Virile

September 07, 2026

Last month my local newspaper carried a USA Today article about the non-native crayfish (Family, Cambaridae) who are massing below Glen Canyon Dam for a potential invasion of Grand Canyon. National Park Service (NPS) biologists say the invasive species has caused ecological havoc in other streams and has now shown up by the thousands in agency nets below the dam. There have been more than 3,000 netted so far this year in a short stretch of the Colorado River where last year they found just over two dozen. NPS Colorado River Coordinator Nicki Gibney also reported a boom in non-native fish, including bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) and sunfish (Family, Centrarchidae). These invaders and the crayfish are thought to have slipped through the dam’s hydropower turbines and are benefiting from the warm water the dam releases as long-term drought and water demand pushes Lake Powell’s warm surface closer to the power plant’s intakes. This same phenomenon has favored smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), which the government has taken emergency measures to keep from reaching and eating rare native fish in the Grand Canyon. While several species of crayfish are present, the dominant species is the virile.

When I went online, I found the virile crayfish (Faxonius virilis) is a species of crayfish also known as the northern crayfish and eastern crayfish. The species was reclassified in August 2017, and the genus changed from Orconectes to Faxonius. The virile is native to the central US, east to tributaries of Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Champlain and the St. Lawrence River in New York and much of Canada. Individuals can be found hiding from predators under stones and logs in lakes, streams, and wetlands. They are identified by the brown or rust-red carapace (cephalothorax) and large pinchers (chelipeds), which are usually blue in color. Crayfish can grow to 6.9 inches (17.5 cm) in length, and their walking legs have a small claw at the end. The virile feeds on a wide range of invertebrates and plants, along with tadpoles and even small fish. Faxonius virilis is used as fishing bait, as food for humans, and as aquarium food for carnivorous fish. The virile has become an invasive species in parts of North America outside their native range and was discovered in the UK in 2008. It is listed as a species of Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

The virile crayfish is an especially vexing invader because it can march uphill around cascades that fish might not reach, Southwest Wildlands ecologist and work group member Larry Stevens said. Stevens called this, “an existential threat to the last remaining pristine streams — some of the last ones — in the West. Crayfish are dominant in many of the streams in Arizona and Utah.” The virile represents another developing threat to the Grand Canyon’s nature in a time when climate change is challenging the government’s ability to react. After two summers of releasing cold shocks of water to prevent bass spawning and protecting the park’s humpback chub (Gila cypha) population. The Interior Department’s Bureau of Reclamation announced they could not spare the water this summer as Lake Powell’s decline is threatening the dam’s ability to produce power. Without the aid of cold water, officials are electrofishing and netting in the river to remove invasives.

Thoughts: The influx of the virile crayfish and other warm water invasives illustrate another aspect of how climate change is impacting native populations. Warmer temperatures allow invasive species to move farther north and draught forces agencies to choose between the demands of humans and the needs of local ecosystems. Earth’s hottest year on record is 2024, with 2023 and 2025 tied at second. Models suggest 2026 is likely to break those records. Climate change about fluctuating extremes more than just warmer temperatures. In the US we have floods in the East and draughts in the West. The rest of the world faces similar patterns. 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.

Carnivorous

August 05, 2026

My NYT feed The Morning included a blurb about the vindication of Charles Darwin’s hypothesis about carnivorous plants. Darwin called Venus flytraps (Dionaea muscipula) “one of the most wonderful plants in the world” and once remarked that he cared more about sundews, plants that sport sticky, flypaper-like traps, “than the origin of all the species in the world.” Darwin published a treatise on carnivorous plants in 1875 that featured several species he thought could be flesh-eating flora, including the hardy alpine plants (genus Saxifraga) that had sticky hairs. Darwin tempted two European Saxifraga species with insects during feeding experiments, but he was unable to prove they were carnivorous. Scientists have now vindicated Darwin’s hypothesis. A team of researchers recently served tiny flies to another Saxifraga species native to China. Their findings were published on Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications revealing the Saxifraga candelabrum does digest and absorb sustenance from trapped prey, expanding evidence of a new family of carnivorous plants.

