Category Archives: Animalia

All animals and general biology

Insectageddon means we are buggered

Posted on July 14, 2018 by

It was one of those throw-away remarks that stick in the mind. I was at Middlebury College in June when somebody at dinner said, “Funny, I saw more deer on the journey here than insects splattered on my windshield.” He … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia, Bee-line, Environment, Nature | Tagged , , , , , , ,

Pug Marks in the Snow and Mind

Posted on March 19, 2018 by

Winter still grips the Allegheny Mountains. Rain alternates with snow as the days creep toward the official opening of spring. Snowshoe Mountain has accumulated 159” of snow this winter, which is far below the record although we are not yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia, Nature | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Testicles and Neuticles or Other Jewels

Posted on July 4, 2017 by

For someone who has spent a career in reproductive endocrinology there’s a surprising dearth of stories about gonads in my blog. I am now correcting that impression. This post was prompted by the memory of a visit to our former … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia, Fertility, Health | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Yellowstone Opens the Doors of Perception

Posted on June 16, 2017 by

While I was sauntering through woods I mused how quickly the intensity of first impressions fade to extinction. How the frisson of a new place or a face we want to sustain with its original freshness never burns so brightly … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia, Nature | Tagged , , , , , ,

Fences, Neighbors and Owls

Posted on June 2, 2017 by

A pair of new neighbors moved into our woodlot this spring. We hear them calling on and off during the day while they are resting until they fly off for night work. They repeatedly chatter to each other: “Hoo, hoo, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animalia, Nature | Tagged , | 1 Comment