Horned Owl at this link. He is in their yard every morning and evening. We do not have them in our gift shops, but they will have them at the natural history museum. She was captured and fitted with the device in 2008. and Big Brown Bats are also on the decline. Perhaps if you see them again you can send a picture. Please let me know if that is indeed what you saw, and I can get you more information about them. Owls tend to be a little more territorial throughout the year, so it is quite normal to hear them virtually any time of year. Q: I think I might have giant hogweed in my yard. Thus, their numbers have been building slower than usual. I would like to report that I saw a male and female Kestrel near the entrance. Of course, it may not be a visitor you would like to hang out in your living room, but they will benefit you even on an outside porch. Now to these, and others like them, we are adding a new chapter—the killing of birds, mammals, fishes, and, indeed, every form of wildlife by chemical insecticides indiscriminately sprayed on the land. We have been seeing dead and dying Wood Frogs and ambystomatid complex larvae for some years. But, just in case. As far as the return trip, the greater risk is a prolonged winter retarding the growth of milkweed in the southern US, on which the wintering Monarchs rely to produce the succeeding generation, as they will expire soon after crossing the border and egg-laying. It also says they feed on plants belonging to the Asteraceae family, to which sunflowers belong. A: Sadly Monarch numbers are down nationwide, and Mexico saw its smallest overwintering population ever counted. In some cases all the leaves are gone and they just bloomed in the past few weeks. The larvae then chew their way through the brain to exit out the opposite ear canal. Known for giving arachnophobiacs a bad case of the willies, but a very cool critter. Q: A pair of Northern Cardinals were considerate enough to build a nest in a shrub just outside my window. Any thoughts or info on this is appreciated. A: Window strikes have long been a saddening hazard to birds. A: I agree with the groundwater seep analogy. As you said, iIt eventually causes the eyes to swell and the bird goes blind. Q: I saw this creature in the Fairport Harbor Port Authority parking lot today. Hard to see, but in the center of the pic. This seemed strange as about 95% of the time the female is the only one on the nest. It showed the marks of having been beaten with a stick and stomped. Its spores are in the green slime which insects eat and carry the spores elsewhere. A: The bats that are roosting behind the trim of your house will likely leave in the fall. If he takes to fluttering in front of the window, cover the glass with cloth or paper to eliminate reflection. Keep an eye out for more clues such as this. Another possibility is the condition known as leucism. To the right is a photo of one that looks similar to the one you saw. The female perched on the lines along the road. Recent genetic evidence has shown that this genus is better included within Potentilla, but currently most sources still list it in the genus Duchesnea. Theoretically, this should mean more hummingbirds visiting feeders, giving them high visibility. A: The photo you sent is of a Short-winged Blister Beetle. Q: Wondering if you can tell me what kind of canine this is. A: This is an immature Red-shouldered Hawk with a vole or shrew that it caught. Flower looks like swamp rose, leaves and berries kind of look like grapes. The tearing and bending is just as I found it. It is in the group Salticidae, or jumping spiders, so named because they prefer to jump for their prey as opposed to building webs and idly waiting for food to come to them. Io moths are named for a nymph in Greek mythology. These hawks, for the most part, are woodland bird hunters that specialize in ambush tactics. Reply: I love hearing all of the beautiful song birds. Wow, yes Joe, finding a grasshopper still alive in late December is unusual in itself, nevermind a pink one. If it is not that specific species, maybe one of the other Dolomedus species might be it. I saw one like this in my yard a few years ago and it took exception to my efforts to shoo it out of the way of my lawn mower. ). Evidence of woodpecker feeding is readily observed because they remove patches of bark from trunks while scavenging, resulting in light-colored (orange-pink) patches of bark along the usual grey weathered ash trunks. So far as I can tell all the leaves have these spots. Could this have been something the shrike did. They were very high, so I was not certain what I saw. I went through the Caterpillars of Eastern North America field guide and came up with some similar-looking caterpillars. If it looked like one main body part, I would go with a type of mite. He was there this morning when I got up, looking in the window at 6:30, and is still there. Q: A friend in Salem, Ohio, has this strange-looking mushroom. I have seen garter and milk snakes around, but never this type of snake. Snakes can appear aggressive when they are approached or handled. Q: Can you please identify and provide some information about this plant. We have an incredible population of mosquitos, and I was hoping that by bringing some bats to our property this might help our problem. Given the opportunity, snakes will flee rather than strike, and even if handled may musk (release a foul smelling substance) rather than bite. Sure had a resemblance of a coyote to me, as I have seen plenty of foxes cross my path and this did not look like a fox. Q (from someone else): I was at a friends house in Bainbridge and saw a gray squirrel with a totally white tail. Reply: I absolutely love having snakes around my yard. So the heavy snow cover could affect whether you see them or not. Richard Bradley of O. You can tell they are very old as the bedrock has been there very long time. Screeches and screams can often indicate the begging calls of young owls, but owls, generally, can make all sorts of weird noises. The problem comes about by birds seeing the image of foliage behind them reflected in the glass in front of them which they fly into at full tilt. More Screech Owl sounds may be found at this link. A: I heard that the Headwaters eagles were active with (presumably) the female on the nest on March 26. However, these wild creatures find their homes around streams and lakes utilizing water for food such as muskrats, fish and frogs. If not, you could by some of those feeder crickets from the pet store and see if it will eat them. If there are leafy ridges on the stem, it is wingstem, which is blooming now all around wetlands. A: My best
