The Ladies of Santa’s Team

 

 Despite what the holiday TV specials; like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, lead us to believe, the reindeer that pull Santa’s sleigh are female. You see, reindeer are members of the Cervidae or deer family which also includes: deer, moose and elk. Like the other members of the family the male reindeer grow antlers; but, unlike the rest of the Cervids so do the female reindeer. Since they are antlers, not horns, that means that they are shed and re-grown each year. Male reindeer shed their antlers in November at the end of the breeding season, while the females will keep their antlers through winter until early spring. So, since Santa flies at the end of December, Santa’s reindeer team must be female.

Rangifer tarandus is the scientific name for reindeer or caribou. Some people will use the names interchangeably, while others will say that the animals found in Alaska, Canada and Greenland are caribou, and those that live in northern Asia and Europe are reindeer. And then there are another group of people that say that the name reindeer refers to the domesticated (raised or tended by humans or Santa’s elves) herds of northern Scandinavia and Russia and that caribou are the wild animals in North America. Whatever name you want to use is fine, but what you need to know is that these are some pretty cool animals, that are designed to live in some pretty harsh environments.

Let’s start with a general overall description, since once again if you watch the holiday specials on TV, they will have you believe that reindeer are thin variations based on the more familiar white-tailed deer. Reindeer are rather stout animals with long legs. They have dense chocolate brown fur with a white neck and flank (that’s the last part of the animal to leave the roof).  The fur grows in two layers. A curly, dense under layer for warmth and the hollow guard hairs that help trap warm air near the body. The hollow hairs also float and this helps give the large animals buoyancy when they have to swim, which they do very well. The hair is such an efficient insulator that snow landing on the reindeer’s back will not melt. This efficiency can actually cause them to overheat, even in sub-zero temperatures.   

The males tend to be larger (and with 14 sub-species the range in sizes is huge) averaging between three and five feet in height, 5.9 to 6.8 feet in length and weighing from 140 to 530 pounds. The male antlers are also larger and can reach up to 55 inches in length and may have as many as 44 points. 

Caribou have feet that are designed for life on the tundra. They have four “toes” that can spread wide and work like snowshoes by spreading the weight out over the snow. Being able to spread the toes also helps them to paddle when the animal needs to swim. The caribou is one of the few hoofed animals that have hooves that are covered with hair, even on the bottom. The hair between the toes not only provides traction it also helps to prevent snow from building up between the toes. During the summer, when the ground in the tundra can be soggy and slippery the foot pads will swell and the foot becomes spongey, giving caribou traction on the slick terrain. As winter approaches the foot pad shrinks, exposing the sharp edges of the hoof. These sharp edges help cut into the icy ground giving them a more secure footing. The shrinking of the foot pad also forms a hollow on the bottom of the foot that they can use like a scoop to dig through the snow to get to the lichens.

Reindeer are one of the few large animals that can metabolize and actually survive on lichens. During the warmer months the animals feed on mosses, ferns, mushrooms and other tundra plants, but during the colder winter months, lichens are what is available. Reindeer can eat between 8 and 15 pounds of lichens a day, but since lichen have no proteins the reindeer will still lose weight.

Rudolph may have the only known nose that actually glows red, but reindeer have some serious cold weather noses. They are the only member of the Cervidae family that has hair completely covering the nose. That seems to come in very handy when pushing snow aside to get to the lichens. Reindeer also have increased number of blood vessels in the nose that helps to circulate warm blood through the nose and heat up the arctic air that they are breathing in.  

Living in habitat that has such extreme differences in day length and available light, the caribou or reindeer have eyes that change with the season. The tapetum is a reflective membrane (which is what causes “eye shine” in many animals) located behind the iris that changes from golden in the summer to blue in the winter. When the tapetum changes color it reflects different wavelengths of light. In the summer when there is 24 hours of light the golden color pushes most of the light back out of the eye. In the never-ending darkness of winter, the dark blue scatters the light inside the eye where it has a better chance of being absorbed by the light sensitive cells within the eye. Reindeer or caribou are also one of the few large mammals that have ultraviolet (UV) vision. This ability helps the animals as their snow/ ice covered habitat reflects UV light, while predators, urine and lichen all absorb UV light and would strongly stand out against the reflective ground. 

Caribou are social animals living in herds from ten individuals to fifty-thousand, during migration these herds can join other herds to form what is known as a super-herd that can reach numbers of 500,000 animals.

Not all caribou migrate, but those that do can travel some pretty impressive distances. They are considered to have the longest migration of any land mammal traveling up to 3000 miles in a year. Please note that this is not a straight line measurement but includes all travel in a given year; the distance to and from summer to wintering grounds and the wandering they do enroute.

Whether you will be looking for Santa’s reindeer or not, I think most people would agree caribou (or reindeer) are pretty awesome critters.

