Barn Owl

October 01, 2026

The birds have enjoyed that variety of feeders I placed in the back yard, but they are not the only customers. We had a wood pile stacked in the corner used for an outdoor firepit. I have only used the fire pit once, and that was an unsuccessful attempt to burn documents I needed to shred. The wood sat until it began to deteriorate, and I threw it away. Removing the wood I discovered an Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus had taken up residence in the pile. The chipmunk has since moved under the step ramp and has been joined by the Woodland Vole (Microtus pinetorum) I spoke of in yesterday’s Blog. Both live off the seeds dropped out of the feeders by the birds. The line of trees and an open field that is only periodically cut has invited an occasional brown or Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and a few house mice (Mus musculus) to sample the dropped seed. These critters have succeeded in vexing Loki (and me). While I was thinking about how to at least decrease their population, I came across an article on-line that addressed the lack of barn owl nesting sites.

When I went online, I found the American barn owl (Tyto furcata) is usually considered a subspecies group and together with the western barn owl group, the eastern barn owl group, and sometimes the Andaman masked owl, make up the barn owl, cosmopolitan in range. The American barn owl is native to North and South America and has been introduced to Hawaii. The bird is a medium-sized pale-colored owl with long wings and a short, squarish tail. The shape of the tail lets you distinguish the barn owl from typical owls when seen in the air, as are the undulating flight pattern and the dangling, feathered legs. The pale face with its heart shape and black eyes give the flying bird a distinctive appearance, like a flat mask with oversized, oblique black eye-slits, the ridge of feathers above the beak somewhat resembling a nose. The bird’s head and upper body vary between pale brown to a shade of grey. The underparts, including the lower leg (tarsometatarsal) feathers, vary from white to reddish buff among the subspecies and are either mostly unpatterned or bear a varying number of tiny blackish-brown speckles. The beak varies from pale horn to dark buff, corresponding to the general plumage hue, and the iris is blackish brown. The talons also vary in color, ranging from pink to dark pinkish-grey and black.

Barn owls are common throughout most of their range and are not considered globally threatened. However, locally severe declines from organochlorine (DDT) poisoning in the mid-20th century and rodenticides in the late 20th century have affected some populations, particularly in North America. Barn owls are prolific breeders and can recover from short-term population decreases, but many areas in the US, and especially the Midwest, have experienced dramatic population decline. While multiple factors contribute to this population decline, habitat loss may be the most damaging as areas of suitable grasslands have been reduced by agricultural development. Collisions with vehicles, rodenticide use, and predation by great horned owls (Bubo virginianus) also present obstacles to population recovery. Another factor is the lack of suitable nesting sites. Providing nest boxes under the eaves of buildings and in trees can be very successful in increasing the local population. Nest boxes also assist in pest control as the barn owl’s predation of small mammals can reduce the need for rodenticide use. I purchased a nest box and placed it 10 feet (3 m) up in a southeast facing tree.

Thoughts: When I placed the barn owl nesting box I checked to see when a pair might appear. The males usually seek new sites prior to mating season, and they must already be in the area to locate my box. That means not until next March at the earliest. Providing habitat (food, water, shelter) is a long-term action that needs to be planned far in advance. That is true for humans as well as a barn owl. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Leopard Frog

September 30, 2026

I have mentioned how Loki is now on constant lookout when he first goes into the backyard. He jumps down and sniffs both sides of the exit ramp before moving on to grass beneath the bay window. Next, he moves on down the house to the storage box next to the vegetable bed. He has good reason to be frantic as several times he has almost caught the Woodland Vole (Microtus pinetorum) that lives under the ramp and feeds off the seeds dropped out of the feeders by the birds. This morning Loki was so intent on sniffing the ramp he failed to notice the house mouse (Mus musculus) that scurried across the cement deck and down a hole next to the pool. I went over to replace the window feeders I take down every night to discourage the raccoons (Procyon lotor) return and notice movement at my feet. When I looked down, I saw a different species of frog. This was not the gray tree frogs (Hyla versicolor) or the American bullfrogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) that croak during breeding season. This was another common resident, the southern leopard frog.