When I went online, I found Saxifraga candelabrum is a species of flowering plant in the family Saxifragaceae native to northwestern Sichuan and northern Yunnan, China. Candelabrum is a perennial herb reaching 6 to 15 inches (15 to 38 cm) in height. The species grows in a variety of habitats, including forests, forest edges, high meadows, and rocky crevices at elevations from 6,600 to 13,800 feet (2,000 to 4,200 m). The 2026 study found that it is carnivorous, trapping insects in the glandular hairs of its leaves and digesting them. The plant’s flowers attract tiny flying insects in the dipterid suborder Nematocera (aka gnats) and traps them with their sticky glandular hairs. Larger flies (order Diptera) are too big to be captured and instead serve as flower pollinators. The Saxifraga candelabrum can attract, trap, digest, and absorb nitrogen from insects, supporting a prediction made by Charles Darwin more than 150 years ago.

Many plants exhibit carnivorous traits like prey capture, but to be formally classified as carnivorous they must show adaptations for attracting, catching, digesting, and absorbing nutrients from prey. Hang Sun and colleagues studied Saxifraga candelabrum and field observations and surveys of existing plant samples showed that insect prey was present on the glandular hairs of 43 out of 45 surveyed specimens. Mature plants displayed an average of 71 trapped insects, predominantly on these hairs. The authors used fluorescence tagging to identify a digestive enzyme (phosphatase activity) found in carnivorous plants, suggesting that the plant can potentially digest prey. Small flies (genus Drosophila) labeled with a stable form of nitrogen were fed to the plant to analyze whether it could absorb the prey’s nutrient. The authors observed a notable rise in labeled nitrogen levels among candelabrum and control plants from another carnivorous species, and no rise in the non-carnivorous controls. Genetic analysis also found genomic similarities with other independently evolved carnivorous plants. These findings provide strong evidence to support Darwin’s hypothesis.

THOUGHTS: Carnivorous plants have independently evolved in 14 families of flowering plants and are defined by the trapping and digesting of prey for nourishment. Being a meat eater allows a plant to live in depleted soil and harsh habitats. Humans have an even greater advantage as they can eat both meat and plants (omnivorous). This flexible diet helps us survive when one food source is scarce or when the environment changes. However, we cannot digest tough plants as herbivores do and are less skilled at catching fast or dangerous prey as carnivores. Humans have instead learned to adapt to their environment more than being shaped by it. Now we need to ensure our adaptation does not destroy the environment. Act for all. Change will come 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.

Goliath

June 13, 2026

I came across an article on my MSN browser on a gigantic tadpole discovered in 2018. The Chiricahua Mountains on the Arizona-Mexico border is famous for the Chiricahua leopard frog (Lithobates chiricahuensis). This leopard frog is listed as a federally threatened species that is on the decline due to habitat loss and invasive bullfrogs. A research team was draining a pond when they discovered a massive tadpole in their nets. This was a bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) tadpole that never metamorphosed. Herpetologists are unsure why Goliath was stuck in tadpole limbo but believe it is due to a hormone imbalance, specifically a deficiency of a hormone essential for metamorphosis (thyroxine) combined with an excess of growth hormones. The beast was taken to the Southwestern Research Station before dying in 2019. The tadpole will be preserved by scientists so they can better understand what caused his mysterious condition. Researchers had appropriately named the tadpole Goliath.

When I went online, I found there is a species of frog named the goliath frog (Conraua goliath), also known as the giant slippery frog and the goliath bullfrog, in the family Conrauidae. The goliath frog is the largest living frog. Specimens can reach up to about 18 inches (45 cm) in snout to vent length and 9.9 pounds (4.5 kg) in weight. The species has a relatively small habitat range in Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The goliath can live up to 15 years in the wild and up to 21 years in captivity. The primary threat to the goliath frog is hunting, as it is considered a food source in its native range, although other predators are possible. The frog is also threatened by habitat loss and degradation, and they have been extensively exported to zoos and pet trade but have proven shy and nervous in captivity. Although captives may live longer than their wild counterparts, the species has not been bred in captivity.

Goliath, the tadpole, did not undergo the normal metamorphosis where their tails are transformed into legs and development of adult frog features. Despite remaining a tadpole, Goliath continued to grow, making it one of the largest tadpoles ever documented. Its condition is considered extremely rare and provides insight into how hormonal imbalances can affect amphibian development. The case highlights the delicate balance required for normal amphibian growth and metamorphosis. Researchers studied Goliath to understand the effects of endocrine disorders on development. Cases like Goliath also raise questions about environmental impacts like pollution and habitat changes and their effect on the hormonal processes in wildlife. Goliath was preserved by scientists to allow further study of its unique condition. Its story serves as a compelling example of the extraordinary variations that can occur in nature and underscores the importance of monitoring environmental and hormonal factors in amphibian populations.

