Spice of Life: Slugs and Snails

If you’re a mollusc, you’re a part of a very large phylum of creatures, including squids, clams and octopuses. And if you’re a slug or a snail, and you cruise around on your belly and leave a trail, then you’re a gastropod too–gastropod is Greek for “stomach foot”. And since …

Spice of Life: Nuts About Squirrels

In Louisiana, the mention of a squirrel would elicit conversations about how this rodent should be cooked. I personally prefer to adore ’em–not eat ’em. Today, we can learn about the fox squirrel. Recipes can be found elsewhere. 😉 This creature’s bushy, red tail tells us why it might be …

Spice of Life: The Rough with the Smooth

You, I and this snake know that most folks don’t take too kindly to the “no shoulders”. Ever since that incident in the garden of Eden way back when … Anyway, I’ve grown much fonder of snakes since I have proven by practice that they are not out to get …

Spice of Life: “Reed-Jumper of Louisiana”

Spice of Life: “Reed-Jumper of Louisiana” They do seem to be the busiest birds in the forest–always flittin’ and hoppin’ and tellin’ you like it is. Find out more about the little brown, plucky bird with a pert tail living in your neck of the woods.

Spice of Life: A Tail of Two Turkeys

Have you ever seen mushrooms like this growing on a log? They are pretty to look at and they provide a residence for a variety of tiny insects, mollusks and arachnids. If you wanted to find out what kind of fungi they are, you’d have to “flip” it, like a …

Spice of Life: Fun with Ferns

Everybody reacts to stress differently. And there are different kinds of stressors. If you’re a plant, stress might come in the form of drought. This plant’s reaction to drought stress, is to dry up. It’s not a simple process. It’s cellular and molecular. It is so complex and cool that …

Spice of Life: The Bug Club

Before, when the roly-polies rolled along and said, “hey, you know, we’re not actually bugs”, that got me thinking. What else isn’t a true bug? I thought that if it was flying around me, crawling on me, or extracting my blood, it must be a bug. They’ve always been ‘bugs’ …

Spice of Life: The Lowly Roly-Poly

Today’s Eye is looking at the roly-poly. Maw Maw and I decided that we know the following things about them: they roll up when you touch them, you just have to look in the dirt to find them and they never have “got on” anybody before. Here’s what I learned …

Spice of Life: Rascal-Distraction

The Raccoon (Procyon lotor) is today’s furry visitor to Wild Open Eye’s blog. Raccoons are a commonly seen creature in Louisiana, near the water, in the woods, in subdivisions. One time we were lucky enough to see one swimming and then it crawled straight up a tall tree. Today, the …

Agkistrodon piscivorus: 20 Cottonmouths in 2020

Many things about 2020 have been difficult. As you know. One thing that was not difficult was finding Cottonmouths on our walks in the woods. Each picture above is of a different individual. All but the bottom right one posed without moving. It’s tucking its head away in the log. …

Oaks of Ouachita Parish

I’ve always wanted to learn how to identify oak trees. I was amazed to see that we have more than 20 species here in our parish in Louisiana! Most of them are red oaks, the rest white. So much to learn! I’ve made some flash cards to help me get …

Spice of Life: Wings and Things and Love is in the Air

Creature Feature: Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Latin name: Coccyzus americanus Nicknames: storm crow or rain crow (they often call before rain) Favorite food: caterpillars, especially tent caterpillars (webworms…?) Habitat: deciduous trees

Kelby Ouchley Awarded Caroline Dormon Prize as Top Louisiana Naturalist in 2020!

By Charles Paxton. Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 3 pm there was a COVID-19-friendly award ceremony held to celebrate the awesome contribution that Louisiana Master Naturalist, Kelby Ouchley has made, and is still making, as a naturalist in Louisiana. The 2020 Caroline Dormon award ceremony was organized by Dr. Bette …

Quest for Ailanthus: The Elm with Fingers and Wings

On my adventure through the yard today, I was looking for the host plant for yesterday’s Atteva aurea. I found a winged elm, (Ulmus alata) with chewed leaves. Could this be evidence of a. aurea? A couple of squirrels were squablin’ or romancin’ (I’m not sure which) in the back …

Ailanthus Webworm Moth

Today’s new species that we’ve discovered is not a beetle like I thought, but a moth like Charles suggested. It is an ermine moth, and most of the species in this family are white or pale gray, giving them the name ermine. Unlike most ermine moths, this moth is diurnal, …

Ouachita Green’s Keeping America Clean!

Our Louisiana Master Naturalist Northeast group first quarterly presentation was made by our member Stuart Hodnett of Ouachita Green, he’s a ‘ can-do’ guy and what he can do is making a massive difference to the quality of the local environment. He gave a PowerPoint presentation on his Non-Profit Organization Ouachita Green, explaining its mission, what they have accomplished in the area recently and inviting all to participate through volunteer activities.