When I went online, I found the southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) is a medium-sized amphibian (anuran) in the family Ranidae (true frogs). The species is one of 36 species currently or formerly classified in the Rana genus found in North America. It is native to eastern North America from Kansas to New Jersey to Florida and is an introduced species in some areas (California). Individuals are up to 5.1 inches (13 cm) long. Mature males average 2 inches (53 mm) snout to rear (vent) length and females average 2.5 inches (64 mm). The leopard is green or brown in color, has a yellowish ridge along each side of the back, rounded dark spots on the back and sides, and a light spot on each ear (tympanum). The male has larger fore limbs than the female. A breeding male’s vocal sacs are spherical when inflated with a “ratchet-like trill” or “chuckling croak” for a call.

I had just enough time to snap a photo of the leopard frog before Loki continued his search along the back of the house. As Loki approached the bay window, the frog took note and began to hop away. That alerted Loki to the frog’s presence and he rushed after it. The leopard frog was fast and hopped into the red canna lilies (Zantedeschia rehmannii) that dominate the center of the area. Now lost in the foliage, Loki could only snuffle back and forth with a soft whine. I did not mind the presence of the southern leopard frog as they feed primarily on insects, crawdads (Procambarus clarkii), and other invertebrates. Our pool has long shrunk in size during the summer heat and no longer supports the gray treefrog tadpoles that teemed there this spring. The leopard moves away from the water during the warmer months and is away from water most of the time as they forage in upland areas. This is a welcome addition to help clear pest from my garden and containers.

Thoughts: While the leopard frog is common to our area, this is the first one I recall seeing in our back yard. Our pool/pond is not conducive for breeding, and I have never seen the egg clusters that float among the low foliage where they like to breed. Since there was only one frog, I assume it was foraging away from its water source, probably the Crooked Creek about 400 yards (366 m) to the south. The eggs masses can hatch from 4 days to two weeks and hatch more quickly in the presence of predators like crayfish. That means crawdads eat leopard frog eggs that grow to feed on small crawdads. This is part of nature’s irony. Humans need to be more observant of our earth mates and learn about how diversity drives us all. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Burrow

September 24, 2026

Melissa’s parents owned a minivan with a wheelchair lift on the back. It was a 2006 model but had low mileage. They purchased the van used in 2015 from a lift dealer who said the previous owner used to for shopping and doctor’s appointments. They used it more extensively, but it never driven much. When we moved back to Arkansas the van was parked next to the workshop. The van sat for several years until we decided to donate it to a church program which connects people in need with low-cost cars. We called to have the van towed but the dealer never called back to get the vehicle. After several tries, I gave up and the van sat for another two years. The program is now associated with another repair shop and we connected again. A recovery group was looking for a van to transport clients back and forth from a residence house to appointments. Melissa called this time and within two days they came and towed the van. Since it had sat for so long, a pile of pine (Pinus echinata) needles collected under the van. Several days later I went to clean the area and notice an 8-inch (20 cm) hole in the middle of the debris. An animal decided this was perfect for their burrow.

When I went online, I found a burrow is a hole or tunnel excavated into the ground by an animal to construct a space suitable for habitation or temporary refuge, or as a byproduct of the animal moving through the ground. Burrows provide a form of shelter against predation and exposure to the elements and can be found in nearly every biome and can represent both symbiosis (cooperation) and competition. Many animal species are known to form burrows and range from small amphipods (crustaceans) to very large vertebrate species such as the polar bear (Ursus maritimus). Burrows can be constructed into a wide variety of substrates and can range in complexity from a simple tube a few inches/centimeters long to a complex network of interconnecting tunnels and chambers hundreds or thousands of yards/meters in total length, such as a rabbit (family, Leporidae) warren. Mammals are the most well-known species for constructing a burrow.

