Remarkable Reptiles!
Elusive “blue-tailed” western skink
A boa constrictor in Idaho!
Garter snakes most common snake in Idaho
Discover nature on a deeper level
Wild edible fruits beginning to ripen
Summer is here and so are the wild fruits beginning with serviceberries and thimbleberries. The blue to purple fruit of the serviceberry ripens on six…
Spit bug most powerful jumping insect
Spit bug, spittlebug, froghopper. They’re all the same insect that produces the globs of spit-like froth on stems of grasses, flowers and shrubs this time…
Sun halos and sun dogs possible year-round
On a hike over Memorial Day weekend I happened to look skyward and see a colorful ring around the sun. The ring didn’t last long…
Identifying orchids in North Idaho
The orchids in North Idaho aren’t as spectacular as tropical orchids but they have their own attractiveness. Some of the orchid flowers are so small…
Bushy-tailed woodrats more commonly known as packrats
After crossing one of the bridges on the Copper Creek Falls trail this spring, I came across a small dead animal that I didn’t recognize.…
Polyphemus moth: One of our largest moths
Fluttering at the base of a bush caught my attention. I thought it was a butterfly but the antennae indicated it was a moth–a moth…
More to ferns than fronds
Thalli. Sporangia. Sori. Pinnae. Frond. As foreign as these words may seem, they refer to a plant we see all the time–ferns. You won’t find…
Swarm of earthquakes one for the history books
When the dishes and windows rattled and the house shook for 10 to 15 seconds my first thought was a major train derailment. But then…
Did you feel the earthquake?
Earthquakes are uncommon in North Idaho so when the windows rattled and the house shook, it took a minute register what happened. I hadn’t felt…
Mink: the semiaquatic weasel
When I see a small mammal swimming in the water, there are only a few choices– at least I thought. One animal had me stumped.…