Speaking as we were of water quality, a new study released Monday by the United States Geological Survey says that rivers across the United States are teeming with gender blended bass. One can’t help but wonder if there might be a link to increased occurances of amphibian deformities, such as two-headed and three-legged frogs?
The USGS press [...]

You don’t have to be a birder to appreciate the beauty of a soaring raptor, and the fall hawk migration is reputed to be a great time to see them, and the various bald-top peaks of the greater Monadnock region are a terrific place to watch. You could do it on your own, of course, or join [...]

(Press release): RICHMOND, Vt.— Mounting evidence that several species of bats have been all but eliminated from the Northeast due to a new disease known as white-nose syndrome prompted a conservation group to send a letter today to Sam Hamilton, the new director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, urging that action on the [...]

(Press release): Dewlap…caruncles…snood…we’re talking turkey!  If you’d like to learn about the natural history, habits and habitats of the Eastern wild turkey, the Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) invites you to join us for our free “Let’s Talk Turkey: Turkey Ecology” presentation on Wednesday, September 16th, at 7:00 PM, at the Milford Town Hall, 1 [...]

“Hiking and Hawks on Mt. Watatic”
 
(Press release): Fall is a beautiful season for hiking in New England, and the views and hawk-watching from the summit of Mt. Watatic in Ashburnham, MA are well worth the climb.  The Nashua River Watershed Association (NRWA) invites the public to join us for a free guided hike up Mt. [...]

Of all the local mountain bike trails, I think Hazeltine is my favorite (although I admit, more often than not, my favorite is whichever trail I am riding at the moment). The area off Austin Road in Amherst has terrific variety, from double-track to single track to where-did-the-trail-go track, loads of fun natural obstacles, and [...]

So we didn’t find any marbled salamanders in Hollis, but at least now I have a clue about what baby salamanders look like, thanks to these pix from NH Fish and Game wildlife biologist Mike Marchand, showing a juvenile and two larval marbled salamanders:

’tis the season when a salamander’s fancy turns to thoughts of species propagation, which means you can spot them wriggling their way to vernal pools. Rocky Pond Road in Hollis is one good area to watch (and DRIVE SLOWLY, please, so you don’t run them over. Check out the state Fish and Game website for [...]

OMG, I am sooo excited.
Seriously. I get to go whitewater rafting in Lowell next month. I will be writing about it for the paper, which means I will be getting paid to do it. Sweet, no?
Plus, it’s just about salamander (mating/migration) season, and Ev and I caught a fun lecture on bobcats last night (hope [...]

Alas, no, just Bobcats in Mass. A mob of bobcats would be such a sight, though, it pleases me to think of it. If you have any interest in these beautiful and elusive cats, here’s your chance to learn more from an expert:

“Bobcats in Massachusetts”
 
Many of us have heard reports of recent sightings of bobcats in [...]