Treasured by foodies for its spongy texture and earthy flavor, the morel is the Holy Grail for springtime mushroom hunters. Since these delicate little fungi have successfully resisted commercial cultivation for centuries, morels can only be found in the wild throughout North America and Europe. 

Morel hunters often take to the woods late in March through May to find the prized mushroom. They begin to appear when daytime highs are in the low 60s, and the lows are above 40 degrees.

The morel is one of North America’s easier wild mushrooms to identify due to its distinguished honeycomb-shaped cap. Morels grow between two and four inches tall. The erect caps range in color from pale cream to nearly black. The stem is white to pale cream.

The morel has a variety of regional nicknames depending on the region: Dryland Fish, Hickory Chicken, Molly Moocher, or Miracle. 

Black morels (Morchella elata) are often the first morels to appear on south-facing slopes in the spring. They typically pop up in large colonies around ash trees, coniferous forests, and recently burned areas. They are recognized by their dark brown, or almost black, cap.

Yellow, or common, morels (Morchella esculenta) appear next in the springtime woodlands. These yellow-capped mushrooms are often found under deciduous trees such as ash, aspen, elm, and oak. They are also frequently spotted at the bottom of standing dead trees. 

The last to appear is the late morel (Morchella deliciosa). These elusive morels also have yellow caps and are smaller than the common morel. They are also the hardest to find.

Once harvested, the morels are carried in a mesh bag so their spores can scatter throughout the woods to increase future crops.

Morels contain thermolabile toxins. They must always be cooked to inactivate the toxin before eating. 

While some morel hunters only give the mushroom a quick cleaning to remove dirt, others prefer to soak the morel in water for two to three hours to wash out any insects living inside.

Morels, rich in iron and Vitamin D, are easy to prepare for the dinner table. A quick sauté in butter and lightly seasoned with cracked black pepper and salt results in an instant gourmet meal.

Mushroom hunters should also be careful to avoid collecting “false morels.” These morel doppelgangers can cause severe gastrointestinal upset and loss of muscular coordination, including the cardiac muscle. 

False morels are distinguished by their reddish-brown or yellow caps. Their caps also tend to hang to one side, making the mushroom look somewhat disfigured. The false morel has a brain-like texture instead of the true morel’s well-defined pitting. 

As with all fungi, it’s always best to start consuming small amounts to minimize potential allergic reactions. The morels should also be thoroughly washed and free from decay. 

And, when in doubt, leave it out!

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Rattlesnakes are a type of venomous pit viper found in every state of the lower 48 and in almost every type of environment. Rattlesnakes are comprised of a group of 32 known species and as many as 70 subspecies. Most are commonly found in the South West but can be found anywhere from sea level to 10,000 feet in the mountains, desert, swamp, prairie, and forest terrain.

Arizona alone has 13 species- how lucky!

Being cold-blooded, Rattlesnakes rely on their environment for their temperature regulation. They are most active in spring and early summer when temperatures are mild. In the morning it is very common to see the snakes basking in the sun in open areas or on rocks in order to warm up from the night before. In winter and areas of cold as many as a hundred snakes will shelter together in dens and hibernate.

Rattlesnakes always use the same dens and will return year after year sometimes traveling several miles before reaching their hibernating den. Similarly, during periods of very hot or dry weather Rattlesnakes will aestivate-which is basically seeking shelter and laying low in an attempt to conserve energy and beat the heat.

A Rattle Snake can strike Up to 2/3 of Its length- best not to try and measure it

Rattlesnakes are known of course for the rattle on the end of their tail. This rattle is made up of segments of keratin, that when rubbed together produce the snake’s famous buzz. A snake will gain a new rattle segment every time it sheds its skin however, this isn’t a reliable measure of the snake’s age as rattles can be lost and damaged.

Rattlesnakes use their rattle to scare off predators, they will also hiss and coil themselves in a defensive posture in order to strike. Humans should always let a Rattlesnake be if any of this behavior is exhibited.

The rattlesnake sheds its skin once a year. Each rattle represents one year of the snake’s life. By counting the rattles you can tell the age of the snake. 

