Digging deep into the formation of igneous rocks
Myrtle’s Turtle and the Beehive are two of the most spectacular rock exposures in the Selkirk Mountains. They are the Half Domes of the Selkirk…
Tag: Outdoor Column
Rocks in the Selkirks not all the same
From the giant rock faces of Myrtle’s Turtle and the Beehive to the rocky shorelines of Trout Lake, one can’t help but notice the rock…
What’s the difference between a bug and a beetle?
Often I find myself referring to any insect as a bug unless I know specifically what it is, such as a dragonfly, butterfly or praying…
Pronghorn fastest land mammal in North America
Capable of bursts of speed greater than 60 miles per hour and sustained speeds of 45 mph, the pronghorn gracefully speeds across the American Plains…
The never-ending aspen
One of my favorite sounds is the rustling of aspen leaves in the wind. While most leaves are attached to branches with round stems, quaking…
Garter snakes most common snake in Idaho
Unlike southern Idaho, far north Idaho is thankfully devoid of poisonous snakes. Snakes living in the forested region of far north Idaho are harmless to…
Slug’s life revolves around mucous
Silvery tracks cross the deck and occasionally the concrete walkway in the morning. During the driest days of summer the silvery tracks were absent but…
Dragonflies most successful predator in animal kingdom
Dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs are often considered “nice” insects with their pretty colors and seemingly harmlessness. However, dragonflies are far from harmless—they are the most…
Waxwings flock to fruit year-round
By mid-summer most birds have finished nesting and the young have fledged, but one bird is a late nester compared to the rest–the waxwing. The…
Grass is under our feet and in our cupboards
What do barley, corn and fescue all have in common? They are all grasses. From the green grass in yards to fields of oats to…
How do animals beat the heat?
On sweltering 90-plus degree days we can retreat to basements or air conditioned buildings but how do animals beat the heat? Often animals gain relief…
A hummingbird? An insect? What is it?
What hovers like a hummingbird, flies like a hummingbird but has antennae? A hummingbird moth. Aptly named, hummingbird moths can easily be mistaken for hummingbirds…
Rocks in the Selkirks not all the same
From the giant rock faces of Myrtle’s Turtle and the Beehive to the rocky shorelines of Trout Lake, one can’t help but notice the rock…
What’s the difference between a bug and a beetle?
Often I find myself referring to any insect as a bug unless I know specifically what it is, such as a dragonfly, butterfly or praying…
Pronghorn fastest land mammal in North America
Capable of bursts of speed greater than 60 miles per hour and sustained speeds of 45 mph, the pronghorn gracefully speeds across the American Plains…
The never-ending aspen
One of my favorite sounds is the rustling of aspen leaves in the wind. While most leaves are attached to branches with round stems, quaking…
Garter snakes most common snake in Idaho
Unlike southern Idaho, far north Idaho is thankfully devoid of poisonous snakes. Snakes living in the forested region of far north Idaho are harmless to…
Slug’s life revolves around mucous
Silvery tracks cross the deck and occasionally the concrete walkway in the morning. During the driest days of summer the silvery tracks were absent but…
Dragonflies most successful predator in animal kingdom
Dragonflies, butterflies and ladybugs are often considered “nice” insects with their pretty colors and seemingly harmlessness. However, dragonflies are far from harmless—they are the most…
Waxwings flock to fruit year-round
By mid-summer most birds have finished nesting and the young have fledged, but one bird is a late nester compared to the rest–the waxwing. The…
Grass is under our feet and in our cupboards
What do barley, corn and fescue all have in common? They are all grasses. From the green grass in yards to fields of oats to…
How do animals beat the heat?
On sweltering 90-plus degree days we can retreat to basements or air conditioned buildings but how do animals beat the heat? Often animals gain relief…
A hummingbird? An insect? What is it?
What hovers like a hummingbird, flies like a hummingbird but has antennae? A hummingbird moth. Aptly named, hummingbird moths can easily be mistaken for hummingbirds…