Butterflies are always fun to watch as they fly around our gardens, flitting from flower to flower as they sip nectar and pollinate the plants. Some of the largest and most interesting butterflies around here are swallowtails
All in Wildlife Watching
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Solitary Fox Squirrel
When it comes to squirrels, none in North America are larger than the fox squirrel. Oh, sure, there are bigger squirrels elsewhere in the world – like the giant black squirrel from southeast Asia which can be almost three feet long – but the largest tree squirrel in the USA is the fox squirrel.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Raccoons, The Masked Bandits
Everyone is familiar with the common North American raccoon. Raccoons thrive in almost every habitat in the United States: in both rural settings and in urban areas. They have mastered the ability to adapt to living conditions almost anywhere, and living right alongside humans is no problem for them.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Downy Woodpecker
One of the most recognizable birds that visit back yard bird feeders year-round is the Downy Woodpecker. These miniature woodpeckers are only slightly larger than sparrows and are definitely smaller than robins. Their starkly contrasting black and white feathers make them easy to identify as they flit through the tree branches.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Bad-Tempered Snapping Turtles
The common snapping turtle has a well-deserved reputation for being bad-tempered. When handled by humans, they hiss and attempt to bite anyone trying to move or lift them. That bite can be quite dangerous, too, since their powerful jaws can amputate careless fingers.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Acrobatic Red Admiral
One of the sure signs of springtime is the sight of the red admiral butterfly. Every year around this time our yards and gardens are invaded by colorful and fast-flying butterflies, and one of the most acrobatic is the red admiral.
The Disagreement
I was sitting with my back to a tree in the remote reaches of British Columbia's East Kootenay Mountains. I was with my friend, Bob Fontana, and we were watching a couple of three‑year‑old grizzly cubs in a large opening on the sunny, south‑facing hillside across the canyon from us. They were feeding on the remains of a mountain goat killed in an avalanche the previous winter.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The American Goldfinch
A common visitor to back yard bird feeders is the brightly-colored American goldfinch. These small finches are easy to identify by their coloration. Adult males are bright yellow with black wings and a black cap on their head.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Great Horned Owl
Owls are creatures of the night. In the Midwestern United States, the largest and perhaps most well-known owl is the Great Horned Owl. These big birds can have wingspans of four to five feet, and they hunt everything from mice and rats to rabbits, snakes, frogs and even other birds like ducks and hawks.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Great Blue Herons are Stealthy Hunters
If there is one bird that is the personification of stealth and patience, it is the Great Blue Heron. These large, tall birds stalk shallow ponds, lakes and waterways in search of a wide variety of fish and amphibians as their next meal. It is not uncommon for them to stand motionless for many minutes at a time, just waiting for their prey to get within striking range.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: Pileated Woodpeckers are Ant Eaters
Woodpeckers are common birds that inhabit most of North America. Downy and hairy woodpeckers are some of the most common, but there are also red-headed woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers, northern flickers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers and several others.
Wildlife Watching Wednesday: The Colorful Green Sunfish
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.