THOUGHTS: When I found that Goliath had died in 2019, I began to wonder why this popped up on my browser today. A Copilot search gave me three possible answers. It could have been as it was recently linked to a news or science article about unusual wildlife or amphibian biology. Another explanation is a website or blog discussing rare animal cases or environmental science featuring the story. Finally, it might have occurred via a browser ad or redirect or if my browser had been hijacked or exposed to unwanted ads, then it could have shown the page as part of a pop-up or search result. Personally, I think it appeared as I seem to gravitate toward such article in my searches. We are all being tracked for preferences. This can make my searches more effective, if I do not care where this information is shared. Hmm. 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.

Canyon

May 29, 2026

Getty Image

Melissa and I took two long trips this Spring in the RV. We took two trips last Fall to begin RVing. Both trips were less than 100 miles (161 km) and consisted of three days during the middle of the week. We did not pull a vehicle (“toad”) on the first trip and any missed items we went without. We towed the Jeep the second time and were able go into town pick up needed items, including a hose extension for water. We thought we had worked out the kinks and left in February on a 1100-mile (1770 km), 2-1/2 week trip to Florida, but struggled keeping the toad battery charged and had to buy a sewer extension. We thought we solved the battery issue during the week home before we left in March for a 1200-mile (1931 km), 3-week trip to Arizona. We did not. Every time we left the toad attached overnight it still ran down the battery. To top it off, the city water connection valve stripped and we could not connect to the camp hoses. We had planned on stopping at the Grand Canyon, but our main sights were set on my old stomping ground in Utah, so we powered on by.

When I went online, I found a canyon forms by a combination of flowing water, tectonic uplift, and weather acting on the earth’s surface over millions of years. The process of canyon formation often begins with downcutting as rivers and streams carve deep, steep-sided valleys into the earth’s bedrock. The rushing water uses gravel, sand, and rocks it carries like liquid sandpaper to grind away the rock beneath its flow. For massive, deep canyons to form, the ground beneath the river must be pushed upward by shifting tectonic plates (tectonic uplift). This uplift makes the river steeper, increasing its speed and cutting power. Weathering and erosion are the third force acting to create a canyon. Rainwater seeps into cracks in the rock, where it freezes, expands, and breaks the rock apart. Wind, flash floods, and rockslides further widen the canyon walls and wash the debris downstream, preventing the valley from simply becoming a flat slope. All three processes occur simultaneously, and when you add the dimension of time you get a canyon.

It was appropriate that after missing a tour of the Grand Canyon that an article on how it was formed appeared in a USA Today article in our local newspaper several weeks after we returned. A study published April 16 in the journal Science provides one answer to the mystery. According to the study, the Colorado River did not always flow through the canyon and instead began to carve its path around 5.6 million years ago after an ancient lake overflowed. Ryan Crow, co-author and researcher with the US Geological Survey, said scientists have known the river existed 11 million years ago in western Colorado and that it did not exit through the Grand Canyon until after 5.6 million years ago. The mystery was where did it go? Crow said the study tested the idea that the river flowed into the Bidahochi basin in northeastern Arizona. Sand deposits in the ancient lake showed a clear Colorado River signature, indicating the river flowed into the lake. As the lake rose, a spillover became the primary process that established the river’s course through the (emerging) canyon. About two million years later the lake no longer existed and the Colorado River system was fully born.

THOUGHTS: My son and I went to the south rim of the Grand Canyon when he was a child. We did not take the day long hike/mule ride to the bottom but were able to peer into its massive depths. Our takeaway from our two RV trips was that we needed to be more leisurely when we travel. We missed quite a few historic/archeological features because we felt pressed to reach our reserved campground. We assumed if we did not reserve sites, we would not have a place to stay. While that was true for the state parks, every commercial park where we stayed had open spaces. In Europe we took time to “see stuff”, but at home we did not. Do not regret taking time to enjoy the wonder of where you are. Act for all. Change will come and it starts with you.

Snakehead

May 26, 2026

Last Friday Melissa and I decided to treat ourselves to a visit to a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) along the Arkansas River that has been getting constant sightings on the Arkansas Birders group. The area is not too far from our house, and I had even visited once before while looking for a place to fish. We did several errands on our way out of town and by the time we were leaving rain had started to fall. By the time we reached the WMA the rain was light but steady. The last section of the road was dirt but well maintained. This area in an old oxbow (curve) that has formed a lake apart from the main channel of the river. The WMA now has 2,180 acres (882 ha) and is primarily managed for migratory waterfowl and wetland restoration by the Arkansas Game and Fish (AG&F) Commission and Ducks Unlimited. This makes the site popular destination for local hunters and bird watchers. Despite all the amazing bird photos we had seen, we saw very few birds. The waterfowl that had been present when I last visited were non-existent (afraid to get wet?) and there were no birds fliting in the trees. As we drove slowly through the area we crossed over a bridge on a backwater section of the lake. I stopped because there were dozens of 1-pound (0.92-l) gas canisters floating in the water. Next to a sunken log in the bayou was a 30-inch (76 cm) snakehead.

