A Visit From Horace's Duskywing.

Whilst sitting on my back patio just a short moment ago, this affable little moth landed on my stomach. It didn't seem frightened of me, so I let it sit there. Much to my surprise, the moth continued to remain there for what seemed like an eternity. Somehow, I'd found a new buddy today. As the wind would randomly pick up and bluster against the tiny winged wonder, it would desperately grasp for my shirt and hang on tight. Using my hands, I cupped around the moth to provide shelter from the wind so it could rest. For a moment, it was safe and seemed thankful.

After doing some research, I discovered that is wasn't a moth at all! This was in fact a Horace's Duskywing (Erynnis horatius), a skipper-type butterfly from the family Hesperiidae. Its habitat ranges from the New England region south along the east coast. It also has spread as far west as Texas and New Mexico. By no means is the Horace's Duskywing endangered; their population is quite healthy and vivacious. Based upon the color pattern on its wings, I was able to determine that this specimen was a male. Most likely, this fellow was born in early spring. Yet, the sad part of this encounter soon set in... with tattered wings and it being the month of June, this Duskywing was probably tired and about to pass away. I was deeply saddened.

As I watched the insect rest there on my stomach and hold still, I wondered as to what the butterfly must think of me. Surely, it could see what I looked like. Was it not afraid of my immense size? Why would it think I was safe to land upon? Much less, to let me cup my large hands around its small stature? That's a measure of trust I wouldn't expect from nature.

I was sad to see it eventually go, but I hope it lives just a little while longer to enjoy the last few days of the passing Spring.

Draw Something: Punk Duck

Ducks are already pretty bad-ass. This duck is bad-asser-er. Is that even a word? It is now. BAM!

The Boxer And The Bear.

A child and cub born side by side
Bushy eared and eyes thrown wide
Parents thought no harm to fear
Brothers helpless as a dear
Growl and cry and play all day
Never apart would they stray
Each drank milk and slept a lot
Decide the cuter one could not
Up they grew so far so fast
Each day bigger than the last
Cub turned bear, boy turned man
Time blew by the years they span
Too large to call the indoors home
An outside pen the bear did roam
Boy became quite strong and tough
A boxer skilled and really buff
The fighter loved his fuzzy friend
Not foreseeing childhood's end
Defenses down the boxer screams
Tears he wept in soggy streams
Brother bear he took a bite
Off the boxer's face of fright
Soon to be the beast's cuisine
Death delivered unforseen
What he failed to comprehend
Bears are wild to the end
As boxer faded to the light
Truth revealed with every bite
All a bear can be is all its born to do
Eat fish and squirrels and me and you

Well Hello There American Toad!

Last month, I wrote about the discovery of a common Fowler Toad living in my back yard. It was certainly a welcomed sight; I'm always eager to invite as much biodiversity as possible into my landscape. With all the dozens of species of birds that live in my yard, also having a cute little toad was quite delightful. Today, I was lucky yet again.

While mowing the grass around my garden area, I happened upon this stout American toad (Anaxyrus americanus). Sure, it's just a toad you might say. And yet, this specimen was hefty, roughly the size of my palm. I didn't want to touch it for fear of stressing it out, but I did guide the toad towards a more inviting residence within a garden bed filled with Asiatic lilies. There, it would be safe from my mower. I took note of the area surrounding the American toad. All around were various insects and worms, of which one was crawling out in the open nearby. I suspect the toad was hunting for some lunch. Who can blame him? I'm certain he found a tasty earthworm or grub to snack on while resting among the lilies.

The American toad is a certified success story within the animal kingdom. It has spread all over the North American continent, ranging from the Atlantic coast to the Midwest, then northwards into Canada. They're of the hardy and resilient sort, easily adaptable to almost any environment -- flatlands, forests, mountains, open fields, brush-filled areas and yes, even back yards. With a secure hunting ground for food and a stable hibernation area for the cold winter months, the American toad can live a long and happy life. The oldest known American toad lived well into her thirties. Typical though, an American toad can easily live for 5 - 15 years in the wild, with life expectancy much longer in a healthy captive environment.

