All in Wildlife Watching
Most fishermen around here have caught their fair share of sunfish. Although there are many species of sunfish, some anglers never learn the differences. That’s a shame, because different species of sunfish have their own distinctive color patterns and their own fascinating behaviors. Green sunfish are one of the more interesting sunfish.
Everyone is familiar with honey bees, right? They make honey! And who doesn’t love honey? Actually, honey is just one of the substances produced by honey bees. They also produce beeswax, bee bread (eaten by young worker bees) and royal jelly (for the queen bee). Typically, though, just the honey and beeswax is harvested from honey bees by humans.
Monarch Butterflies are one of the joys of summer. These beautiful orange and black butterflies are known as “milkweed butterflies”, which simply means their larvae only eat the leaves of milkweed plants. However, the common monarch is not as common as it was a decade or two ago.
Coyotes are common throughout the United States these days, and it is not unusual to hear groups of them howling and barking in the distance on a cold winter evening right after dark. They often travel in pairs or small family groups as they hunt, usually covering a distance of two or three miles during the night.
Everyone loves sunfish. Just about all fisherman, whether they are young or old, have caught their fair share of sunfish over the years. Sunfish are a staple for kids of all ages; these small fish always seem to be hungry and are usually eager to take a baited hook. Perfect for beginning anglers!
Have you ever seen a salamander? They are not an everyday sight, at least not in most (dry) places around the city where lots of people live. Salamanders of nearly all species require damp or wet habitats, and blue-spotted salamanders are no different.
Did you know that American badgers are native to most states in the USA? Did you also know that if you are living in one of the Great Lakes states or anywhere west of the Mississippi River, there are probably badgers living within a 30-minute drive of your house right now?
Velvet ants – have you ever heard of them? Better yet, have you ever seen one? These relatively large, solitary insects look like ants, but they are actually wasps.
It might come as a shock to the average tourist, but the real Florida does not come equipped with roller coaster-like rides and mice on steroids. If you're in central Florida and you want to see the real deal, simply drive to Titusville and visit the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (MINWR).
The opossum, or “possum”, is a very interesting animal. These peaceful, docile mammals are North America’s only marsupial (a mammal with a pouch for carrying their young), and since they do not truly hibernate they are active all year long.
One fine September day a few years back, I was fishing along a small stream in northwestern Montana’s Yaak River drainage. It was sunny, warm, and the fishing was good. I had already worked my way about a mile upstream from where I had parked the truck, and I continued northward, almost on automatic pilot, casting a gray hackle peacock wet fly from small pool to small pool as I moved.
The Florida Trail (FT) runs for approximately 1,500 miles through Florida, from Big Cypress National Preserve to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands National Seashore, in Pensacola. By Congressional action, it's also known as the Florida National Scenic Trail. The FT provides continuous, permanent, non-motorized recreation opportunities for hiking and other compatible activities, while showcasing Florida's rich biodiversity, history, and culture.
