Posts by Sue Saddest Farewell TGO GL
The poison ivy plant itself is not what makes people itch. It's an oil called urushiol, which is inside the leaves, stems and roots of the plants. That's why some of the sources I quote below use t...
The most common mistakes made by people in hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius, territory in Africa include: As with every other animal, the most important mistake is not taking the time to lear...
This question is related to this, and perhaps others on the site, although I don't think it's an exact duplicate. I have friends who would like to take a two-person kayak trip down a stream in the...
This has been an especially prolific year for ticks in the northeastern region of the United States. We've had so many in our yard that I've given up gardening and switched to planting in pots! We...
I have a friend who lives in Orlando, Florida. She and her husband are avid sailors and travelers. They also hunt lighthouses, and have seen over 100 different ones. They're currently on a trip fro...
In August of 2015, my husband and I were out for a walk at the Wachusett Reservoir, in Central Massachusetts. It was the same walk, including day and time, as in this question. We stopped at the w...
Most species of bison have been bred with cattle at one time or another during history. The American Bison (bison bison) is unique because it's genetically pure, having only the DNA of the bison, w...
Sand dollars with barnacles attached like that are very common in the Monterey area. In fact, beaches like Del Monte are considered excellent locations for scientists to study them. The well-respec...
I live in the central region of Massachusetts, United States. Last January we found this lovely bird eating suet in our suburban back yard. It's in a section of about ten feeders, mostly in the s...
Lyme disease, Lyme borreliosis, has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control as existing, or probably existing, in many of the United States. The Lyme Disease Association also reports it in...
As @Tullochgorum said, the Simpson is a very dangerous area, but it certainly looks beautiful! It's broken down into many sections, and since I don't know your level of off-road driving, I wouldn't...
The practice of eating insects is called entomophagy. References using that term can include many insects. I've narrowed it down to ants and termites as best as I could, although some of the genera...
Our suburban yard in Massachusetts has a small woodsy area. We use a section for feeders for birds, chipmunks, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, and the occasional bear or fox. In an area o...
My husband and I love animals. All of our vacations are planned around opportunities for viewing wildlife, birds, marine animals, farm animals, backyard animals, butterflies, insects, and just abou...
I think it serves a few purposes. One is for heat absorption, especially if the squirrel is young and the rock is warm. We learned this when we found a young squirrel splayed out like that on our...
I'm fascinated by corals. I've been told there are more than a thousand varieties spread out in bodies of water throughout the world. What part of the world has the most varieties of corals in a c...
It's spring here in the Northeastern United States, and we're getting a large influx of the wonderful birds who will spend the summer and fall with us. Although we feed and water birds, and any oth...
The main difference between alpaca and merino (or any other) wool is the fur itself. Alpaca is not technically wool, as it has a different construction. It's fiber, which is more like hair. Becaus...
I think there would be many times when crossing barefoot would be fine. However, a number of potential risks do exist. Those can include: Getting scraped or cut on either the bottoms or sides o...
I'm part of a group of disabled people who'd like to learn, or at least experience, water skiing. Our disabilities vary, but none of us are able to support our legs enough to stand on water skis wi...
My husband frequently walks at the Wachusett Reservoir, which spans a few towns in central Massachusetts. This past Sunday he was on his usual path, and saw something floating in the water which ...
Those grackles are engaged in a courting behavior, most frequently called “bill tilt.” It's also been called “head up” or “head up threat.” While establishing pairs for mating, males vie for the at...
I live in Northeastern United States, where it's spring at the moment. We keep bird-feeders throughout the year, so those that over-winter always have something to eat. As is usual at this time ...
Recently a user mentioned something called Horse Boarding. At first I thought she was talking about boarding horses, like in a stable, but she was actually referring to an activity that's popular, ...
In my town, which is a neighborhood in a suburban location in Massachusetts, barefoot walking is common once the summer starts. I'm old and stay cold longer than most, so I don't even switch over t...