The majority of humans bitten are young males who have been consuming alcohol. (never say hold my beer and watch this) When biting prey or drunken campers, the majority of Rattlesnakes will inject a hemotoxin from their hollow fangs. This toxin affects blood cells and quickly kills the snake’s usual prey such as rodents. In humans, the toxin causes extreme pain, swelling, nausea, and eventually organ and tissue damage.

The good news is that with quick treatment and the introduction of antivenin, most cases are rarely fatal. Tourniquets, incisions, and attempts to suck out the poison should not be used.

Instead having the victim remain still and rapid transport to the hospital is a priority. Being able to accurately describe what the snake looked like will enable doctors to select the best course of treatment for the bite.

Hikers and campers can take simple precautions to avoid being accidentally bitten by a Rattlesnake. When hiking you should always wear boots and loose pants. Never step over logs or into a brush you cannot see. These are a favorite resting places for snakes.

Instead, hikers should make sure to know where they are stepping and even use a long stick to probe ahead of where they are walking.

As always, it’s a good idea to head out with a buddy so that if there is a problem, help can be quickly summoned.

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The American Southwest is often associated with images of canyons, cacti, and mesas. But it is also known for its ancient and iconic Pueblo settlements. These unique structures were the homes of Native American peoples who lived in the area for thousands of years, and they remain an essential part of the region’s history and culture today.

“Pueblo” is Spanish for “village,” and it was the early Spanish explorers who discovered these cliff-dwelling settlements in the 16th century.  The Native Americans who built the pueblos, however, had lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived.

Archaeological evidence suggests that the earliest Pueblo settlements date back to around 750 AD and was built by the Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, in what is now New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and Utah. These early pueblos were often constructed on cliff faces, providing natural shelter and protection from the elements.

Over time, the Ancestral Puebloans began constructing more extensive and complex structures, often using adobe, a type of clay brick, to create multi-story buildings. Adobe construction provides natural insulation to keep the buildings cool during hot desert summers and retain heat during the winter. These buildings also served essential social and cultural functions.

They were often built near vital resources like water and fertile land and served as centers for trade, religious ceremonies, and other communal activities.

The Pueblo settlements were designed with defense in mind. The buildings were made of adobe bricks, providing a strong and durable material that could withstand attack from arrows, spears, and, later, bullets. Pueblo buildings were often constructed on high cliffs or mesa tops, providing a natural defensive advantage.

Raising or lowering ladders controlled access to settlements and buildings and served as an additional deterrent to outside attackers. Pueblo residents also used other strategies to defend their communities, such as digging shallow pits or trenches around the settlement’s perimeter and using natural landscape features to their advantage.

In addition, Pueblo residents had a well-organized system of defense. They often formed alliances with neighboring Pueblo settlements. They would send out signals, such as smoke signals or drum beats, to call for assistance in the event of an attack. Pueblo settlements also had a system of watchtowers, where people could keep watch for approaching enemies and alert the rest of the community.

Although many of the Pueblo settlements were abandoned by the Ancestral Puebloans around 1300 AD, their architectural significance remains. The largest Pueblo “great house” is in the Chaco Culture National Historical Park in northern New Mexico. The house was built in stages between AD 850 to AD 1150 and is considered the Chacoan equivalent of Stonehenge or Machu Picchu.

Today, 21 federally recognized pueblos are located throughout New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona. Many Pueblo settlements have been restored and are open to visitors, including New Mexico’s Taos Pueblo and Acoma Pueblo.

Pueblo peoples continue to maintain their cultural heritage, with many communities still living in buildings made of adobe, wood, and mud roofs. Their traditions and way of life have been passed down through generations, and the Pueblo settlements remain an essential part of their cultural heritage. 

Pueblo settlements are also known for their artistic traditions, notably pottery, with some of the earliest known examples dating back over 2,000 years. Artists used a coil-and-scrape technique, where long, thin clay coils are shaped and smoothed to create the desired form. The pottery is then fired in an outdoor kiln, often fueled by cow manure, which gives the finished pieces their distinctive black-and-white coloring. Other styles were brightly painted using natural pigments such as iron oxide.

Each Pueblo and individual artist had distinct styles which help archaeologists track the ancient trade routes of Pueblo culture.