Best Camouflaged Bird in the Woods - Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

Ruffed Grouse 
image by Ruth Forsgren

 by Ruth Forsgren 

Ruffed (not ruffled) Grouse belong to the order Galliformes, which refers to most of the chicken-like birds and includes birds like; chickens, turkeys, quail, grouse, pheasants, etc. When I moved to this part of Wisconsin I was confused by people saying that they were going partridge hunting in the woods. I grew up with Hungarian Partridge and these birds are not forest birds. They could usually be found in the fencerows around farm fields. The other naturalist explained to me that it was one of those local common names that are mistakenly used sometimes.  Ruffed Grouse are one of ten species of grouse found in North America and have the most widespread range. Ruffed Grouse stand about 17 inches in height and look like small chickens roaming about in the woods. Unlike other gallinaceous birds that form coveys (a group of birds that live together), Ruffed Grouse tend to be solitary birds.

Ruffed Grouse on forest floor 
image by Ruth Forsgren

Ruffed Grouse have two predominate color phases, grey or reddish-brown. Studies show that grouse that live in harsher winter climates tend to the grey color phase, while those found where winters are milder are more often the reddish color. Males have dark feathers around the neck that stand up during courtship or mating displays. The dark feathers are called the ruff and are what give the bird its name. Both males and females have feathers on the head that form a crest when raised, males also show a dark color band near the end of the tail feathers. Ruffed grouse have excellent camouflage for their life on the forest floor. They are known for their habit of sitting still and often will not flush (fly up) until almost stepped on. These birds have given the proverbial heart attack to this author and many other woods people.

 

WI DNR Image

Ruffed Grouse are well known for their drumming.   The male Ruffed Grouse will drum from a log or   stone that is raised about eight to twelve inches off   the forest floor. This stage is known as a drumming   log. The birds do not physically beat on anything to   produce the noise, rather they rotate their curved   wings back and forth causing air to rush beneath the   wings and form a vacuum that causes the deep   thumping sound. People often describe the   drumming is something they almost feel more than   hear as the sound waves travel out. The sound can   be heard up to one quarter of a mile away when conditions are favorable. The drumming is mostly heard in spring and is an announcement to other males of territory ownership and it is also a way to impress and attract the ladies.  

The habitat they need  is early to mid-successional, dense, mixed hardwood and coniferous forest. They nest on the ground, relying on camouflage to keep them hidden from predators. The average clutch size is eleven eggs. The chicks are born precocial, which means that they are able to move within hours of hatching and can feed themselves within a day. The Ruffed Grouse population is cyclic, or follows predictable rises and declines in population numbers. In northern areas the cycle is tied to the snowshoe hare cycle, as snowshoe hare numbers increase the predator numbers increase. Given the choice, the predators seem to opt for the hares leaving the grouse numbers to increase. But when hare populations decline the high predator population shifts to hunting the smaller prey like the Ruffed Grouse. The smaller prey animals lead to a decline in predators which allows the snowshoe hare populations to rise and start the cycle over again.

Ruffed Grouse have several adaptations that allow them to survive harsh winters far into northern Canada. The first is that Ruffed Grouse have extra tube like areas in the intestines that help the bird digest cellulose. The grouse can also digest bitter and toxic plants that other birds cannot. This means that Ruffed Grouse can remain in an area during the winter months when acorns, seeds and fruits are not available. The preferred winter food are the buds of the aspen family. They also feed on the catkins and twigs of these trees.

As winter approaches the Ruffed Grouse grow additional feathers to cover the tarsus (the part of the bird’s foot that goes between the “knee” and the toes). The toes themselves develop pectinations. These are extensions of the foot scales and the growth resembles a comb.

Grouse foot with pectinations
image by Ruth Forsgren

The pectinations are believed to act like snowshoes in deep snow, spreading the weight out to keep the bird from sinking. It is thought that they also aid the bird in gripping icy branches when feeding.  

If snow depths reach eight inches or more of fluffy snow, Ruffed Grouse are able to snow roost. They dive head first into the snowbank and burrow into the snow.  Some snow roosts have been recorded at depths of eight to ten feet. The snow is an excellent insulator and there can be a thirty-degree difference between the roost and outside air temperature. If snow depths to conditions do not allow for snow roosting they will seek shelter from wind and cold temperatures in conifer trees.

Ruffed Grouse are a favorite bird among hunters, in fact it is one of the first managed game birds in North America. In 1708 New York state created a non-open season on the birds to help insure their continued presence in the state.  Wisconsin used the Ruffed Grouse as bartering tool, in 1976 the WI Dept. of Natural Resources traded with Missouri.  We gave them Ruffed Grouse and they gave us Wild Turkeys to help us re-establish them in the state after an almost 100-year absence. 