When I went online, I found the northern snakehead (Channa argus) is a species of snakehead fish native to temperate East Asia, in China, Russia, North Korea, and South Korea. Their natural range goes from the Amur River watershed in Siberia and Manchuria down to Hainan, China. Snakeheads are an important food fish and one of the most cultivated in its native region, with 562,179 tons (510,000 tonnes) annual production worldwide. This has led to the fish being exported throughout the world and has resulted in established non-native populations in Central Asia and North America. The species has a long dorsal fin with 49 to 50 rays, an anal fin with 31 to 32 rays, a small, anteriorly depressed head, eyes above the middle part of the upper jaw, and a large mouth extending well beyond the eye. The small, slender teeth form velvety bands (villiform) with large canines on the lower jaw and upper mouth plate (palatines). It is generally reported to reach up to 3 feet 3 inches (100 cm) in length, but specimens approaching 4 feet 11 inches (150 cm) are known according to Russian ichthyologists (fish scientists). The largest specimen registered by the International Game Fish Association weighs 21 pounds 0 ounces (9.53 kg). In the US, it is found in Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Arkansas, Missouri, and Mississippi.

The northern snakehead first appeared in US news when a fisherman discovered one in a Maryland pond in 2002. In 2008, the fish was found in drainage ditches in Arkansas because of a commercial fish-farming accident, and flooding may have allowed the species to spread into the nearby White River which would allow an eventual population in the Arkansas and Mississippi Rivers. Arkansas is the birthplace of warmwater aquaculture in the US and currently ranks as the second-largest aquaculture-producing state. It is also the epicenter for the four species of invasive Asian Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Hypophthalmichthys nobilis, Ctenopharyngodon Idella, and Mylopharyngodon piceus). The invasive snakehead can now be added to the list. All five species are said to be quite edible, but getting the American palate to try the fish is a harder sell.

THOUGHTS: AG&F says if you encounter the northern snakehead, silver, bighead, or black carp, kill it (humanely) and report your encounter to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Aquatic Nuisance Species coordinator by email (reportans@agfc.ar.gov). It is illegal to transport these fish species alive. While I did not catch the snakehead, I did report it. Invasive species may never be eradicated, but with help they can be managed. Act for all. Change will come and it starts with you.

Pyrenees

May 18, 2026

We are planning a cruise to Alaska and the inner passage this summer and I decided to do some clothes shopping before we left. July is the warmest month of the year in Alaska, but temperatures vary drastically by region. The Coastal and Southeast areas (Juneau) where we will travel typically range from 55F to 65F (13C to 18C). That meant I needed to find additional transitional wear that I could layer. I tend to follow my father’s rule-of-thumb when it comes to clothes and closets. I keep three pairs of each type of outer wear, along with 10 shirts and 10 tee shirts. I do have a variety of pants for different occasions (dress, daily, work). This can drive Melissa crazy because every time she buys me a shirt, I donate one of my older shirts to charity. In contrast, the other three closets are dedicated to her clothes, which she alternates between winter and summer outfits. We went to the new big box sports store, and I got and nice short sleeved collared shirt to wear for dinners and a lightweight hoodie I could layer for sight-seeing. I tried the hoodie on today and walked into the living room to show Melissa how it looked. Our Pyrenees (Zena) was asleep on my spot on the couch (her favorite) when I walked in with the hood up. She saw me and went nuts.

When I went online, I found the Pyrenean Mountain Dog or Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées, is a French breed of livestock guardian dog. The Pyrenees breed originates from the eastern or French side of the Pyrenees Mountains that separate France and Spain and is recognized as a separate breed from the Mastín del Pirineo or Pyrenean Mastiff from the Spanish side of the mountains, although they are closely related. It is sometimes claimed that the forebears of both breeds were white livestock guardian dogs brought to the area from Asia in Roman times. The Pyrenean is large and heavily built, with males standing from 28 to 31 inches (70 to 80 cm) and bitches from 26 to 30 inches (65 to 75 cm). Healthy adults typically weigh between 120 and 165 pounds (55 and 75 kg). The neck is short and strong, the chest broad and moderately deep, and the tail long, hanging low when the dog is at rest but curling over the back when the dog is roused. The dogs are widely used throughout France as a livestock guardian, particularly in the French Alps and the Pyrenees, protecting flocks from predation by wolves and bears. It is known as the Great Pyrenees in the US.