Another vital art form for Pueblo people is weaving. Pueblo weavers create intricate patterns on rugs and blankets using traditional techniques passed down through the generations. They often use natural dyes made from plants, such as indigo, cochineal, and sumac, to create vibrant colors.

Despite their rich cultural traditions, Pueblo communities have faced many challenges over the centuries. European colonization in the 16th century brought new diseases, such as smallpox, that decimated the population. The forced relocation of Pueblo people to reservations in the 19th century disrupted traditional ways of life and caused many to lose their connection to their ancestral lands. Today, many Pueblo communities still face poverty and limited access to resources, but they continue to work to preserve their culture and way of life.

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The Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a large evergreen tree that is a mainstay of the American West. It also goes by the name Yellow Pine, Bull Pine, and about a dozen others depending on the region and the tree’s age.

Typically they are found in elevations between 6,000- 10,000 feet, in areas that receive as little as 20 inches of rain a year. Ponderosas overcome dry and rocky soil by having deep tap roots that can penetrate 30 feet down with a root system spreading out 100 feet in all directions. Above ground, their trunks tend to lose their lower branches the taller they grow giving them the appearance of giant pillars topped with a shaggy pine-needled canopy.

The Ponderosa Pine can live up to half a century and tower hundreds of feet above the forest floor. One of the oldest and tallest Ponderosas is located in Oregon and is a shade over 268 feet tall. “Young” trees can take 45- 60 years before they bear pine cones and at this stage in their lives exhibit dark flakey bark and are called “blackjacks”.

A more mature Ponderosa that is a mere 150 years old will exhibit thick yellow to reddish bark separated by darker grooves that look like plated armored scales. Mature trees are nicknamed “yellow bellies” or “pumpkins” due to their coloration. It is common to see blackened scars on these older trees from past forest fires which are called Cat Faces. Another feature of their bark is the scent of vanilla or butterscotch which is noticeable on warm days.

Native Americans had a close relationship with Ponderosa Pines, which provided them with seeds, sugary inner bark to eat, and pitch that could be used to seal out water from canoes, baskets, and tents. The Indians would also intentionally set fires around the Ponderosas in order to eliminate encroaching shrubs and trees and give the great one’s room to grow.

During the Lewis and Clark expedition, Nez Perce Indians showed the explorers how to build canoes by burning and hollowing out Ponderosa logs. These log canoes eventually took the team down the Snake and Columbia rivers to the Pacific Ocean and back again on their return trip home.

Today the Ponderosa Pine is still one of the most popular types of wood- used in carpentry and furniture making it revered for its strength, and beauty and as a symbol of the Old West and its traditions.

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A former slave turned legendary lawman, Bass Reeves was feared by outlaws and respected by his peers. With a towering 6’2″ frame, an imposing demeanor, and a reputation for being a relentless lawman, Bass Reeves was a force to be reckoned with. He brought law and order to the untamed frontier, using his wit, marksmanship, and fearlessness to bring criminals to justice. 

Born into slavery in 1838 in Crawford County, Arkansas, Bass was raised under brutal conditions in the slave colony owned by William Steele Reeves, an Arkansas state legislator. 

At the outbreak of the Civil War, George Reeves — the slave owner’s son — organized a company within the 11th Regiment of the Texas Cavalry and joined the Confederate Army. Bass was forced to accompany George as his personal slave. 

At some point during the war, George and Bass fought over a card game, with Bass severely thrashing George before escaping. Bass fled to the Indian Territory (now part of Oklahoma) where he remained a fugitive. He found refuge among the various Native American tribes and learned the languages and tracking skills of the Cherokees, Creeks, and Seminoles. 

George Reeves survived his beating by Bass and left the Civil War with the rank of colonel.  The slave owner would later become a three-time Texas State Legislator and Speaker of the House. In 1882, George was bitten by a rabid dog and locked in a padded wooden shed, where he died from rabies.

Freed by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, the 27-year-old Bass immediately left his frontier life in the Territory to settle down, start a family and become a farmer near Van Buren, Arkansas.

Bass and his wife Nellie raised 11 children on their Arkansas homestead. Between his farming and ranching chores, Bass occasionally took work as a scout and guide for U.S. deputy marshals working in the Territory.