So when you are exploring wooded areas be on the lookout for these little woodland chickens. In spring listen for the deep telltale thumping sound of a drumming male. And watch where you step, don’t let them startle you!  

WI DNR image - Paul Carson

Featured Creature: Getting Batty!

  Here at Beaver Creek Reserve, we got a little batty and celebrated Bat Week the last week of October. Our naturalist, Megan Giefer created a fun YouTube video explaining some myths and truths surrounding these mysterious creatures. In this post we can dive even deeper and touch on some more fun facts about these little guys.

Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus)

    Bats are very diverse mammals in shape and size. An impressive 1,400+ species are found word wide. Furthermore, bats reside on just about every part of the planet, aside from extreme deserts and polar regions. In Wisconsin, we can observe eight different species alone! This includes the little brown bat, big brown bat, northern myotis or eastern long ear, silver haired bat, red bat, hoary bat, eastern pipistrelle, and the Indiana bat (endangered).

The little brown bat is the most common Myotis species found the in the northern U.S. This species can typically be found roosting with big brown bats in buildings and trees during the summer. For winter, the little brown bat hibernates in the nearest cave or abandoned mine. These are the kinds typically found in homes near rivers, lakes and marshes. The big brown bat is very similar in many ways. This species ranges in color from pale brown to dark brown with a black wing membrane. The northern myotis appears to be closely related to the little brown bat as well, though with duller and less glossy hair in appearance. Both species of bats feast on insects.

    In contrast, other species such as the silver haired bat have black or dark brown hair and silver frosted dorsal fur. It tends to reside in wooded areas and migrates south in the winter to hibernate in rock crevices and tree hollows. Furthermore, the red bat with reddish tinted fur tends to be found in tree foliage in the summer, also migrating south in colder months. They are more of a solitary species with a preferred diet of moths. In addition, the hoary bat is one of the largest in the U.S. and most widely found. Their fur appears dark yellow, tipped with white. It also tends to roost in tree foliage and eats moths. These creatures may migrate to far subtropical areas when the weather starts to cool. Lastly, the northern pipstrelle is the smallest bat found in the area, measuring around 3 or less inches, with a wingspan around 7 inches. These bats tend to live in wooded areas and emerge earlier than most.

 bat vs. human bone anatomy

 Something interesting to note is that bats are the only mammals that can fly. The anatomy of their wings closely resembles that of a human arm, including bones such as the humerus, radius, ulna, metacarpals, carpals, and phalanges. While small, bats are quick little creatures. Their speed depends on the species, but they are able to reach up to 100 mph. The membrane that extends between each of their phalanges is what makes them the excellent fliers they are.

    Bats tend to have a bad reputation, but what most people aren't aware of is how much they do for us humans. Interestingly, some bats are pollinators and around 300 species of fruits rely on them. Additionally, bats also help out with pesky insects. These creatures consume thousands of insects each night, more than their own body weight! This is especially helpful to farmers and foresters, keeping away some of those unwanted pests. It's estimated that bats contribute around $22 billion in pest control each year. Without bats, our natural environments would be compromised. Biodiversity is important and other webs of life are affected when bats are in danger. You may not enjoy having them in your home, but having them around provides many benefits that are hard to deny.

Bat with White Nose Syndrome

 In order to keep them around, there are a measures that can be taken. While bats don't really carry disease, they are still susceptible to it. Specifically, bats have been found to suffer from something called White-Nose Syndrome. WNS is a fungus that contributes to a high mortality rate in hibernating bats. Some effects of this syndrome include lower body weight, dehydration, and damaged wings. The fungus is found on the muzzle and wings of bats. It's estimated that 6 million bats have died from the fungus since it was discovered in 2006. To do your part and limit the spread, it's best to stay away from caves where bats are hibernating. When traveling into caves its best to ensure that your clothing, shoes and gear are clean and disinfected. The fungus can cling onto these surfaces and spread, causing great harm. Other measures that can be taken to help out  is to build a bat garden or install a bat house. You can find out more information on how to build a bat house on the Wisconsin DNR website.

    Bats are cool creatures that we tend to take for granted! They are incredible and diverse in their characteristics. There is not much to be fearful of when it comes to the bat. They are harmless creatures, and as noted, more helpful than not.

Winterberry

 

Winterberry 
photo by Ruth Forsgren

by Ruth Forsgren, Naturalist Beaver Creek Reserve

Now that the leaves have dropped maybe you have noticed, especially in wet areas these bushes that are loaded with bright red berries all clustered along the stem. This is a native shrub known as Common Winterberry (Ilex verticillata).