Just think... the toad I met today may have lived in my yard longer than I've owned my home.  Perhaps the toad looks at me and thinks "gee, who is this guy on my property?"

Baby Bison Euthanized After Yellowstone Tourists Kidnap It.

Humans suck. I mean we really s-u-c-k.

Officials from Yellowstone National Park released the sad news today that they were forced to euthanize a recently born bison calf. Last week, two brain-dead park visitors thought it was a bright idea to load the calf into the back of their vehicle, then drive it to the closest park ranger's office because it 'looked cold'. What these numb-skulls failed to consider is that close human contact with the calf would cause its herd to abandon it. Essentially, they kidnapped the baby calf from its mother and sentenced it to death.

A bystander took this photo of the calf after the visitors put it in their vehicle.

Over the course of this past week, rangers tried to get the baby's herd to accept it back, but they wouldn't out of pure instinct. The calf was reported as being left behind repeatedly, often approaching other visitors for comfort or begging for food. If ever there were a sad wildlife story, this is it.

Since the baby couldn't be reacclimated with its herd, it was put down as to not suffer from starvation and abandonment. Wild bison mothers are commonly known to leave their young if humans interact with them, as was the case in this instance. Had the animal been allowed to live, its high level of familiarity with humans would have surely been a safety hazard upon reaching maturity.

Yellowstone National Park makes it very clear that all visitors should abstain from approaching bison, much less touch them. The park rules state that all visitors should keep 25 yards from all wildlife and 100 yards from bears and wolves. And yet, year after year, people are injured or killed by bison in Yellowstone. Last year alone, five people were severely gored after getting too close.

A little common sense goes a long way when it comes to wildlife. Unfortunately, the visitors probably didn't learn anything from their disastrous actions. Their punishment for killing the baby calf? A paltry $110 fine. It makes me sick to my stomach.

Draw Something: Mole

Even though these little diggers can ruin a yard, I'm actually quite fond of moles. They successfully exist in low-oxygen environments, having adapted by an evolved haemoglobin protein to use inhaled oxygen highly efficiently. Their ability to capture worms and other insects makes them top-tier underground predators. And yet, moles are solitary creatures, only coming together to mate. Moles are survivors, through and through.

An Afternoon Of Birdwatching.

For hours on end this afternoon and evening, Crystal and I sat in our backyard and took note of the various species of birds that came to our home. Many of these birds live in the Leyland Cypress trees surrounding our property. Others travel to eat, then fly back to the surrounding forests. We have five different bird feeders and a bath, so the birds know it's safe to come to our place for a bite to eat. Though the birds have been coming over for many years since we purchased the property, we've never really taken a detailed list of which species are present. Here are the birds we saw (or those that I can verify as having seen previously).

American Robin

Carolina Chickadee

Chipping Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Eastern Bluebird

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Northern Mockingbird

Song Sparrow

Tufted Titmouse

White-throated Sparrow

I'm really thankful for these birds coming to our backyard to eat and reside. There's a real joy to be found in watching birds. I can't believe we've never done this rewarding activity before. I hope birdwatching becomes a daily ritual!

How To Survive A Bear Attack.

I genuinely admire bears. They're smart, full of personality and eerily similar to humans in their behavior. And yet, they can also be savage killers if provoked. Almost exclusively, a bear attack is solely the fault of the human victim. We may tread upon its territory, or unknowingly approach their offspring. If a bear decides to attack a human, then it has a good reason. You are at fault.

Now, let's say you do find yourself involved in a potential bear attack. Whether consciously or unconsciously, you've done something to piss the bear off. The only question now is... how do you survive?

Here are some tips to follow if you're ever facing down a bear.