At the time, fugitives, bandits, and outlaws ruled the Territory. There was no federal or state jurisdiction in the Territory, so it was the perfect place to hide from the law. 

That changed when the Federal Western District Court was moved to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Hanging Judge Parker arrived on May 10, 1875. Law and order were about to be brought into the Indian Territory.

Parker appointed U.S. Marshal James F. Fagan to recruit 200 deputy U.S. marshals to clean up the Territory. Bass’s reputation as a tracker, marksman skills, and ability to communicate with several Native American tribes made him a top pick for Fagan. 

In 1875, Reeves became the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi and was assigned to serve the Western District of Arkansas.

Bass could not read or write, so he memorized each arrest warrant by having someone read the contents to him while he was in Fort Smith. Then, he would load his pockets with the warrants and set out on his white horse to hunt for fugitives. Armed with two Colt pistols he wore butt forward, Bass spent months at a time patrolling the Territory for outlaws and enforcing Judge Parker’s orders of “Bring them in alive — or dead!”

Over his 32-year career as a lawman, Bass tracked down and captured over 3,000 criminals. Despite having his hat and belt shot off in separate gunfights, Bass killed 14 outlaws and never suffered any injuries.

Aside from his bravery, tracking, and sharpshooting skills, Bass was also known for his ingenuity and use of disguise. He often rode the Territory dressed as a cowboy, farmer, gunslinger, or outlaw to get closer to his quarry.

One of Bass Reeves’ more memorable arrests occurred while pursuing two outlaw brothers. Bass had organized a posse to bring in the brothers, who he believed were hiding at their mother’s cabin near the Red River between the Arkansas and Texas border.  

Bass had the posse set up camp 28 miles from the cabin while he walked in, disguised as a tramp hiding his pistols, handcuffs, and badge under his dirty clothes. He knocked on the cabin door carrying a cane and wearing a floppy hat with three bullet holes.

A woman opened the door, and Bass told her he was on the run and was being pursued and shot at by a posse. She invited him in for a meal. As they ate, the woman mentioned her two outlaw sons and suggested that they should join forces. Reeves pretended to be interested, gaining the mother’s trust and permission to stay the night.

Later that evening, Bass heard a whistle from outside that the mother answered. Soon, two riders arrived and spoke with the woman before coming inside to meet Bass. After swapping stories about their crimes, the three men agreed to join forces. Bass spent the night in the same room as the brothers, carefully watching them as they slept. When they were snoring soundly, he handcuffed them without waking them up.

The following morning, Bass marched the two outlaws out of the house and towards the waiting posse 28 miles away. The outlaws’ mother followed for the first three miles, cursing Reeves the entire time. When the trio arrived at the posse’s camp, Bass turned the outlaws over to the authorities and received his  $5,000 reward.

However, the fugitive Bass was most proud of bringing to justice was Bob Dozier. Dozier was a cattle rustler, bank robber, stagecoach bandit, land swindler, and leader of a horse-stealing ring who had successfully evaded the law for years. He was also known for torturing and murdering people for information.

Bass took the warrant for Dozier. When the outlaw learned the famed marshal was on his trail, Dozier sent a message to Bass that he would kill him if he didn’t stop hunting him. Bass got word sent to Dozier that he was ready to give Dozier the chance when he caught up to him.

After several months, Bass had tracked Dozier to the Cherokee Nation. With a storm coming in, Bass and one posse member decided to set up camp early on the night of December 20, 1878. As the two men started their preparations, a bullet whizzed by Bass’ head. 

Ducking for cover and ready to return fire, the men only heard silence.

Then, Bass saw a shadow moving through the trees and fired twice. The gunfire was quickly returned, and Bass quickly dropped to cover again.

Dozier, believing he hit Bass, started laughing from the treeline.

Bass jumped up and ordered Dozier to drop his gun. 

The outlaw dropped into a squat as he brought his rifle to bear on the lawman. 

But Bass was faster and shot Dozier in the neck, killing him instantly.

Despite his many accomplishments, Bass Reeves’ life had its challenges. A devoted family man, Bass made a point of being present for his family as much as possible, often taking breaks from work to visit them.

His wife, Nellie, died of consumption (tuberculosis) in 1896.