Holly
 (image from Flikr)

Winterberry is a member of the holly family; but, unlike its cousins it does not have the leaves with spiny tips around the margin, nor does it retain its leaves throughout the winter.  Winterberry shrubs range from five to fifteen feet in height and are more common in wetter, acidic soils. So, in Wisconsin this means that you are more likely to find Winterberry in the northern and western parts of the state. The native range covers most of the eastern part of North America.

The winterberry is what is known as a dioecious. The word dioecious comes from the Greek word for two households. In the case of winterberry, it refers to two different types of plants being needed for fruit production. The male plant produces small, white pollen producing flowers. These flowers are known as staminate flowers. The female plants produce non-pollen producing pistillate flowers. The female flowers need to be pollenated with pollen from the male plants to produce fruit. The plants are primarily pollinated by native bees.

Frost on Winterberry 
photo by Ruth Forsgren

Winterberry is the host plant for Henry’s Elfin butterfly. Throughout their range, the bright red fruits are known to be used as a food source by small mammals and 48 species of birds including American Robins, Cedar Waxwings and various woodpeckers.  Although the berries are a good food source for the birds the bush itself does not seem to make good browse for deer and rabbits. While the berries are a food source for wildlife they are poisonous to humans.

photo by Ruth Forsgren

 

The fruits, while so very attractive on the bush, do not dry well. The branches and berries can be kept in a live cut-flower arrangement for several days. Think you might like winterberry in your yard? You can purchase various Winterberry cultivars at local nurseries. Remember you have to buy both a male and female plant. Because flowering times of cultivars can vary be sure to buy the right male counterpart to your female plant. People at the nursery should be able to help with this. 

     

Why We Don't Buy or Sell Monarchs

By Jim Schwiebert, BCR Naturalist

Beaver Creek neither buys or sells monarch butterflies or caterpillars to the public for a number of reasons.

Photo by Ruth Forsgren.

Butterflies purchased on-line are generally from butterfly farms where mass rearing of monarchs takes place in one facility.  Most of these farms are in the southern states. This can lead to several potential problems.  Mass production, and crowding, makes it easy to transmit diseases especially among larvae.  These diseases are often passed on to the adults - if they live that long.  We don't want to spread diseases from a captive population in the southern U.S. to the wild monarchs that live around here.  We could be introducing strains of pathogens to areas where they would not naturally occur.

Butterflies raised in captivity do not experience the wide range of environmental conditions (temperature, moisture, light intensity, day length, food sources, density, absence of predators, etc.) making them less fit to survive in the wild.  We don't want to introduce inferior genetics into a  population that depends on genetic vigor for survival.

Beaver Creek's entire mission is to educate people about nature. We are not a commercial operation dedicated to raising and selling butterfly eggs, larvae, or adults for profit. All of our butterflies (eggs through adult) are wild collected.  We raise or collect them to populate our Butterfly House, for the sole purpose of educating the public about the wonderful world of butterflies.

So, we encourage you to collect your own eggs or caterpillars.  Raise them, enjoy them for a time, learn about their life cycles, and release them back into the wild.  It's a fantastic and captivating journey shared across generations.  We are always happy to offer help and advice!  Good luck and enjoy your time with the truly fascinating creatures we call butterflies!

Photo by Ruth Forsgren.

The Nature of Virtual Summer Camps

“Why isn’t Beaver Creek Reserve having summer camps this year?”

We’ve been getting this question a lot, well before WEAU aired an interview about local summer camps moving online.  Believe us, we wanted our camps to be able to run as usual.  Connecting people with nature is much, much easier if you’re able to get said people out in nature. 

So why couldn’t our camps be held in-person?

First, the Eau Claire Area School District is our major partner in offering summer camps.  We have a contract with them in which they pay the costs for their students to attend specific camps.  These camps make up most of our camp revenue in the summer.  With ECASD deciding that summer school and camps would be held in a virtual format, it made sense to follow their lead and offer all our camps virtually.

Second, we start planning for summer camps in the late fall.  That means that when camps were canceled in May, we had to react rather quickly.  At the time, we had to base our decision on how to run camps, according to the prevailing COVID-19 restrictions, as well as state and county orders.  Even with the loosened restrictions, running camps at our normal capacity would be extremely challenging. 

Nature Nuts campers, ages 5-6 on a
bird-watching hike in 2019.

As our naturalist explained, while we were talking through options for camps, if she were to run a camp with ten kids, and take them on a nature hike, under social distancing regulations, that would have made the last hiker inline 60 feet away from the leader.  Unless our naturalists used megaphones the last kids in line wouldn’t be able to hear anything.  This would require volunteers to help relay information and quite literally keep kids on the right track. Not to mention how wildlife in the area might react to the megaphone noise. 

