What is believed to be the state’s first cases of a debilitating hoof disease has been detected in two Roosevelt elk in Del Norte County, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. “Treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD) – commonly referred to as “elk hoof disease” – can cause deformed, overgrown and otherwise damaged hooves. […]
Science
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Early Spring Pollinators
Spring is on the way. I saw my first trillium bloom of the year, and the daffodils and stone fruit trees are in full bloom. The last few sunny days have brought forth pollinators. I think it’s kind of a chicken-and-egg problem. The flowers get pollinated by bugs. If the flowers aren’t open the insects […]
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HumBug: Bugs in the City
A quick trip to San Francisco a few weeks ago, when that was still possible yielded familiar creatures. At a rest area we saw at least three California tortoise shell butterflies frolicking in the sun. There were western box elder bugs on one of the picnic tables. They suck juices from box elders, maples and […]
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Up in the Sky: A ‘Super’ Moon with Something to Crow About
There’s a celestial show going on up in the sky through this week as a full moon with a bunch of fancy names makes an appearance. According to NASA, this is a “Supermoon” — a full moon that occurs when the moon is closest to the Earth. As the first one in March and the […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Saps, Jumpers and Stingers
Lacquering a dowel, I found half a dozen tiny beetles waiting for the chance to entomb themselves in the artificial amber. These are sap beetles. They are usually minute like this one, and different members of the family (nitidulidae) feed on various things including rotten fruit. Some years ago my strawberry patch was infested with […]
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HumBug: Strategy
I had to remind myself it’s still winter as I watched a mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) and two smaller orange butterflies flutter by, too high and fast to get a photo of. The orange specimens were most likely rustic anglewings but there are several other locally common species which overwinter as adults, emerging on warm […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Winter Insects
Walking along the road, I saw my first two milkmaids (Cardamine californica), the daffodil bulbs my friend gave me last fall, are starting to put up leaves and the pussy willows are budding out. They are all welcome reminders, spring is still in our future. Despite the coolness of the day, there were quite a […]
Posted inLife + Outdoors
HumBug: Three for a Rainy Day
With rainy cold days suppressing entomological activity it put my assertion that there’s always, ALWAYS something interesting to find outdoors to the test. So, camera in hand, I went looking. The weather forecast said it would snow down to 1,000 feet elevation, so it was indeed cold out and there was very little activity above […]
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HumBug: The Current Mass Extinction
There have been five major mass extinction events in the fossil record. Some folks claim the human race is causing the sixth right now. Dumping massive amounts of greenhouse gasses, saturating the world with never before seen chemicals and introducing all manner of non-native species willy nilly are touted as the major causes. I have a […]
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HumBug: Even Parasites have Nightmares
Some experts assert that the most common lifestyle in nature is that of parasitism. (Read Rachel Nuwer’s interview with ecologist Kevin Lafferty “Parasitism is the Most Popular Lifestyle on Earth” for more on this.) The world of arthropods is no exception. I’ve mentioned before that mankind’s deadliest opponent in nature is the synergistic combination of mosquitoes […]
Posted inNews
NWS is Looking for Snow Reports
The county of Humboldt is reminding travelers that there’s snow up in the mountains, including 4 inches of new snow on Titlow Hill Road — which is open to the towers — and 2 inches of new snow on Bald Hills Road. Drivers are being advised to carry chains. Meanwhile, the Eureka office of the […]
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10 Years Later: The Earthquake of 2010 (With Video)
Ten years ago, at 4:27 p.m., the earth let loose a magnitude-6.5 earthquake — with much of the force directed at the city of Eureka — with a powerful ferocity that shook the ground and people’s nerves. Thousands in Humboldt County lost power after the temblor hit and nearly 500 structures, including the historic Old Town Bar […]