When I saw the burrow, I knew why the kids were barking at the fence facing the workshop. I had assumed it was the neighborhood cats (Felis catus), but I have not seen one in several months. They have also been barking at the raccoons (Procyon lotor) and opossum (Didelphis virginiana) in the trees and walking along the top of the fence, but neither species is known to make a burrow. When I searched for the owner online, it provided the top three species as a fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), a woodchuck/groundhog (Marmota monax), or a nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). These are all good-sized mammals, and I could not believe any would be living under our van for long without either of us seeing it. While I did not want to (necessarily) get rid of the creature, I called the town’s animal control officer to see if she could provide insight into what could be living in our yard. When I described the burrow, she immediately suggested it was probably an armadillo. Since this was one of the three animals suggested online, I am assuming that is what we have.

Thoughts: An armadillo living in the burrow is supported by the holes that have been popping up in our yard and garden containers. Armadillos like soft soil that is easy to dig, and our lawn and garden provide grubs, beetles, and spiders that can be found on the surface and first layer of soil. Since the burrow is no longer covered by the van, I am hoping the animal will find a new living location. Joe Ray is a hermit who spent years living in a system of caves in the Ozark Mountains and was documented by National Geographic TV in the series The Boonies. Other Ozark residents also lived in the Ozark caves during the Depression. Now modern conversions like the Beckham Creek Cave Lodge in Parthenon, Arkansas, have turned historic or custom-built caves into luxury rentals. We are not far from our ancestors. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Nuisance

August 31, 2026

I blogged earlier about the two immature raccoon (Procyon lotor) invaders the dogs had surprised in our backyard and chased up under the eaves of the house. I put the kids inside and coaxed them down, but one fell in the pool and I had to fish it out with the skimmer. I hoped this would scare the pair so they would keep out of the yard, or at least out of the window feeders. A week ago, I let the kids out at night, and they trapped a raccoon on the fence above the squirrel feeder. I had given up trying to deter the red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) and dedicated two feeders away from the others with cracked corn (Zea mays) and whole peanuts (Arachis hypogaea). Large birds like the northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) seem to like these seeds more than the squirrels, and the squirrels traverse the entire fence to get to the smaller seed. Two nights ago, one of the raccoons was brave enough to again tackle the window feeders. The kids were going crazy at four am and when Melissa turned on the light it jumped off the ledge and crashed through a nearby table of potted succulents, knocking several to the ground and breaking three of the terra cotta pots. They had moved from invaders to a nuisance.

When I went online, I found several sites touting ways to get rid of a raccoon nuisance. I chose one that tested “5 ways to get rid of raccoon’s”. The first used scent-based raccoon repellents, like ammonia, mothballs, predator urine, or essential oils. These worked but washed away in rain and needed to be constantly reapplied. Motion-activated sprinklers blasts water when the animal gets too close but after a few nights the raccoon dodged the spray, waited for it to quit, and crept back in. A third was floodlights but after a few nights the raccoons adapted to the light and felt safe to again go for food. Humane traps and relocating the animals work but it is not always legal and new raccoons may come to take their place. The best solution was a combination of ultrasonic sound waves and flashing LED lights. The ultrasonic frequencies are silent to humans but irritating to raccoons, and the motion-activated lights are a visual deterrent. This gave me a link for the best solar powered stake that “Works automatically, requires no upkeep, and is completely humane.” I realized this was a veiled sales pitch, but other sites came to the same conclusion. It sounded like the best solution

While the ultrasonic deterrent may be the best way to discourage our nuisance, there were other considerations. The raccoon was encroaching on an area used by the kids, and they could hear the sound when they went out to play. None of our local stores carried this product and online it would take three days to two weeks to arrive. I needed something tonight. That led me to the scents. I found sprays that all contained a 4% solution of peppermint oil. That made me think about making my own spray using the known deterrents of vinegar, garlic, and peppermint. I purchased a spray and a bottle of peppermint extract thinking I could figure it out. One of the bottles had pictures of what nuisances it drove away, and one was a bird. The nuisance was the raccoons getting into the bird feeders and I could not spray around the feeders without driving off the birds. My solution was the simplest. I took the window feeders down last night because of the nuisance and put them up again in the morning for the birds.

