The Woods

USDA ARS

|

Milkweed (Asclepias spp.) : USDA ARS

Milkweed is a perennial that often bears blossoms and fruit at the same time. The plant may be 0.5-1.0 meters high. Greenish-white flowers are borne in umbrella-like clusters. Leaves may be narrow or broad. Leaves or other above-ground parts of the plant are poisonous. They contain several glucosidic substances called cardenolides that are toxic. Milkweed may cause losses at any time, but it is most dangerous during the active growing season.

Several species of milkweed are poisonous to range animals. Labriform milkweed (Asclepias labriformis) is the most toxic. Other species in order of toxicity include western whorled milkweed (A.subverticillata), woollypod milkweed (A. eriocarpa), and Mexican whorled milkweed (A. fascicularis).

Milkweed poisoning occurs frequently in sheep and cattle and occasionally in horses. Most livestock losses are a result of hungry animals being concentrated around milkweed-infested corrals, bed grounds, and driveways. Poisoning also may occur if animals are fed hay containing large amounts of milkweed.

Milkweed

|

Toxic Weed: Milkweed

The primary toxic principle, galitoxin, is of the resinoid class. Galitoxin is found in all vegetative parts of the plant. In addition, a group of toxicants known as cardenolides may be responsible for digitalis-like signs that cause or contribute to death. In general, it appears that the broad-leaved species produce cardiotoxic and GI effects while the narrow-leaved species are more commonly neurotoxic. Dosages of whorled milkweed as low as 0.1 % - 0.5% of the animal's body weight may cause toxicosis and, possibly, death. Cattle, sheep and horses are most susceptible. Toxicity is not lost when the plant is dried. Therefore, contaminated hay is potentially toxic.

Young skunks are on the move this summer β€” Furbearer Conservation

|

Of Pools and Private Wells: Young skunks are on the move this summer β€” Furbearer Conservation

Striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are common urban fixtures in New England. Its not uncommon for these black sqand white balls of odorous fluff to be observed hunting around trash cans, dumpsters, apartment complexes, inner city alleyways and other human-inhabited areas in search of an easy meal.

When not taking full advantage of the byproducts created by humanity, skunks can commonly be seen foraging along suburban lawns and outer edges of rural sectors of the Northeast in search of grubs, worms, and other insects.

Bald eagle attacks EGLE drone, sends it into Lake Michigan

|

Bald eagle attacks EGLE drone, sends it into Lake Michigan

Nature and mankind clashed as a bald eagle waged an attack on an EGLE drone 162 feet above the waters of Lake Michigan.

NatureοΏ½won the battle, andοΏ½the drone now rests on the bottom of the lake.

The skirmish took place last month. The pilot of the ill-fated drone was Hunter King of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). On the day of the EGLE drone’s swan song, King was mapping shoreline erosion.οΏ½He had completed seven minutes of the flight when he began having reception problems. King pressed the button to recall the drone

Feral! 😸

|

Feral! 😸

The more weeks I’ve spent in the wilderness and doing remote work, the harder I think it’s going to be to return to the old routines of riding the bus and working in the big ol office building downtown.

I’ve gotten farther and farther away from shaving each day or even bothering with clean clothes as the Zoom Meetings have kind of petered out (as nobody likes staring into other faces on web cams), my skin darker and hair grayer and more shaggy after days out in the sun.

As they say, nobody cares if you are a dog over the internet. If the reports get written, the emails and phone calls promptly returned, you really don’t have to wear deodorant and change every day. You can allow a little peach fuzz to grow on your face.

Maybe in 2021 things will return to normal. I’ll go back to riding the bus downtown each day, wearing the suit and tie, seeing the same old people at bus stop. And this summer will be a crazy memory. But who knows!