Additionally, our Discovery Room is often used for camp instruction and activity and as a back up for inclement weather. At present, The Scheels Discovery Room is still closed.  Bleach and other harsher chemicals that kill the coronavirus are not safe for the animals, furs, taxidermy, or displays in the Nature Center.  We would not have been able to use the room for instruction or as a rain back up. Being inside presents its own challenges. At the time we had to make decisions for camps, we could not even count on inside areas as an option for camp use. These are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it came to logistical challenges that COVID-19 created in trying to operate in-person summer camps.

Earlier we mentioned volunteers, people we rely heavily on at Beaver Creek Reserve.  In the average

It takes a lot of volunteers to run each of our camps.

year, volunteers give enough hours to fill 2.5 positions at BCR!  Many, not all, of our volunteers, are in the high-risk age range.  This continues to be a concern for us as we work to complete projects at Beaver Creek. For this reason, our Butterfly House will be unstaffed for the first time in 14 years.  Additionally, we will not be utilizing our caterpillar lab, instead, volunteers will be raising Monarchs for us at home.

At the time we were working on our new camps, quarantine restrictions were already being lifted.  But this begged the question, what if a full quarantine was re-established?  There were just so many unknowns. For all these reasons and more, we realized that the safest way to hold our camps this year was online. 

Despite the changes and challenges, we are really proud of the fun line-up of camp offerings for the summer.  Several camps in partnership with the ECASD and those open to students of any district are now on our website and registration is open.  We are finalizing a few more camps with fun themes including photography, owls, fireflies, butterflies, geocaching, and more!  Camp fees for ECASD students are paid, but a materials fee still applies and is required.  For non-ECASD sponsored camps, materials are included in the registration fee.

For the preschool and early childhood age, we suggest you check out our partnered camps through Lily Pad Lab.  They are holding a series of online “Tiny Scientist” Camps. 

Thank you for your understanding and support as we navigate these unusual times.  While our naturalists are excited to see you across their screens, they are also counting the days until they can see their campers in-person!

Missing our in-person camps and programs?  Check out our YouTube Channel and our program calendar for virtual camps and programs.  

Wisconsin Has Lizards?!!

by Ruth Forsgren

Northern Prairie Skink (image by A.B. Sheldon - WDNR) 

Many times when I am talking to groups about reptiles, people are surprised that Wisconsin has lizards that make their homes here. Generally speaking, most lizards prefer warmer, drier habitats than other reptiles. But there are four species that can be found in Wisconsin. Now compared to hot, dry Arizona with at least 45 species it doesn’t seem like much; but, also consider that Phoenix, Arizona has an average yearly temperature of about 74°F and Wisconsin’s yearly average temperature is about 47°F.

There are over 4600 species of lizards in the world and they come in all sizes; ranging from the smallest, the Dwarf Gecko measuring in at .6 inches to the massive Komodo Dragon that can reach ten feet long and weigh over 200 pounds. Characteristics shared by most lizards include: smooth, dry skin, moveable eyelids, external ear openings and if they have toes then they have claws. (Salamanders, who are amphibians and are often mistaken for lizards, do not have nails on their toes.)

Photo from WDNR - By A.B. Sheldon

Many lizards have a cool trick to escape predators called autotomy. This means that they can lose part of their body. And, in the case of lizards it is their tail. If grabbed by the tail the lizard can break off

part of the tail, this piece has special muscles that allow it to wiggle and twitch after it comes off of the body. Hopefully this wiggling piece of tail distracts the predator long enough that the lizard can escape. Most lizards can regrow the tail but it is never as long or useful as the original one. Scientists have been busy studying how this works in hopes of unlocking the key to tissue regrowth.

The four species of lizards that call Wisconsin home have some traits in common. All of them require habitats with sandy soils that allow them to make burrows for homes, escape routes and hibernation. They have the shortest active season of any of Wisconsin’s Herptiles (group name that includes amphibians and reptiles). Typically, they are dormant for seven to eight months of the year becoming active in very late April or early May and many leaving the scene in early September. Our lizards are mostly insectivores, which

 

Six-lined Racerunner hatchling
(from WDNR by A.B. sheldon)

means they eat insect-like things, for example crickets, beetles, spiders and slugs. All four species of lizards are oviparous, meaning that they lay eggs outside of the mother’s body. The three species with legs all are born with blue tails. So let’s learn a bit more about each species.

Five-lined Skink (image from WDNR by A.B. Sheldon) 

Common Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus), like almost all skinks have shiny, smooth scales covering the body. Adults average five to eight inches in length and that includes the tail. The juveniles and young females usually have black bodies with five yellow stripes. In all ages the middle dorsal (back or upper-side) stripe continues onto the head where it branches making a “Y”.  As females age the background color fades from black to brown, the stripes become more tannish and the tail becomes a more muted blue/gray color. Adult males are a tan or olive color with the stripes continuing to fade as they age. Adults males have no blue in their tail and this is used as a signal to breeding males to chase away other skinks that lack blue tail color. During breeding season, the males head will become a reddish-orange color. Their habitats include oak/pine barrens, edges of dry hardwood forests or grassy openings in these woods. They tend to search out damp microhabitats, like rotting logs and stumps. The five-lined skink can also climb into lower branches of trees to hunt their prey. I personally think it would be cool to find a lizard up a tree during one of my nature hikes.

