This book was enlightening, but not at all in the ways I expected it to be. I expected a book about coyotes, what they eat, what habitats they prefer, how they raise their young, and other ecological information. I expected a book about coyotes in my America (that is, in Massachusetts, where as far as I can remember coyotes have always existed). Instead I learned just how recently coyotes have expanded into the east coast states (only in the last…
With the exception of the veritable army of squirrels stashing acorns in my backyard, my (live) mammal sightings are relatively rare. I’ve caught glimpses of white-tailed deer and a fisher while walking in the Bourne Town Forest. Occasionally a red fox or a coyote dashes across the road at night in front of my car. I have encountered skunks near my house a few times. But for the most part, indications of these species’ presence take other forms, such as…
This post is a little delayed, but I figured it was still worth sharing. Fittingly for the last day of winter (March 19), I was able to take a snowy walk in the vicinity of the Quabbin Reservoir in Petersham, MA. Unlike Cape Cod that received mostly rain from the “blizzard” the previous week, there was still 8+ inches of snow in Petersham, despite warmer temperatures and some melting over the previous few days. The snow, in addition to providing…
In the past week, Cape Cod has been hit with a series of snow storms. Today I was finally able to get out and enjoy a morning walk in the forest before the next storm arrives this afternoon/evening. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any tracks in the forest, but I did find evidence of a number of animals in my backyard upon my return, including the tracks pictured here. The prints from the back feet (larger prints) were approximately 2 inches…
Winter provides unique opportunities for gaining insight about the animals that live around us. With the exception of charismatic gray squirrels, most mammals are relatively elusive. Our headlights might reveal a glimpse of a fox darting across the street, or we may see a skunk or a raccoon in our backyard when we flick on an outside light at night. But to most, the comings and goings of the mammals in our neighborhoods are a mystery. Between Friday and Saturday…