Archive for the ‘Nature Boy’ Category

Where Are All The Critter Corpses

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Road kill aside, shouldn’t we come across more creature corpses more often?

There are SO many birds and rodents alone. We should come across their dead on at least a weekly basis.

Have you ever seen a dead squirrel that wasn’t smashed into the asphalt? What about a pigeon that gave up the ghost without a windshield? How about a deer taking it’s dirtnap in the middle of a trail?

I surmise the following:

Wildlife doesn’t die unless by violence or disease. Which make critters undead or like the Eldar. Orrrrr they eat their dead.

Slime Vortex?

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

Anybody ever seen one of these before? Seems like a slug mating site, since they swirl around each other like crazy and pump out tons of slime. I thought they did this hanging from trees though.

slimevortex

MOTHRA!!!

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Giant Silk Moth in Vermont

Expletives indeed.

So the story starts out with us, in Vermont, at a Cabin. I had turned on the outside lights of the cabin on in order to better negotiate the stairs. Bugs attracted.

I see Willow do her kittycat pounce on something and I am exasperated for whatever small carcass I am going to have to clean up. Bat? No. Bird? No. Holy MACKEREL! That’s Amazon Jungle moth!!!

Picked it up from underneath to keep from messing with it’s wings and brought it in to show everyone. It filled up my entire hand. Apparently, only in shock it started to flutter and come to life. Managed to get it outside before an “ITS ON YOU!!!” scene occurred. I sat with it while it recovered. Photos here.

Then moth #2, the one in the photo above, shows up on the scene while we are gawking and taking pictures at moth #1. When I stood up, it felt like I had a pocket full of change due to the weight of moth #1 and I could feel the fabric bunching from the strength of its hold.

So we’re all freaking out while this thing that seems more bat/bird than insect is fluttering/flapping around our heads. Who knew moths that big were up here?

The one in the photo here is a Giant Polyphemus Moth. Not sure about Moth #1.

Either way, Vermont wins again.