Earth School Is So Cool!

TED-Ed, UNEP, and 30 other collaborators launch a free educational platform “Earth School” for environmental adventures available to teachers, parents, students, and curious global citizens

Our Earth’s Future: Learn About Climate Change Online

Here’s a free online course from the American Museum of Natural History about Our Earth’s Future. See link at https://www.coursera.org/lecture/earth-climate-change/welcome-to-our-earths-future-6U7uT.

1st Q Mtg: The Ivory-Bill!

Originally posted on Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast:
Is the ivory-billed woodpecker gone forever? Matt Courtman says, “No!” The Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast first quarter 2020 meeting is scheduled Sunday, Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. in the Black Bayou Lake NWR Education Center. As always we begin with a…

Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week

Celebrating National Wildlife Refuge Week! Thank God for the U.S. National Wildlife Refuges, say I! They are as much a refuge to me as they are to the wildlife, I think. My life is so much richer for them. Hats off to the founders, the designers, the rangers and managers. God bless them and the wildlife and habitat that they protect. Here’s what I have enjoyed recently!

Celebrate Fall!

Originally posted on Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast:
Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast will have its biggest presence ever at Fall Celebration this coming Saturday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. This is our third year to be at Friends of Black Bayou’s annual event. But this year, instead…

Celebrate Autumn on Saturday, October 12th, at Black Bayou Lake NWR, Monroe.

Friends of Black Bayou once again invite the public to enjoy a day of celebration at Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday, October 12, 9 am-2 pm, beginning with a guided nature walk at 8:30 am.

Butterfly Blast at Allen Acres

If you or your kids like butterflies, moths and other native Louisiana wildlife, then you may want to attend the Allen Acres Butterfly Blast 2019! The Butterfly Blast lasts for two days from Sept. 27th to 29th , 2019 Louisiana Master Naturalist, Botany Professor and entomologist Dr. Allen says “All …

Sharks Attacked! Overview of Major Global Shark Traders, Catchers and Species.

The release of An overview of major shark traders catchers and species by TRAFFIC reveals the extent and trends in reported trade in sharks and rays. This follows the successful listing of Longfin and Shortfin Mako Sharks in CITES1 Appendix II at the 18th Conference of the Parties held in Geneva last month.

Event Calendar Louisiana Nature

I’m pleased to share this information about forthcoming environmental education events that I received recently: Sept 7  Cajun Prairie Society meeting, Eunice, Ecosystems & Restoration Ecology Workshop, with Dr. Joydeep Bhattacharjee hosted by LMNNe Sept. 14, 8:30 – 14:30 Contact September 21 Haynesville Butterfly Festival.  For more info about LMNNe see …

Skin and Bones Unresolved— New Analysis Highlights Persistent Tiger Trafficking: Over 2 Per Week Seized!

With just 3,900 wild tigers (Panthera tigris) left, a new analysis was released today by TRAFFIC highlighting persistent tiger trafficking as especially serious, over two per week have been seized since the turn of the century

Environmental Workshops: Restoration Ecology and Fungi

Originally posted on Louisiana Master Naturalists – Northeast:
Ecosystems & Restoration Ecology, Sept. 14, 8:30 – 2:30 Dr. Joydeep introduces us to our field work in Kiroli Park at our August 2018 workshop. Once again, Dr. Joydeep Battacharjee of ULM will lead this workshop. We will begin in Kiroli Park,…

Destination Kisatchie National Forest—Louisiana Master Naturalists’ Northeast Plants Workshop 2019 a Great Success!

Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast Plants Workshop 2019, Georgetown Louisiana

“We Need To Nurture Nature And Work With It.” World Celebrates Global Biodiversity Day, May 22, 2019

Today the world celebrates Global Biodiversity Day and I do so in a mood of calm resolve to do what I can to help. Global Biodiversity Day 2019 is themed on “Our Biodiversity, Our Food, Our Health”. I’ve just watched Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator speak candidly on video about how …

Wildlife Smugglers Jailed, Chelonian Turtle Identification Guide produced, Kids Call For Bears Release, Education For Nature Vietnam Report

Rhino Horn Smugglers Get Jail Time. Turtle Guide To Help Law Enforcement Updated. 94000 School Children Call For Bears To Be Released To Sanctuary! Progress In Schools and Legislation. An informal progress report from Education For Nature Vietnam

Rendezvous on Lake Ponchartrain — Louisiana Master Naturalists Gathering 2019

Here’s my account of my adventure in the south recently. I greatly enjoyed the 2019 Louisiana Master Naturalists Rendezvous event. This year it was held at Fontainebleu State Park on the north shore of Louisiana’s massive and biodiverse Lake Pontchartrain.  I rode south with our Louisiana Master Naturalists Northeast group …