Then, on June 7, 1902, his son Benjamin (Bennie) murdered his estranged wife after accusing her of infidelity. 

Even though the news shook him, Bass insisted on being the lawman to arrest his son and bring him to justice. 

Bennie was later tried, convicted, and served 11 years at Fort Leavenworth before his sentence was commuted. Bass would never see his son again.

Bass retired from his position as a deputy U.S. marshal in 1907 and served two years as an officer in the Muskogee Police Department before he became ill and stepped down.

After retirement, Bass’ health continued to deteriorate, and he died of Bright’s Disease on January 12, 1910.

Bass Reeves was among the most successful law enforcement officials of his time, but the public largely forgot his legacy. 

However, there has been a renewed interest in his life and accomplishments in recent years. In 2010, the U.S. Marshals Service honored Bass by unveiling a bronze statue in his likeness outside the U.S. Marshals Museum in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The figure depicts Bass on horseback, with a shotgun in his hand, ready to pursue outlaws.

Bass Reeves’ life and career are a testament to the courage and determination of those who seek justice and equality in the face of adversity. He overcame the brutal conditions of slavery and discrimination to become a true hero. He will forever be remembered as one of the most successful lawmen in American history.

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In the frigid waters of the northern oceans, a remarkable creature thrives – the puffin. These small migratory seabirds, comprising four distinct species, are a marvel of adaptation and beauty. They are also the marine version of a “canary in a coal mine” when it comes to ocean health.

The name “puffin” comes from the bird’s distinctive appearance, which was first described in detail for the Atlantic puffin species in 1570. With their rotund bodies and dark capes, these birds resemble chubby medieval friars, earning them the nickname “little friars of the north” or Fratercula arctica.

Each species of puffin has its own unique habitat. Still, all can be found in the frigid waters of the Arctic and subarctic regions. The Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica), the most common species, can be found in the North Atlantic. In contrast, the other three species – the horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata), tufted puffin (Fratercula cirrhata), and rhinoceros auklet (Cerorhinca monocerata) – are found in the North Pacific.

The three Fratercula puffins have similar appearances, with black upper bodies and large colorful beaks. The rhinoceros auklet has a smaller bill and is predominantly gray in color.  

While the rhinoceros auklet doesn’t look like it belongs in the same family as the other puffins, recent genetic research has revealed that all three Fratercula puffins evolved from an earlier common rhinoceros auklet ancestor.

Puffins are recognized by their round, compact body shape, with short wings and legs. Their most prominent feature is their large, colorful beaks, which can be orange, red, or yellow, depending on the species. 

Like many marine birds, puffins spend much of their time at sea foraging for schooling fish. They can even drink seawater and expel the excess salt out of glands in their nostrils. 

Puffins swim underwater by flapping their wings as if flying through the water, using their feet as a rudder. These birds are excellent divers and can descend up to 200 feet deep in search of prey.

Puffins are carnivorous birds that feed primarily on small fish like herring, sand eels, and small squid. They use their beaks to catch and hold their prey, which they then swallow whole. The average catch is around 10 small fish per trip, and they can make up to 100 trips in a day if they are supplying their young with food. 

The puffin is able to hold so many fish due to its raspy tongue. The bird pushes the tongue against the spines on the upper palate, pinning the slippery fish in place. This allows the puffin to open its beak to catch more fish on a single dive.

Puffins have a unique mating and breeding cycle. They usually mate for life and return to the same nesting site on steep coastal cliffs. After returning from a winter at sea, the mating couple reunites at the nest they’ve used year after year. The pair bumps beaks and pecks each other on the cheek in a courtship display known as “billing.”

Once the female puffin lays a single egg, each parent takes turns incubating for 40 days. After the egg hatches, the parents take turns feeding the chick, which fledges after around six weeks.

Puffin chicks, or “pufflings,” are raised in below-ground burrows or hidden between rocks on steep cliffs. The adults prepare the burrow by cutting into the soil with their bills and then using their legs to move the dirt behind them. The puffin also creates a side room in the burrow that the puffling uses as a bathroom, so it doesn’t dirty its feathers. As the puffling matures, the parents move the bathroom closer to the entrance.