 Prairie Skink
(image from WDNR by A.B. Sheldon) 

The second of our skinks is the Prairie Skink (Plestiodon septentrionalis). Prairie Skinks are a species of special concern in WI. They are found in just a few counties in the NW part of the state; however, they become more common as you move westward into the Great Plains. Prairie Skinks are found in areas with sandy soil in bracken grasslands or pine barrens. They are also found in open sandy banks along rivers and streams. They create burrow systems for quick escape from predators like hawks, owls, raccoons and snakes. The dorsal side of Prairie Skinks have three tan or light brown stripes separated by two narrow black lines, while the sides have three dark lines separated by two narrow white stripes. During the breeding season males have bright orange chins, lips and throats.

Six-lined Racerunner
(from WDNR by Heather Kaarakka)

Our third lizard is Wisconsin’s representative member of the whiptail lizards, the Six-lined Racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineatus). They are also a species of special concern in the state. The   The racerunners have earned their name being fast runners clocked at 18 m.p.h.

racerunner measures about 9.5 inches including the tail, has a pointed snout and a long slender tail. They have six narrow, pale yellow to greenish-yellow stripes that run from the head to base of the tail. They have fine scales on the body and are not shiny like a skink. Their heads have enlarged plate-like scales that are brown to greenish-blue. They are found in dry and bluff prairie habitats with sandy or loose soil and scattered vegetation.

Slender Glass Lizard
(image from WDNR by A.B. Sheldon) 

Our last lizard, the Slender Glass Lizard (Ophisaurus attenuatus), is listed as endangered in WI. Although glass lizards do not have legs they are still lizards not snakes; they have moveable eyelids, external ear openings and the body is more rigid than a snake. Slender Glass Lizards can reach 30 inches in length and about 2/3 of that is tail. The color can vary from tan, to buff or even bronze with dark stripes on the top and sides. Slender Glass Lizards live in oak savannas, sand prairies and old fields with loose sandy soils that allow them to force their way into and create burrows for overwintering. They can be found in south central to some of the western counties in the state.

So while Wisconsin may not have a lot of lizards it is still really cool that we have habitats that will support these four! 

Prairie Skink 

Slender Glass Lizard 

Six-lined Racerunner 

Five-lined Skink

Beaver Creek Reserve Hates Dogs??? The Answer May Shock You

Let’s make one thing clear: at Beaver Creek we love dogs. Many of our staff have dogs of

their own, and we all appreciate a good pup. However, we do not love when dogs are at Beaver Creek Reserve, because it’s against our rules. It’s been a rule we’ve had for a very long time, and we will not be allowing dogs at our trails any time soon. With the Coronavirus quarantine, we’ve had a steady stream of people using our trails, which you’re welcome to do! Some of these visitors though are bringing their dogs along, which we don’t want to see. Here are a few reasons why we don’t allow dogs on the trails at Beaver Creek:

• They disturb the natural environment. Maybe you’re saying to yourself “Well that’s not my dog. Floofy is a model of good behavior” Just because you don’t see rabbits and birds running away from you and your dog in terror does not mean that you are not disturbing nature. Regardless of whether your dog is the local menace to squirrels everywhere, they are having an impact. Even if they never catch that squirrel, chasing it up a tree still forces it to expend energy fleeing for its life, an expense that may allow other predators to catch them later on. Dogs are also leaving behind scents and scat. Both of these things can affect wildlife behavior. If your dog likes to munch on plants, or drink water from a puddle, they’re also directly competing with wildlife by taking away resources that those animals need to survive. Dogs may also be a vector for diseases that could be devastating to wild animals.
  
  
• Bringing your dog into the natural environment is a risk to them and you. Your dog can be exposed to ticks and poison ivy in the woods and pass those on to you. Even on a leash, they’re more likely to be digging their faces in the bushes than you are. Lyme’s disease is a real threat to be concerned about when you spend time in the woods, and in the Midwest, there are a variety of tick-borne illnesses that don’t even have names. And if you’ve never had poison ivy, we promise you that’s not something you want to try even just once.
  
  
• Not everybody likes dogs! Some people may be hiking the trails at Beaver Creek to listen to the birds and get away from the sound of barking dogs. Especially when we explicitly DO NOT ALLOW DOGS on our trails. When you visit Beaver Creek Reserve and enjoy our land and our facilities, we ask that you be respectful of other people’s experiences while here and follow our rules.