• The strongest piece of advice I can give is to avoid putting yourself in danger to begin with. Don't move through a bear's habitat in solitary silence. Travel through forests with a friend and make a normal amount of noise. Bears will actively avoid you in return, so let them know you're coming.
• Are you dealing with a black bear or something more menacing like a grizzly? This info matters! Grizzlies have a lump on their shoulders; black bears do not. The black bear has tall ears, whereas the grizzly has short ears. The face of a grizzly is also more broad and has a dished profile. Finally, the grizzly has much larger claws than a black bear. This knowledge becomes important later on.
• If you see a bear before it sees you, either return the way you came or walk the LONG way around. Give the bear plenty of space.
• Whatever you do, NEVER RUN FROM A BEAR. This triggers its aggressive instinct to chase and attack.
• If you do find yourself in close quarters with a bear, stay calm. Speak in a soft, but direct voice. Say something with a steady, even tone like "Time to go away, bear." If you can back away slowly while speaking, do so. More often than not, a black bear will attempt to flee from you. Give it plenty of room to do so. Do not limit its avenues of escape. If you happen upon a grizzly, the same rules apply, but don't try to move it away as with a black bear. Just back away slowly and speak in a reassuring, pleasant voice.
• If you surprise a bear and it becomes aggressive, this is its way of trying to deter you. Naturally speaking, bears don't want to fight any more than you do. A black bear will only present aggressive behavior (growling, swatting, snapping jaws) if you are near her cub, too close to a food source, or simply sneak up on him/her by mistake. Again, back away slowly while speaking in a calm voice.
• There is only one instance where you should "play dead" in a bear attack. If you are in close physical contact with a grizzly bear, roll onto your stomach on the ground, put your hands over the back of your neck and head, then spread your legs and elbows wide. Your chances of surviving a battle with a grizzly improve if you do this. The grizzly will probably lose interest after a bit, but stay still! Do not get up (if you can) until you're certain the bear has gone away from the area. But what if the grizzly bear starts to eat you?
• If a grizzly (or extremely rarely a black bear) has decided to make you lunch, even after playing dead, you're in a heap of trouble. Now is the time to make a lot of noise and fight! Shout, wave your arms around and act as big as possible. Make eye contact with the bear. Punch it in the face, eyes and nose when it starts to attack. Do whatever you can to inflict as much damage to the bear's face as possible. You're undoubtedly going to be injured, so don't be afraid to lose a hand or limb if you have to. Better to live life with one arm than be dead. You're not going to be able to outrun a bear, so this is your last and best option. If the bear decides that you're too much trouble to fight, they'll back off. Or, they won't... in which case, sorry about your luck pal!

I really love bears, but they need their space in the wild. Respect the bear and its habitat and they'll respect you in turn. Just remember... if you see a bear, back away slowly, speak in a calm voice and relax. The bear wants to live to see another day, just like you.

The Gift Of Benevolence.

While cutting my lawn earlier this morning, I was mowing behind my tool shed when I saw a brown blur leap from the tall clover. It bounced to and fro, trying to escape my whirling machine of death. Abruptly, I had obviously startled a toad living under the ground foliage along the foundation of the shed. Immediately, I turned my mower off. This toad was the size of my palm and certainly more afraid of me than I was of it. Placing the toad in a bucket with some of the clover clippings for security, I finished my mowing. Once I was done, I released the toad back to her home, somewhere beneath my shed.

I've thought about that toad all day long. There was nothing remarkable about the little hopper. It was a female Fowler Toad (Anaxyrus fowleri), something quite common in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The Fowler Toad feasts on grubs, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders and other small insects, many of which are harmful to gardens. As such, the Fowler Toad is a beneficial species to have on your property. And yet, the little creature reminded me of something much more magnificent.

Three or more warts within the dark spots on the Fowler Toad's back help to distinguish it from the equally common American Toad.