The lifespan of a puffin can vary depending on the species and location. In general, puffins can live for up to 20 years in the wild. However, studies have shown that some puffins may live up to 40 years.

Puffins are social birds that form large breeding colonies and are often seen flying and swimming together in groups. Puffins can also fly at speeds of up to 55 miles per hour and can fly up to 30 miles from shore in search of food.

In 2009, researchers estimated that the biggest colony of Atlantic Puffins, found in the Westmann Isles of Iceland, held more than four million birds with approximately one million nests.

These birds are also sensitive indicators of ocean health, making their conservation a matter of global concern. Because puffins are entirely dependent on marine food resources, their future is most threatened by global warming of ocean waters and overfishing.  

While puffins are not technically endangered globally, the Atlantic puffin is classified as vulnerable. Their numbers have improved in some areas due to the efforts of conservationists. Still, newer threats like climate change and plastic pollution continue to threaten these seafaring “little friars.”

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The Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) is a hardwood tree found in the eastern and midwestern regions of the northern United States and in eastern Canada.

Well known for producing both beautiful fall foliage and delicious maple syrup, a Sugar Maple can live for more than 400 years and reach heights of 115 feet. 

Once temperatures drop in late September, the leaves start to change color, ranging from yellow to orange to bright red. Some of the best places to see the fall color shows are Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada, and throughout the Catskills in New York. 

Maple wood is prized for its hardness and beauty. The honey-colored wood is used for cutting boards, furniture, basketball courts, and bowling lanes, as well as guitar necks and a variety of musical instruments in the violin family. 

Due to their sturdiness, maples are also outstanding candidates for supporting backyard treehouses. 

Foliage, furniture, and fun aside, the Sugar Maple is perhaps best loved for its sap, the source of pure maple syrup. 

The art of maple sugaring, converting sap to syrup, was developed by the Algonquian tribes along the Atlantic coast. Traditionally, the process started during the first full moon of March, also known as the Sugar Moon or Maple Moon. This is when the sap begins to flow throughout the tree. Cuts would be made through the bark to allow the tree’s sap to run and be collected in birch bark containers. 

Once enough was collected the sap would then be boiled to evaporate the water and renders the sweet, sticky syrup behind. Nearly 40 gallons of sap are needed to produce one gallon of maple syrup!

In addition to making pancakes and waffles glorious, maple syrup is also used to make maple sugar and taffy candy. 

Native American tribes would also dry the Sugar Maple’s inner bark, grinding it into a powder to use as a thickener for bread and soups. 

Later in the spring, the tree’s distinctive winged seed pods appear and are collected as an additional food source. They can be eaten either fresh, dried, or boiled.

These “helicopter seeds,” which twirl and hover before falling to the ground, generate a tornado-like vortex as they move through the air. Just like a helicopter blade, the seed’s top leading edge reduces air pressure which creates lift, temporarily opposing gravity.

This same bit of hover technology is used throughout nature by hummingbirds, bats, and insects. 

Bonus Treats:

Maple taffy on snow is a traditional spring confection from Quebec Ontario Canada and New England. The maple syrup is boiled down to just the right consistency and then poured onto fresh snow to make a yummy treat your dentist will love!

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The Groundhog (Marmota monax) is a member of the squirrel family that lives throughout the eastern United States, Canada, and Alaska. This rotund rodent also goes by the name whistle pig, land beaver, monax and woodchuck. The name woodchuck doesn’t describe the raucous behavior of throwing lumber around, but really a mispronunciation of the Native American word Wuchak which means “digger”.

Weighing up to 13 pounds, low-slung, and having long claws and stout legs, groundhogs are built to dig. Solitary, these herbivore excavators create spacious underground burrows just for themselves.

Summer burrows are usually dug in grassy areas at the edge of wooded areas. These subterranean squirrels keep a tidy home and will change out their nesting material on a regular basis.

When the mercury drops these chucks will prepare a new abode closer to the trees. Winter burrows are typically dug below the frost line and can be twenty feet in diameter with multiple entrances and exits to evade unwanted visitors such as bobcats, coyotes, and foxes. 

From October till February, the groundhog hibernates, and much like bears they live off fat stores while their metabolic rates fall well below normal. Heart rates can go from 80 beats a minute down to 5 while they sleep away the coldest months. 