Thoughts: The number one response I found for solving my nuisance problem was to remove the food that was bringing the raccoons. Feeding the raccoons is not good for their long-term survival nor for my garden and bird watching. While this involves more work on my part (not much), it solves the problem in an ecofriendly way. One reason behind many destructive human projects is to make our lives easier. When this happens at the expense of the environment, we need to find alternative solutions. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Prarie Lizard

August 26, 2026

I started late this morning and the “feels like” temperature was already 101F (38C), so even the shaded park path seemed too much for the kids (and me). I knew the brief rain we got last night was not enough to keep my seed damp in the sun. The sparrows (Passer domesticus) and finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) scattered as I walked onto the pool deck to fill the feeders and give my plants a shot of water. The birds had attacked several of the tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) I was letting ripen on the vine, so I picked the ripe fruits (about 20) along with 10 red jalapenos (Capsicum annuum). Next, I went out to give the seeds in the raised bed a good drink. As I walked back to turn off the hose, I caught rapid movement across the sidewalk and then the mulch near the faucet. I stopped and caught another quick movement up the wall. Hidden on the wall and covered by the phlox (Phlox paniculata) was an eastern prairie lizard.

When I went online, I found the eastern prairie lizard (Sceloporus consobrinus), also known as a fence lizard, is a species of lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. Distribution in the US extends from far western Nevada east to New York and from southern South Dakota in the north into Mexico to the south. Prairie lizards can be distinguished by the combination of highly keeled, pointed, and overlapping scales; no “horns” at the back of the head; and a tail longer than the body. Coloration and pattern can be highly variable, even within local populations. The top (dorsal) coloration can be gray, brown, or a mixture of gray, brown, and white, and chevron-shaped lines can be present or absent and may have a distinct gray stripe along the midline of the dorsal body surface. Lighter stripes may be well to poorly defined on lateral body surfaces extending from the neck to the first one-third of the tail. Adult males have distinct green-blue patches bordered by black on each side of the under (ventral) body surface. In larger males, the underside of the jaw may be black with green-blue patches on either side of the throat. Prairie lizards reach just over 3 inches (7.5 cm) in snout-vent length (plus tail) while hatchlings are about three-fourths of an inch (2 cm) in snout-vent length.

Prairie lizards can be active during any month of the year if temperatures are high enough but are most active during March to October and are found in almost every terrestrial habitat. The color and pattern variations (ectomorphs) are often associated with the microhabitats where they live. During the breeding season (late spring to early summer), males are territorial and aggressively interact with other males. Females deposit clutches of 6 to14 eggs from early May through July and may deposit more than one clutch per season. Eggs are deposited in shallow burrows in the ground, under surface objects, and possibly in the walls of mammal burrows. There is no parental care. Eggs hatch from late July through September. Lifespan under natural conditions is unknown but individuals (likely) can live up to four years. These lizards are “ambush foragers” and eat a variety of insects. They rely on relatively high body temperatures (about 95F/35C) for activity and are often observed basking in direct sunlight. Their primary defensive behavior includes a combination of camouflage (crypsis) and short, rapid retreats to crevices, shrubs, or other safe harbors once they have been detected.