There are many places in Eau Claire County that offer hiking trails and allow your dogs to be there on a leash. Consider taking a hike at a County Park like Lowe’s Creek, Coon Forks, or Harstead. Or look towards the multiple dog parks in the city of Eau Claire! Many state parks allow dogs on leashes as well. We thank you for your understanding and respect for our rules.

Summertime’s Natural Nightlights

By Ruth Forsgren

On warm, humid summer nights, if you are in the right habitat with little to no artificial light, you may see the flashing and blinking of the fireflies (AKA lightening bugs). One thing to keep in mind is that these little glowing insects are neither flies nor true bugs (AKA Hemiptera), but are instead beetles.  There are over 2,000 species of fireflies in the world and about 150 species in North America. Interestingly though, not all adult fireflies are bioluminescent (produce their own light).  

The bioluminescence of the adults occurs in a dedicated light organ located under the abdomen. The color of the flash depends upon the species of firefly with yellow, green or orange being the most common colors. The light comes from a chemical reaction. The light is known as a cool light because there is no heat by-product as there is in most forms of light production. The fireflies have dedicated cells that absorb oxygen, which is then mixed with a chemical called luciferin. When this combination takes place in the presence of the enzyme (or trigger) luciferase, light is produced.  It is considered one of the most efficient lights in the world, as almost 100% of the energy used in the reaction is emitted as light. For comparison, in an incandescent light bulb 10 % of the energy produces light while the other 90% of energy is lost as heat. Now while not all adult fireflies produce light, it is believed that all firefly species produce light in their larval stage. Many species even have eggs that glow.

Firefly larvae feeding on a slug

Firefly larvae are carnivorous (meat eating). They live underground and feed on worms, snails and slugs. The way they eat is similar to some spiders, they inject numbing fluid and digestive acids into   Some species of fireflies will live as larvae for two years and like many insects will only live a few weeks as adults.
the prey and then suck out the resulting soup. As adults, many fireflies do not eat, or feed on nectar and pollen with one notable exception (you’ll have to wait for it).

The fireflies that we see flying are the males, they are looking for a mate. The females are sitting in the grasses or up on plants and shrubs. 

Female fireflies flash from the ground. 

But finding the little ladies in the dark can be tough so the males flash, if the female likes what she sees, she will flash back. So what about the non-light producing species? They, like many insects, use smell and pheromones to find each other. Each species has its own unique flash pattern that both male and females use (with a few exceptions that I will get to in a moment). If you find an area with fireflies, watch carefully you will notice the different patterns and perhaps different colors. You might notice that some species may have a steady flash pattern (- - - - - -), some may have long and short combinations (___---___ ---), some may have a really long flash with a dip there are so many possibilities!

Flash patterns of several firefly species. 

Now back to that exception that I mentioned a couple of times. There is one group of fireflies, known as the photuris where the female will copy the flash pattern of other species to lure them in. It is believed that the chemical that helps the fireflies light up is distasteful or toxic to predators, females pass this toxin down to their eggs, making the eggs and eventually the larvae and adult toxic. The photuris females lack this toxin. So by mimicking the flash pattern of other species she seduces those males to come down by her, where she captures them and eats them. She is then able use their poison to protect her eggs.

Fireflies in the Great Smoky Mountains

In some parts of the world the fireflies synchronize their flashes producing a fantastic light show for observers. It is unclear why the flashes sync-up, some scientists think it might be because of competition, each male is trying to be the first to have his light be seen.  The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one place that the synchronized show takes place. Click here to watch a short National Geographic videos on synchronized fireflies.

In the United States there are three main groups of the fireflies that produce light. The photinus, are small reaching about ½ inch in length and they typically have a yellow-green flash. The pyractomena are also about ½ inch long but often have a warm amber colored light.  And then there are the photuris, who are up to one-inch-long and tend to have greener flashes.

Photuris

Photinus

Pyractomena

Fireflies live in a variety of habitats but like warmer areas that have good moisture: open forest areas, forest edge, savanna and yards with gardens.  These conditions are most conducive for the soft bodied prey that the larvae need. A yard that is primarily turf grass does not provide hiding places for the females and it may be difficult for her to get through the grass to the soil to lay her eggs.

If you go out to look for fireflies be sure to pick a humid, warm night when there isn’t a bright moon in the sky. Turn off all outside lights and get as far from streetlights as you can. If you want to catch a firefly to watch it up-close you will need a glass jar with holes poked into the lid. Put a damp paper towel or damp, unbleached coffee filter in the bottom to keep the humidity level high. After you have observed the firefly for a while be sure to release it before you go to bed for the night.