Come February and the lengthening of the days male groundhogs make the rounds visiting the burrows of nearby females. This is just to say “hiya” until spring is in full swing and it’s time to make some little whistle pigs. Groundhog litters can be up to six young after a 32-day gestation period. After about three months the young head out to dig their own burrows where they live to be about six years in the wild. 

Wood Chuck Weathermen?

Groundhog Day traces its roots back to Ye Olde Europe where the holiday of Candlemas was celebrated every February 2nd. Originally it was thought that if a hedgehog saw its shadow on a clear day it would portend more wintery weather. 

German immigrants that settled in Pennsylvania brought this tradition with them, but since hedgehogs don’t live in North America, the gift of meteorological insight was bestowed upon the local Ground Hogs. As the tradition continued in the New World it eventually entered into American lore and was even cited in the Farmer’s Almanac. 

Punxsutawney Pennsylvania became the North American epicenter of Ground Hog Day where the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club has kept the tradition alive since the 1880s. Every February 2nd the club meets at Punxsutawney Phil’s burrow on Gobbler’s Knob to see whether the sagacious squirrel sees his shadow or not. 

If it is overcast and Phil sees no shadow then we can look forward to warmer days of early spring, if he sees his shadow it means winter will last another six weeks. Either way, some schnapps is probably called for.

So how accurate is Punxsutawney Phil? 

A comparison of the Ground Hog Club’s century worth of records and weather data over the same period puts Phil’s accuracy rate at 39% which isn’t too bad for a fat squirrel who probably rather be left alone so he can sleep in. 

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“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” ―John Muir, Our National Parks

Nature preservation and conservation efforts date back as far as the mid 1800’s. Pioneers such as John Burroughs, George Perkins, John Muir, and many others have convinced us as Americans the importance of preserving land, water, and wildlife. Many of these important people in nature preservation history have tried to officially enact laws that would prevent the destruction of available sites and resources. Even George Washington’s home at Mt. Vernon came very close to being lost to the ravages of time.

On March 1, 1872, President Ulysses S. Grant signed The Act of Dedication law that created Yellowstone National Park, the first National Park in the U.S. and probably the world. Later, avid outdoorsman and President Theodore Roosevelt created many more national parks including Yosemite and signed the Antiquities Act of 1906 that preserved more national landmarks such as the Grand Canyon.

In 1933 all national monuments, national parks and military historical sites were put under the single umbrella of the U.S. Park Service. And finally, in October 1966 the National Historic Preservation Act was enacted to preserve historic sites and lands across the country.

Why is this important? We as humans need nature and these collections of acts and laws helped protect and set aside open spaces, wildlife refuges and historical landmarks that are a benefit for all. Now virtually every locale in the U.S. has a place nearby where people can experience the open spaces of the Great Outdoors whether it’s a local park, desert, forest or shoreline.

Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, getting away from the go go go is a necessity. But sometimes packing a bag and getting away for a few days to recharge is not always possible. So I grab a pack, water, some snacks, my camera, and off I go to a local trail. During my visit I can not only take a breather, I can practice some photography techniques, teach my kids proper trail etiquette, have some bonding time with my wife, or just enjoy the world outside the box.

Check out your local park’s website. A lot of parks and nature preserves have activities besides walking/hiking trails. Some offer activities like tours guided by local docents where you can explore what types of plants and wildlife are in the park, night sky hiking and photography groups. There are also plenty of fun activities for your kids to enjoy. If you arrive early in the morning when it’s quiet you’d be surprised how much wildlife you can see that are able to thrive adjacent to or even inside a large city.

So the next time you need to take a break you don’t necessarily have to go on a full-on expedition to a national park. Just head to a local nature park or preserve, enjoy some nature, recharge and remember why these resources are important to us!

California by the numbers:

118 State Parks

31 National Wildlife Refuges

19 National Forests

11 State Reserves

11 State Wildlife Areas

9 National Parks

9 State Recreation Areas

9 State Fish Hatcherys

8 State Forests

5 State Historic Sites

3 National Historic Sites

3 National Recreation Areas

1 National Seashore

1 Metro and City Parks

1 State Nature Preserve

The post Why You Should Explore Your Local Trails and Nature Preserves appeared first on Danger Ranger Bear.