Thoughts: The Prairie lizard can be observed by remaining still for 5 to10 minutes in their habitat and watching for movement. I watched for about 1 minute trying for a better photo and it never moved. Not moving is not always a good strategy. Warm-blooded predators (dogs and bears) see your body heat and the sound of breathing can be picked up by ears. Animals with a strong sense of smell (like dogs) find you by the air. Humans instead make loud noises and band together in packs. It helps that we are at the top of the food chain. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Waved Sphinx

August 24, 2026

Before Melissa retired, our breakfast nook table was her computer workstation in one half and the other served as a dedicated workstation for her succulents. The computer is now gone, and the succulents took over the whole. The table sits in front of a large bay window that allows Melissa to watch the birds come to feeders placed just outside. While we have always had numbers of house sparrows (Passer domesticus) these have recently been joined by a flock of young house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus). Over the last two weeks Melissa has noticed an increase in ruby-throated hummingbirds (Archilochus colubris) coming to the hanging basket of button sage (Lantana involucrate) that sits among the feeders. I find this species interesting as the male is brown with a ruby throat and white belly, while the female is green with a white belly. With the increase in birds, Melissa cleared a spot for me to sit and read the morning paper and do my crossword. I have also noticed several bumble bees (genus Bombus) and large moths (order Lepidoptera) on the same flower. While I failed to document these fast birds, I did find a waved sphinx inside our porch.

When I went online, I found the waved sphinx (Ceratomia undulosa) is a common large moth in the family Sphingidae. The species was first described by Francis Walker in 1856 and can be recognized by its mottled gray-brown wings and distinct wavy lines, with a small centered white spot on each forewing. The moth has a 3 to 4.25-inch (7.6 to 10.8 cm) wingspan. Despite its large size, its camouflage allows them to rest safely against tree bark. It is native in the US and southern Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains. Adults are strictly nocturnal, hiding with the dawn. The Sphingidae family of moths are informally known as hawk moths because of their fast, strong, and hovering flight style, which resembles how a hawk flies. They have long, narrow wings and streamlined bodies built for rapid movement. The most common predator is the Guiana Striped Scorpion (Centruroides guianensis) which feasts on the moth’s egg clusters. As the two species seem to arrive at the same time, the scorpions show up as the moth lays eggs, there was a wrong conclusion the moths give birth to the scorpions (i.e., the name Scorpion Moth). Many Sphingidae caterpillars are known as hornworms from a distinct, horn-like spine located on their last abdominal segment.

I was concerned when I learned the waved sphinx was a horn worm. The five-spotted hawkmoth (Manduca quinquemaculata) caterpillar is a major pest often referred to as the tomato hornworm and uses tomatoes as the host plants. The food of the waved sphinx larvae are trees, and include ash (Fraxinus), privet (Ligustrum), oak (Quercus), hawthorn (Crataegus) and fringe tree (Chionanthus virginicus). The caterpillars (larvae) go through five distinct growth stages (instars) over 3 to 4 weeks, shedding their skin each time. When ready, the larvae crawl from the plant and burrow a few inches/centimeters into the soil to pupate. In colder regions, the pupae overwinter underground in this chrysalis stage until spring. In warm months, this stage lasts 1 to 3 weeks. The adult moths emerge from the soil in spring or summer and live for 1 to 3 weeks before they reproduce and start the cycle again. Adults feed on flower nectar using a long mouth tube (proboscis).

Thoughts: When I tried to get close for a photo of the waved sphinx moth, I realized it was dead. Even if it had been alive, it posed no threat to my garden. I remember seeing the large green tomato hornworms in our garden when I was a child. While I did not understand them as a pest, I was awed by their size. The same was true with the adult sphinx. It is common for humans to fear large creatures before we determine whether they are a threat. We can treat other humans the same way. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Metricus

August 22, 2026

We used to use a pest control company to spray our Arkansas house several times a year. We quit spraying inside when Melissa began growing succulents to protect her many plants. I would watch the technicians as they put granules in the yard, sprayed around the base of the house, and swept the eaves for wasp (Suborder: Apocrita) nests. I realized the task was straight forward and being retired I could spare the periodic 30 minutes, so I took over the role. We still get canvassers saying, “We happen to be in the neighborhood . . . “, but I tell them I do it myself. When they ask what steps I use, I tell them same as they do, and their response is they have better chemicals. Frankly, I am wary of commercial chemicals, and they leave. I occasionally find a mud dauber (Subfamily: Sceliphrinae) nest that I spray and then knock off the house. While I have not seen a paper nest in a while, I did see a metricus paper wasp on my tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants last week.

