Category: Out in the Woods

Out In The Woods: Dead Trees Support Many Kinds of Life

Cavity in dead poplar tree Photo Credit: University of Massachusetts Correction: Last week we mistakenly printed the byline for this column incorrectly. The Deering Pond article should have been credited as follows: Deering Pond - By Kevin McKeon, Director, Mousam Way Land Trust, Adapted from The Natural History of Deering Pond 1 By Gordon "Bud" Johnston. And the footnote should have been listed as follows: 1. The Natural History of Deering Pond, by Dr. Gordon S. Johnston, Professor of Biology,…

Out in the Woods: Deering Pond History

Skim ice on Deering PondPhoto credit: Lee Burnett By Kevin McKeon, Director, Mousam Way Land Trust. Adapted from The Natural History of Deering Pond 1 by Gordon "Bud" Johnston.   Tombegewoc, an Abenaki word meaning “place of the rocky reef in the pond,” describes Deering Pond in Springvale on early maps of the area. John Deering of Old Kittery inherited the land surrounding the pond from his grandfather, John Lydston, who in 1744 was granted the land by the Crown for his services—including…

Sleep Comes in Many Forms  

Black Bear cub being studied as part of MDIFW’s Black Bear monitoring program.Photo: MDIFWEditor’s note: Did you see something unusual last time you were out in the woods? Were you puzzled or surprised by something you saw? Ask our “In the Woods” columnist Kevin McKeon. He’ll be happy to investigate and try to answer your questions. Email him directly at: kpm@metrocast.net. By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist  Weather too cold? Too hot? No food? No water? No problem! Find a cubbyhole…

Out in the Woods

A turkey shows off bright colorsPhoto: Kevin McKeon Editor’s note: Send your nature-related questions to “Out in the Woods” columnist Kevin McKeon. He’ll be happy to investigate and try to answer them. Email him directly at: kpm@metrocast.net The Origins of Turkeys  By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist  Turkeys were first domesticated in Mexico about 3000 years ago by the pre-Aztecs—not for meat, but for feathers. The area of feathers below the feather tip is made up of very fine, downy…

OUT IN THE WOODS

Possum walking in a field, picking up to 4,000 ticks a week—it will eat them all for snacks!Photo: Diane Borden-Billiot, USFWS These Nighttime Foragers Love TicksBy Kevin Mckeon, Maine Master Naturalist Hate ticks? Then love those opossum!About three million years ago, a continental collision formed the Isthmus of Panama, connecting North and South America, and enabling The Great American Biotic Interchange. Deer, bear, wolves, cougars, and others moved to South America; armadillo, porcupine and others moved north, including the 70-million-year-old…