Category: Out in the Woods

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…

Out in the Woods

Whitetail Deer Buck Photo: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife Editor’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 Antlers: for display and dominance By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist Antlers on a whitetail deer buck, or male, are his…

Out in The Woods

Stream foam near Hanson Ridge Road Rail Trail Trailhead. The newer, white foam is on the upstream section, left Photo Credit: Kevin McKeon Nature Brews Organic Foam By: Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist Enter the Rail Trail at Hanson Ridge Trailhead and look to your right near the opening to the granite box culvert — or really, look beside any woodland stream — and you’ll occasionally see a foamy mass. What is this sudsy-looking stuff? There’s a natural explanation. Pour…

Out In the Woods

Fallen Leaves Along a Sanford Footpath Photo Credit: Kevin McKeon Leaf Colors By Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist In Sanford, and many other places worldwide, the landscape’s leaf colors slowly change from summer’s green to the vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and purples of autumn. Even the brown leaves that linger add to this colorful mural. So, what causes nature to offer us this wonderful creation? Leaves make food in a chemical process called photosynthesis. This involves using energy from the…

Out In the Woods

Nodding Ladies’ Tresses along Fen Trail, McKeon ReservePhoto Credit: Kevin McKeon By: Kevin McKeon, Maine Master Naturalist Common Orchid Gives Off Uncommon Fragrance We all know about Maine’s favorite orchid, the Lady Slipper, or “Moccasin Flower.” But it’s only one of 48 orchids native to Maine. An orchid that’s relatively easy to both find and pass by is the Nodding Ladies’ Tresses. There are over a dozen species of Ladies’ Tresses in the United States and three listed in Maine.…