Violet-toothed Polypore (Trichaptum biforme)

July 22, 2021 Elise

I discovered something about myself recently: all my favorite non-edible fungi are purple. At the top of the list is the violet viscid cort that is commonly seen in September and October. But coming in at a close second is the violet-toothed polypore (Trichaptum biforme), a common shelf fungus that appears on dead and dying hardwoods. It can be found in all 50 states, and in eastern North America it is one of the most commonly encountered fungi. On a…

Raccoon play time

July 9, 2021 Elise

Northern raccoons (Procyon lotor) are mainly nocturnal, so we seldom get to observe their antics outside of their exploits with residential trash cans. But I recently captured an entertaining scene of two young raccoons, called kits, chasing each other up and down a tree in a local tupelo swamp on my game camera. Females typically bare between 2 and 5 young, which are born blind and only lightly furred, although even in these first moments their “masks” are already visible….

Seashore to Forest Floor

A naturalist's journey across Cape Cod and beyond

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Month: July 2021