Scientists believe that firefly numbers are declining. There are several possible reasons why. When there is too much artificial light (street and yard lights) it might be too hard for the fireflies to see each other’s flashes. Habitat loss is another probable problem. Studies from the Smithsonian suggest that if the habitat is destroyed the fireflies will not migrate to a new area they simply perish instead. Of course insecticides will kill the fireflies along with killing the slugs and worms that the larvae need to feed upon.

Want to help the fireflies? You can make sure to turn off all outside lights during firefly season. Plant part of your lawn with native flowers to give them someplace to hide and rest. Minimize use of insecticides, and chemical repellents. You can even join a national citizen science project called Firefly Watch. It only requires 10 minutes per week during the weeks that fireflies are flying. If you want more information on Firefly Watch please click here.  

Species Spotlight: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

Ruby-throated Hummingbird  (image by Rut Forsgren) 

By Ruth Forsgren

Hummingbirds are fascinating little critters. It is amazing how something so small can capture the hearts and imaginations of so many people, birds and non-birders alike. There are about 350 species of hummingbirds in the world and all of them are found only in the Americas. There are eight species that are considered regularly occurring in the United States and only one that nests east of the Mississippi River, the Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

Female Ruby-throated
Hummingbird
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Both males and females have a
green back and head.
(image by Ruth Forsgren)

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are small. They average between 2.5 to 3.5 inches long, they tip the scales at a whopping two to six grams (remember that a U.S. pennies weigh 2.5 grams) and their wingspan ranges from three to four inches. Both males and females have a brilliantly emerald green back and head. They would definitely be welcome in the Emerald City of Oz. Adult males have the bright, shiny fire engine red gorget, or colored feathers on the throat. The feathers of the gorget are iridescent. That means that there isn’t pigment causing the color, 

instead it is caused by the refraction of light off of microscopic structures in the bird’s feathers. When thinking of refraction, think of a prism that splits light into strong component colors. If light is not present or is at the wrong angle the gorget will appear dark. The male can control the feathers to an extent, helping to showcase the brilliant color.

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird with dark gorget.
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird with gorget refracting light.
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds nest throughout the eastern half of North America.  The habitats that they can utilize include open woodlands, forest edge, parks, gardens and backyards. They usually build their nests on top of a branch anywhere from ten to forty feet above the ground. The nest is built of thistle or dandelion down held together with spider silk and then camouflaged with lichens or moss and take from six to ten days to complete.

The mating dance is fun to watch. The male will do what is referred to as a U dance. He will go straight up usually about six to ten feet (but can go as far as 50 feet up) fly straight back down, over and back up in a U shape. If you look carefully the female is typically in the bottom of the U. Once she has shown interest, if she perches he will fly very quickly from side to side directly in front of her in a face to face dance.

Flying backwards off the feeder.
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Hummingbirds are incredibly controlled fliers; they can move their wings differently than other birds. This ability allows them to fly in any direction, forward, backwards, sideways and even upside-down. But one thing they cannot do is walk or hop because their legs are too short. Hummingbirds and swifts were placed in the same taxonomic order; Apodiformes, which means without feet. The only way a hummingbird can scratch or groom its head is by raising the foot up from under the wing.

These tiny flying machines really use up the energy. Their wings move at over 50 beats per second and their heartrate is about 1200 beats per minute or 20 beats per second! They cannot feed at night to refuel their bodies so most hummingbirds spend a lot of their nights in a state known as torpor. Torpor is a form of hibernation. Torpid animals can slow their body processes or metabolism, according to surrounding air temperatures. This allows them to drop their energy consumption down to 5 to 30% of what they normally use when awake and just resting.

The Ruby-throated Hummingbirds usually return to the Chippewa Valley during the first week of May. The advance guard members are seen first but the main thrust of returners seem to show up when the crabapples, wild plum and serviceberry start to bloom.

Hummingbirds at a sugar water feeder.
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Hummingbirds will readily come to nectar feeders. The recipe is simple four-parts water to one-part white cane sugar. Boil the water first, then add the sugar, and stir until dissolved. You can use hot tap water but your mixture will last a little longer if boiled, and for me it is easier to get the sugar to dissolve. DO NOT add red dyes! It is not needed to attract the birds and may actually be harmful to them. Remember that this is a syrup and will get sour in hot weather, so change the mixture every couple days. In the fall leave hummingbird feeders up for about two weeks after your last sighting. Your feeder will not make them stay too long but it might provide the energy needed if there has been an early killing freeze.

So when out in the flower garden keep an eye and ear open for these tiny little flying jewels.

 

Female hummingbird feeding on Salvia
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Female Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have a
white throat and white spots on the outer tail feathers.
(image by Ruth Forsgren) 

Male Ruby-throated Hummingbird (image by Ruth Forsgren)