Several questions this week have been about deer antlers. It is always exciting to see a buck with antlers and you just know he is proud of them! White tailed deer shed and re-grow a set of antlers each year. These antlers are shed sometime in the winter. As soon as they are shed, new …
March has arrived along with more snow. This month has the reputation of being capricious — one day will be warm and the next one will be freezing. Whatever the weather, this is the time to watch or listen for woodcocks to arrive. They will be with us throughout the summer. Their courtship antics start …
Swirling snows and frigid winds define February this year. Snow-covered branches on trees and shrubs glisten like diamonds in the February sunshine. With March arriving, we can expect it to be warm one day and freezing the next. The sun climbs higher in the sky and the days grows appreciably longer. The sap will begin …
The north winds still blow and we’re still getting some snow and some of us wish it would end… and are looking ahead to the arrival of spring. No matter the snow, ice or whatever happens, nature has its own timetable and moves at its own pace. Those of us who pay attention to the …
February is living up to its reputation for fickle weather — cold, warm, clear, snowy, rainy, sunny and icy roads. Fat robins usually arrive from the south this month and feed on rosehips. Geese gather together at the Trenton Bridge. Red-spotted newts may appear in minnow traps. Newts are interesting little salamanders but not so …
The rains came, the road was flooded at a small area at Seawall and right in the middle of this temporary puddle was a muskrat having a snack. My friend got out of her car to take a closer look. Muskrats are active all year here on the island, and where there is water they …
The weather in January is sometimes harsh and sometimes mild. But no matter what, the seabirds and other wildlife — and humans — have to adapt and try to survive as best they can. This past week brought one of a few challenges for sea life, and the finding of a young seal washed up …
Nice sightings of thick-billed murres (uria lomvia) this week in Bar Harbor waters. Two birds were seen near the fisherman’s float by Scott Robinson. These birds are not common in this harbor. They are more at home far out at sea and near their nesting colonies far to the north. My daughter and I have …
The weather has been frigid this week, and ponds are covered with ice. In spite of cold temperatures, life goes on and many island residents would be very surprised at the activity beneath the ice. Ice fishermen and skaters have been surprised at times to see a painted turtle swimming by under their boots. The …
It gave me great pleasure to hear from several column readers that they got to see flying squirrels at their feeders this week after reading my column. They had no idea that these appealing mammals were visiting them regularly until they turned the lights on outside and watched them glide into the feeders and enjoy …