As human beings, we have great control over this planet. Within our ability is the power to raze a forest, to pollute an ocean, to level a mountain. Humanity bears gifts not granted to any other species on Earth. In due regard, the decisions we make carry immense weight, reaching far beyond our own local existence. Sadly, I suspect many people would no more consider the toad as they would garbage littered beside the highway. Bound for the blade, that toad would be chopped into a million bits without so much as an afterthought. And yet, to pause for just a moment and insure its survival? That took no laborious toll on my time. In fact, it was a pleasure to view such a creature up close and personal. How kind of the Fowler Toad to make my back yard its home. I am honored.

Benevolence is a virtue too often forgot in our modern world. Not only should we be kind to our fellow man, but we must also steward the other creatures that inhabit our global village. From the enormous elephants of the African continent to the lowly toads in our own back yard, we should do right by animals. Within each of us is the power to give life, or to take it away. To let a creature live is a momentous choice, especially when said creature is of absolutely no threat to our own well-being.

As the toad hopped away, I was thankful for the opportunity it gave me to consider the notion of benevolence. Though that wart-covered amphibian didn't realize it, she had provided me with a gift. For that, I am grateful.

Draw Something: Axolotl

Perhaps one of the most endangered creatures on the planet, the axolotl is a neotenic salamander native to lakes in and around Mexico City. Thanks to urban sprawl and human encroachment, the axolotl has become incredibly close to extinction in the wild, even though it enjoys a healthy level of breeding in captivity. To think such a beautiful creature can exist on this planet is mind-blowing, and yet we've nearly obliterated it. Find out more information on the axolotl here.

Draw Something: Moray Eel

Eels are such mysterious and wonderful creatures. Swimming gracefully through the ocean with their long, cylindrical bodies, they are both captivating and fearsome at the same time. Often misunderstood, the Moray Eel is not aggressive. Instead, they're shy and choose to remain hidden from view if at all possible. To honor the Moray Eel, I decided to feature it in this week's Draw Something article.

The Dating Life of Cardinals.

The Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) comes in two different colors: bright red (males) and dull olive brown (females). Males are red because their plumage is used to attract a mate. To produce red feathers, male Cardinals feature a unique adaptation involving carotenoids. They can metabolize custom carotenoid pigments to generate a color different from the ingested pigment of food. Hence, they generate various shades of red pigment from their food, no matter the original color.

As the male Cardinal comes into maturity, all dressed in scarlet, it begins to seek out a female partner. When the male encounters a female that is receptive to his advances, he begins courtship. The initial action is for the male to find food and feed the female, beak-to-beak. Should the female be pleased with the courtship, she will accept the male as her partner. To let the male know that she's happy with his performance, the female may dance or flex her neck to signify acceptance. Once two Cardinals partner together, their union is for life. Cardinals are monogamous. The act of beak-to-beak feeding is sometimes carried over into the prolonged relationship, up until death.

When a female Cardinal becomes pregnant, the male retrieves building materials for a nest: twigs, sticks, vines, leaves, etc. The female is typically responsible for composing the nest. Within a week of completing the nest, she lays her eggs (usually 2 - 4). Incubation for the eggs is nearly two weeks. During winter months, the male may help to incubate the eggs when it's cold, though rarely. While the female is caring for the eggs and offspring, the male Cardinals retrieves food. Within a year, a Cardinal pair may raise between two and four batches of fledglings.

Draw Something: Honey Bee

Insects are such wonderful creatures. I love how their exoskeletons seamlessly lock together like a perfectly designed robot. Each and every segment is connected in just the right manner. Here we have a beautiful honey bee, ready to harvest the pollen from a field of wildflowers.

Monkeys Are Evil.

Crystal and I worked like dogs today. We reset one of our backyard garden beds. Took us all day and into the night, but it was well worth it. That being said, I am extremely tired. In light of my brain essentially not working from exhaustion, I'm going to share with you some videos of monkeys being violent, pushy assholes.

Never trust a monkey.