When I went online, I found metricus paper wasp (Polistes metricus) is a wasp native to North America. In the US it ranges throughout the southern Midwest, the South, and as far northeast as New York, but has recently been spotted in southwest Ontario. A single female has also been reported from Dryden, Maine. The metricus has a dark rusty (ferruginous) color with black markings on its thorax and a mostly black abdomen. The lower portion of the legs (tarsi) are yellow, and the upper leg (tibia) is black. A black spot (separate from the antennae) contains three simple eyes (ocelli). Females have six abdominal segments, while males bear seven. Swelled parts of the abdomen of this species are a key defining element. Like other Polistes (genus), metricus has a high level of socialization (eusociality), including cooperative brood care, overlapping generations of adults within a colony, and a division of labor into reproductive and non-reproductive groups. Like other hymenopterans (Order), sex is determined by if the egg is fertilized (haplodiploid genetics). The preferred prey to feed young is soft-bodied, and especially caterpillars. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has not evaluated this species’ conservation status.

Nests of the metricus paper wasp can be found attached to almost anything, the sides of buildings, trees, and shrubbery. Nests have been observed to be shared between two species of Polistes. The different species of wasp were seen to coexist without conflict. The evolutionary significance of joint nesting is unclear, but hypotheses include it might represent the beginning stages of interspecific sharing to the benefit of each (mutualism) or exploitation. Nest reuse has been observed in the species. It is common for a foundress to use the nest multiple times within a reproductive season, but it is unlikely for the foundresses to return to a nest in a subsequent season. Another distinction is metricus foragers take off from their nests in different directions depending on how long their trip will be. They exit the nest flying horizontally for short flights but exit the nest flying straight up to a high altitude before pursuing their direction for long flights.

Thoughts: One of my memories as a child was my brother and I trying to knock down the metricus paper wasp nests on our porch. The original front porch now faced a dirt street, and a side door faced a paved street, now making it the main entrance. That meant the large wraparound porch was rarely used. This seemed to be the perfect location for the paper nests. We were too afraid to approach the nests directly, so we would toss a broom at them until they fell to the ground. I can never remember being bothered by the wasps unless we were trying to knock down the nests. When I saw the metricus on my tomato it was not bothering me, so I left it alone as. That would have been a better reaction as a child as well. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Pearl Crescent

July 20, 2026

As June moved into July my tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) began to produce, and I was able to take over 50 pounds (22.7 kg) to two local food banks. I also canned 7 quarts (6.6 L) of the Romas into pasta sauce and turned 2 pounds (0.9 kg) of the sweet 100’s cherry tomatoes into a jar of sun-dried tomatoes. I had never made sun-dried tomatoes before and was surprised how easy they were to make. I cut off the ends and halved each fruit, then coated them with olive oil and Italian seasoning. I placed the halves skin-side down in our air fryer for 40 minutes at 250F (121C). The recipe suggested I add another 40 minutes at 180F (82C) to get the chewiness found in store brands. The lowest setting on my air fryer is 250/121, so I hedged and put them back for another 30 minutes. I put them in a clean (airtight) jelly jar and into the refrigerator. This should last several months. This last week the heat of summer finally found us and while my tomatoes have slowed down, my jalapenos have begun to take off. When I went out yesterday morning to water and check for ripe fruit, I noticed a new butterfly resting on the tomato leaves. This was a pearl crescent butterfly.