Beginning in the late 1970’s, sheep farmers in the US began employing livestock guardian dogs to protect their flocks from predators, particularly coyotes (Canis latrans) and black bears (Ursus americanus), but also cougars (Puma concolor) and grizzly bears (Ursus arctos horribilis). A 1986 survey of over 400 farmers employing 763 livestock guardian dogs in the US found 57% of them used Great Pyrenees. While we do not own sheep, we have toyed with the idea of living off grid. Our black Pyrenees (common but not AKC worthy) was the runt of the litter and now considered small at 90 pounds (41 kg), but she is still a very good protector, always patrolling our fence. She did not recognize me in my hoodie and shot off the couch ready to protect Melissa, sounding her warning bark and her tail was tightly curled over her back. She stopped being aggressive when she realized it was me, but it took a good five minutes of consoling to settle her and down.

THOUGHTS: We did not have a Great Pyrenees when I was growing up, but we did have a large Boxer named Lucky. My sister never cared much for the dog until one day when she was alone at the house. People knew our home as a place to get help with food or even money. One day a man came onto the porch and tried to open the locked front door. Lucky saw the threat and immediately slammed into the door barking, startling the man who quickly ran away. Dogs give protection and keep alert to threats. That is why many people on the streets keep dogs, and why we support a local feeding program by providing dog food. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.

Velella

May 12, 2026

Monday’s local newspaper carried a USA Today article on hundreds of thousands of small sea creatures were washing up along the Pacific coast in the US. These jelly-like creatures can be found around the globe but are most often in large accumulations off the US Pacific coast and in the Mediterranean. According to Steven Haddock, a senior scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, while several miles-long stretches may float in the open ocean, it is when the winds pile them up along the shore that people really notice. Rebecca Helm, Georgetown University Earth Commons Institute has been studying the creatures and says that although velella have been documented for decades, scientists do not yet fully understand them.

When I went online, I found Velella velella is the only known species in the genus of hydrozoa in the family Porpitidae. Other common names are sea raft, by-the-wind sailors, purple sail, little sail, or simply Velella. By-the-wind sailors are a widely distributed free-floating colonial animal that lives on the surface of the open ocean in a specialized ocean surface community collectively called Cnidarians. Specialized predatory mollusks such as sea slugs (nudibranchs) in the genus Glaucus and purple snails (genus Janthina) prey on these cnidarians. Each apparent individual is a hydroid colony, and most are less than about 2.8 inches (7 cm) long. Like other cnidarians, velella are carnivorous and catch their prey (mostly plankton) by tentacles that hang down in the water and bear stinging nematocysts (or cnidocysts). The toxins in their nematocysts are effective against their prey but are relatively benign to humans, although irritation may occur to skin. Some scientists describe velella as floating colonies, but Haddock said it is easier to understand each raft as a single individual with a central mouth that looks like a volcano surrounded by a field of 100’s of squirming noodles, which are also a mouth. Each velella can produce 1000’s of free-swimming, sesame-seed sized offspring that drop off and sink to the seafloor where they produce another single cell that eventually returns to the surface as a new floating colony. They are usually indigo blue in color and have a small stiff sail that catches the wind and propels them over the surface of the sea.

Helm has been looking at how the velella survive in the wind and waves without getting turned around as they pop up right every time as well as their adaptation to use the wind for propulsion. Scientists would also like to be able to predict when the velella armadas are going to appear. One study suggests large concentrations may be found after particularly warm winters, but more research is needed. The winter of 2025-2026 was a record breaker in California with intense marine heat waves observed in the ocean. Scientists are encouraging people to report velella sightings and to take photos with GPS activated readings so they can track their exact locations. Sightings can be reported through the iNaturalist app.

THOUGHTS: Like many unique creatures, the velella are being examined for military reasons. A group of scientists in China have studied mimicking the velella as a prototype for unmanned surface vehicles, while a group at John Hopkins are working with the military on modeling them to create low-cost ocean sensors. Heaven forbid, we take the time to study the uniqueness of nature without trying to adapt it for a military advantage. Act for all. Change is coming and it starts with you.