The Nature of Halloween
This article by Dr. Scott Shalaway originally appeared in the Post-Journal on October 29th,2016. I thought it was a perfect piece to share given we are hosting a program on snakes, spiders and bats this week! Learn more about “Snakes, Spiders and Bats! Oh, My!” this Friday, October 26th. THE NATURE OF HALLOWEEN Halloween, as I recall, was a day for friends to scare each other with nature’s creepy crawlies – spiders, snakes and bats. And often those fears lasted a lifetime. We all know people who recoil at the sight of these critters. Spiders are probably the most notorious of the...
Read MoreDaddy Longlegs
Those really are some long legs after all…although I believe it is more accurate to call this a harvestman, or opiliones. The story of this being one of the most venormous animals in the world if not for the fact it does not have the requisite fangs to bite humans is a myth on many levels! I did not even notice until posting this photo that it seems to be missing one of those legs… Scott Kruitbosch Conservation & Outreach Coordinator
Read MoreCan Woolly Bear Caterpillars Predict Winter Severity?
Have you ever heard the myth that woolly bear caterpillars (Pyrrharctia isabella) can predict the severity of the winter season? According to folklore, the longer the black extends down the body segments, the colder or snowier the winter will be in the locality the caterpillar is found. On the other hand, the longer the brown extends in the middle of the body, the milder the winter will be. This individual in particular seems to be indicating a severe winter, as the black coloration extends quite far down the body from each end. Although this may not be the prediction you were hoping for,...
Read MoreCrotalus horridus
Notice anything about the Timber Rattlesnake’s Latin name? Crotalus horridus? The species was named for the undeserved dread it inspired in many of the first colonists 300 years ago and the persecution of apex predators begin as soon as they arrived. The Gray Wolf is another example of a misunderstood and exaggerated fear that has been passed on unnecessarily through generations in America. Thanks to intensive research and a renewed educational media focus (less Little Red Riding Hood and more informative, factual documentaries) they have had a much more positive perception in recent...
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