When I went online, I found the pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is a species North American butterfly. It is found in all parts of the US except the west coast, and throughout Mexico and parts of southern Canada. The species reside in open areas such as pastures, road edges, vacant lots, fields, and open pine woods. Color patterns can be quite variable. Males usually have black antenna knobs. The upper side is orange with black borders, while the rear (postmedian) and submarginal areas are crossed by fine black marks. The underside of the hindwing has a dark marginal patch containing a light-colored crescent. The wingspan is from 0.8 to 1.3 inches (21 to 34 mm). Adults find nectar from a wide variety of flowers including dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd’s needle, asters, and winter cress. Males patrol open areas for females, and the eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of host plant leaves of aster species (family Asteraceae). Caterpillars eat the leaves and are gregarious when young. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars. The species has several broods from April to November in the north, and throughout the year in the deep south and Mexico.

Hybridization between the pearl crescent and other species of the genus Phyciodes have been studied in the past. These studies were done to see whether variation through hybridization could arise and create a new species of Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) as a result. The pearl crescent has a large distribution (Mexico to Canada), and around the US/Canada boarder three other species of Phyciodes (P. batesii, P. cocyta, and P. pulchella) are present. While all these Lepidoptera share the same genus their genomes are distinct, causing the variation in phenotype. In Wingert et al.’s study on Phyciodes differences, they found that the genome sequence was different because of the low levels of gene flow and hybridization. Even though these species are capable of hybridization, it shows how these butterflies have been able to maintain their separate genomes and not overly hybridize. In other words, these different species are similar but tend to keep to their own kind when mating.

THOUGHTS: While the pearl crescent does not appear to cross breed with “cousins”, several mammal species do, both naturally and in captivity. There are zonkeys – zebras (subgenus Hippotigris) + donkeys (Equus asinus), camas – camel (genus Camelus) + llama (Lama glama), pizzlies – polar bears (Ursus maritimus) + grizzlies (Ursus arctos horribilis) and others. About half of all plant species on Earth arose through hybridization. Even humans have hybridization early in our history, and many people carry a little Neanderthal DNA. Humanity is different than most other animals as we choose what to differentiate us from each other, even though we are all the same. Act for all. Change will come and it starts with you.

Cigarette Snail

June 10, 2026

While perusing my MSN browser I came across a post from the journal Sciencing addressing one of the worst ways to die. During the summer people are drawn to the beach for the nice sea breeze and warm sand. Rather than relaxing and trying to get a suntan (harder now with my SPF 50 sunscreen) I like to spend time walking along the shore looking for shells. Melissa and her family did the same and we have several snail-shaped glass vases filled with some of the shells rescued and brought home as souvenirs. The best time of day to collect is after high tide as the water recedes and the shells are deposited on the beach. An even better time is after a storm has passed and more shells and creatures have been deposited along the shore. The article cautioned to avoid picking up one particularly pretty, cone shaped shell. The occupant resting inside this beautiful relic is equipped with enough venom to kill 700 people. It is said that if you were stung by this snail, you would perish before you had time to smoke one last cigarette.

When I went online, I found the geography cone (Conus geographus), also called the cigarette snail, is a species of predatory cone snail that lives in reefs of the tropical Indo-Pacific and hunts small fish. While all cone snails hunt and kill prey using venom, the venom of this species is potent enough to kill humans. Individuals grow to about 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in length, with the size of an adult shell between 1.7 to 6.5 inches (43 and 166 mm). The color of the shell is pink or violaceous white, but occasionally reddish and has a mottled appearance with two irregular chestnut or chocolate bands. This intricate brown-and-white pattern is highly prized by shell collectors. Geography cones are common and occur in the Red Sea, off the coast in the Indian Ocean, and are indigenous to the reefs of the Indo-Pacific (except Hawaii), and off northern Australia. The snail’s distribution is largely explained by the temperature of its habitat and alterations due to climate change are predicted to impact its distribution in the following decades.

