This week, we bring two new schools into the program! Students report seeing many reptiles heading to their overwintering locations, as well as skunks, owls, and three raccoons fighting in a trash can. The classes are also keeping an eye on the plants, fungi, and weather: I learned that "inky-cap" and "shaggy mane" often refer to the same species of mushroom in the genus Coprinus !

Welcome, Waubun School Forest Program and Holy Rosary School!

After a loquacious week last week (23 minutes- a 2022 record!), John reigned it in a bit this week (12 minutes). My carpal tunnel thanks him, but my never-ending thirst for biology facts does not! He covers which trees and shrubs still have their leaves, how to record ' last sightings' of the season, and how to mark asparagus plants for easy foraging in the spring. Plus, tree identification tips and clues to identify non-native species!

Listen to John's report!

Can YOU breathe through your butt? If not, it's a good thing you won't be spending your winter at the bottom of a pond. There are many adaptations necessary to live 7 months in cold, anaerobic conditions: this video is a great introduction! I've spent inordinate amounts of time studying, trapping, and fruitlessly chasing our native turtles, and I still learned something new. This video has everything: turtles swimming around under ice, full-body muscle cramps, and cloacal respiration!

Snapping turtle? More like CHILL-idra serpentina!

Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina). Ojibwe: Mikinaak