Critter Tales

Yikes! That’s a BIG spider!

Yikes! That’s a BIG spider!

By Buckmasters Online

Every fall spiders emerge—not only the decorative spiders for Halloween observances, but fascinating, living web-building spiders. But in Georgia, more people are observing a recent arrival to the family of arachnids along their woodland walks and on their back porches—bright yellow-bodied Joro spiders. They are hard to miss. They're hu... READ MORE

Turn your jack-o'-lantern into a wildlife snack-o’-lantern

Turn your jack-o'-lantern into a wildlife snack-o’-lantern

By Buckmasters Online

It’s pumpkin season everywhere. Folks carve them, arrange them, paint them, use them in fall decorations, turn them into pies or roast seeds for snacks. From October through November the colorful orange squash plants are a welcome sight, but weeks later, the question is how to dispose of your pumpkin collection. If the neighbor squirrel fami... READ MORE

Brown Booby makes rare appearance in Missouri Ozarks

Brown Booby makes rare appearance in Missouri Ozarks

By Missouri Department of Conservation

Photo: The first-ever sighting of the tropical seabird, the Brown Booby, was made in the Ozarks along the Current River in Ripley County in southern Missouri. – Photo courtesy of Debbie Prance-Orosz, MDC. Missouri recently made history after a pelagic seabird— a Brown Booby — was seen perched in a tree in the Ozarks. The Departme... READ MORE

Is that a dead snake or . . . ?

Is that a dead snake or . . . ?

By Buckmasters Online

Photo: Is it really dead or is this snake playing possum? – Photo courtesy Douglas Mills. People who study reptiles and some who simply like snakes often become very cheerful when they encounter an Eastern hognose snake on a hiking trail. Why would they be cheerful? If the hognose snake thinks it’s being threatened, it may pretend it's... READ MORE

Uncommonly unique—our friend the barn owl

Uncommonly unique—our friend the barn owl

By Buckmasters Online

Photo: This laughing barn owl just ate a vole. They are rodent-killing machines whose presence is so welcome that farmers and landowners build nesting boxes to encourage them to stay. You will find them on every continent, except Antarctica, which makes them the most widespread land bird in the world. Have you guessed this bird’s identity? ... READ MORE

Observe, DO NOT disturb wildlife babies

Observe, DO NOT disturb wildlife babies

By Buckmasters Online

Photo: If this fawn could speak, it would say “I’m fine. Mom is watching. Leave us alone.” – Photo courtesy Deb Watson. It happens every spring. Instead of taking a photo and moving on, soft-hearted humans are kidnapping wildlife babies. Helpless deer fawns born in April, May and June are hidden by their mothers. Tiny, newl... READ MORE

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.