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.

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.

Flea Beetle

July 17, 2026

Several days ago, I mentioned my battle with insects in our garden and flower beds. I have overcome the squash bugs (Anasa tristis) this year, but the vines rotted before I got much fruit. I only found a few bugs on my squash, but I finally located squash vine borer moths (Melittia cucurbitae) on my sunflowers. The vine borers lay their eggs on the underside of leaves and when the larva hatches, they bore into the vines and can cause them to rot. That seems to be the clear case for my squash (genus, Cucurbita), but it did not account for the pitting I saw on the red amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus) leaves in the bed. I have been checking the plants daily for any moths and the underside of the leaves for eggs, capturing the moths (if possible) and scrapping the eggs off the leaves. If the leaves have already been discolored, I am cutting them from the plant. My close early morning inspections proved fruitful today as I spied another beetle on one of my sunflower leaves. When I checked it was identified as a pigweed flea beetle.

When I went online, I found the pigweed flea beetle (Disonycha glabrata) is a species of striped flea beetle in the family Chrysomelidae. This small, striped leaf beetle is known for skeletonizing plants in the Amaranth family (like it did mine). Plants in the amaranth family may be called pigweeds because they were/are used to feed pigs. The flea beetle is active in gardens and fields during the summer, chewing tiny round holes and laying eggs on the leaves. The larvae spend their first 13.5 days in the soil before crawling out as adults. The Pigweed Flea Beetle has a red and black head. The red, shield-like part on an insect’s body (pronotum) has a black dot in the center, or may have three black dots, depending on the individual. The black wing coverings (elytra) have four yellow lines on them, with the two on the left connecting at the bottom as do the two on the right. Antennae are black, and legs are red and black. Other members of the same genus have a similar appearance, but the width, color, and number of the lines on the elytra differ between them.

The pigweed flea beetle is active from late spring through autumn and is not considered a significant pest in a backyard garden. That is unless you are trying to grow red amaranths. It is best to use a multi-step approach to control and manage infestation. Start by placing fine Floating Row Covers over young plants immediately after planting to block access. Once plants are established, spray them with organic Spinosad or Neem Oil. These sprays must be applied in the early morning or evening and directly contact the beetles to be effective. While Neem Oil is considered organic, spraying in the evening eliminates possible contact with the pollinators who would also be harmed by the oils. Flea beetles are highly attracted to plants like radishes or hemp and planting these near your valuable crops creates sacrificial targets that can be easily treated or vacuumed. Flea beetles locate food by smell and interplanting strongly scented herbs like mint (Family, Lamiaceae), basil (Ocimum basilicum), or catnip (Nepeta cataria) can confuse the pests. This would also make our neighborhood cats happy. Tilling the soil in the fall and removing garden debris helps destroy overwintering adults and larvae hidden in the topsoil.

THOUGHTS: Finding the pigweed flea beetle solved another riddle from my garden. Last year it was the pock marked squash leaves (squash beetle), and this year it was the rotted vines (squash vine borer) and skeletonized amaranth (flea beetle). I have found knowing the cause does not resolve the problem. You also need to take appropriate (and specific) action. This is where listening to science and experts can be invaluable. Otherwise, you risk wasting time and money, and sometimes your integrity. 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.

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.

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.