The lichen is a remarkable composite organism that can be frequently seen attached to rocks, trees, and even the soil. Often confused for moss, the lichen is actually not a plant at all since it has no roots, stems, or leaves.  

Lichens are actually a partnership between two organisms: fungus and alga. The fungi are colorless and thrive on decomposing other organisms. Alga, however, makes its own food through photosynthesis. Partnering as lichen, fungi provides protection to the fragile alga which provides food for both organisms. 

A third organism, cyanobacteria, can also be assimilated into the partnership. Since cyanobacteria also contains chloroplasts, it can also harvest light energy from the sun and generate carbohydrates as a food source.

By partnering with alga or cyanobacteria, fungi is able to provide itself with a constant source of nourishment. In return, the alga and cyanobacteria are protected from damaging ultraviolet rays which are absorbed by the fungi.

While there are more than 13,500 species of lichen in the world, with approximately 3,600 species located just in North America, you won’t find lichen anywhere near pollution. The organism only thrives where the air is clean, which is why it is used as a biomonitor to gauge an area’s air quality. 

In a process known as biological weathering, lichens break down rocks and release minerals to the soil. They can achieve this through chemical interactions or by the lichen’s ongoing contraction and expansion. 

Lichens are found from the arctic tundra to the driest of deserts. Lichen are considered the dominant vegetation in approximately eight percent of the Earth’s land surface. 

Unlike most plants, lichen do not have a waxy cuticle on their leaves and they don’t have vascular tissue to transport water and nutrients throughout the organism. Instead, the lichen absorbs what it needs from its surrounding environment through air and rain. 

When wet, the lichen’s alga starts photosynthesizing and growing. When the lichen is dry, it goes dormant and becomes brittle. This on and off dormancy explains why some lichen species only add 1-2 millimeters of growth per year. This makes larger lichens extremely old. Some lichens in Greenland are estimated to be between 3,000 to 5,000 years old.

Lichens present a rainbow of colors depending on what special pigments are present in each particular species. Colors vary within species due to age and light exposure with the pigments typically ranging from yellow to orange to red. When those pigments are absent, the lichen will be a gray or greenish gray color.

However, when the lichen is wet, the fungi’s outer layer (cortex) becomes more transparent allowing the underlying alga layer to become visible. Add a little bit of water to a gray lichen and you’ll see the organism come alive in a vibrant green. 

The lichen’s vegetative portion is known as the thallus and its shape is what gives each species its characteristic outer appearance — from long looping strands to small bushes to the more common flat crust shape.

The three main types can be described as leafy, crusty, and shrubby. 

Leafy, also known as foliose, lichens look like leaves in appearance and structure. They are loosely attached to their substrate by filaments or a single umbilicus.

Crusty, or crustose, lichens are tightly attached to their substrate and make up nearly 75 percent of all lichens on earth.

Shrubby, or fruticose, lichens have no distinct top or bottom. They attach to the substrate in varying ways, from a single umbilicus to hanging over a tree branch. Many of these types of lichens look like hanging moss. 

Due to lichen’s hybrid composition, it cannot reproduce like other seed-bearing plants. The dominant fungi can produce spores which will develop into another fungus but that new fungus still has to find an alga to partner with or it will die. 

In addition to breaking down their substrates into soil and organic matter, lichens have also provided shelter, nesting material, and food for birds, elk and insects. 

Due to their pigments, lichens have been used as a natural pigment for dying fabric, wool and baskets. When mixed with pine sap, or burned to ash, lichens can produce colors like yellow, green, orange, red, purple, and brown. 

Some Native American tribes even turned to lichen as a food source when food was scarce. 

Not all lichen is edible and some, like wolf lichen and ground lichen, are poisonous. Various tribes used wolf lichen for poisoned arrowheads while others made tea from it. Ground lichen in Wyoming was determined to be the cause of death for 300 “visiting” elk from Colorado in 2004. Local elk had immune systems that could safely process the ground lichen toxins but not so for the Colorado elk.

Lichens are also being studied for their antibiotic properties with new research revealing that these organisms may help fight against specific cancers and viral infections, including HIV. 

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