There are over 600 species of cone snails that are not equally dangerous to humans. Only two species, the geographic cone and the textile cone (Conus textile), have reportedly resulted in human death. There is also rich diversity in the venom that these snails produce. Their venom is generally characterized by peptides known as conotoxins. Each snail produces over 100 of these conotoxins, and only 5% of them are estimated to overlap among species. Only a few of these toxins have been characterized fully, which makes development of an antidote a challenge. The complexity of the conotoxins makes it difficult to understand exactly how death occurs in humans. While scary, there have not been a lot of human fatalities recorded. A review from 2016 showed that there have been a total of 36 recorded cone snail deaths and researchers are unsure whether these deaths have been a result of cardiovascular damage or damage to the respiratory system. Humans are fortunate not to be a target species for the cigarette snail, leading to relatively rare toxic encounters.

THOUGHTS: While a sting by a cigarette snail may be one of the worst ways to die, their toxins may lead to medical innovation that could save lives. Researchers have identified a drug based on cone snail venom that was approved in 2004 to treat chronic pain. Another potential benefit might be derived from the cone snail insulin, which takes effect more quickly than human insulin. There are currently about 11 to 12 FDA-approved medications derived directly from animal toxins, with 100’s more in clinical trials and research, adapted to treat everything from high blood pressure to chronic pain and diabetes. If you do not provoke (pick up) the pretty shell, the snail cannot kill you. Act for all. Change will come and it starts with you.

Vulture

June 08, 2026

Researchers at the University of Florida (UF) say invasive Burmese pythons (Python bivittatus) in the Everglades are facing an unexpected new threat. A newly published UF study found that Black vultures and Turkey vultures have become significant predators of python eggs. Motion-activated cameras are capturing the birds digging into nests and consuming eggs while mother pythons temporarily left to bask in the sun. Scientists said the findings could help explain why the rapidly growing python population has not expanded even faster across South Florida despite the reptiles having few natural predators in the region. The study documented vultures destroying nearly half the eggs in monitored nests, raising hopes that native scavengers may be adapting to help naturally suppress the invasive species. Researchers said Burmese pythons have devastated native wildlife populations in the Everglades by preying on mammals, birds and reptiles since becoming established in Florida decades ago. The findings, published in the journal Reptiles & Amphibians, suggest that native wildlife may be adapting to exploiting the destructive, invasive python as a food source.

When I went online, I found vulture refers to a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia while New World vultures have 7 species and are restricted to North and South America. Old and New World vultures are not closely related, and their resemblances in similar form or function are not present in the last common ancestor of those groups (convergent evolution). A characteristic of many vultures is a bald, unfeathered head believed to keep the head clean when feeding. North America has three species of vulture. The Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) is across the US and South America and is moving north into Canada. The Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) lives in southeastern US states and into Mexico. California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) is the largest North American land bird. The species became extinct in the wild in 1987 when all remaining wild birds were captured but has been reintroduced to northern Arizona and southern Utah, the coastal mountains of California, and northern Baja California in Mexico.

Researchers stumbled on four vultures eating python eggs in the dense underbrush of the Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area in Broward County, Florida. This is the first documented case of a native Florida bird preying on an invasive python nest. The event occurred in 2023 but was not published until this year. The researchers used a “scout snake” with a radio transmitter to locate the nest and were coming to collect the eggs. The vultures fled the nest when approached and could not be identified as Black or Turkey vultures. The only other documented case of predation on python eggs was in 2021 when a trail camera captured a bobcat eating python eggs in Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve. There is a precedent for native animals learning to consume invasive species. The Everglades snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis) was near extinction when it started eating an invasive snail that is larger than the native snail the birds typically ate, resulting in a rapid microevolution to have larger beaks to be more adept at digging into the larger snail.

THOUGHTS: Growing up in Kansas I saw many a Turkey Vulture, but it was not until we moved to Arkansas that I became aware of the Black Vulture. The two species are often together fighting over carrion or swarming the skies. The Turkey Vulture has a smaller red head and can find carrion with its excellent eyesight or with its sense of smell, while the Black Vulture has a black head and can only find its food visually. While humans may appear divergent, we are all the same species. We need to try and behave like it. Act for all. Change will come and it starts with you.