Outdoor Professsor's Tips

  Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on skunks. Skunks are not aggressive animals, but a close encounter with a skunk in the wild usually raises some level of fear in a person's mind.  Usually they will only be aggressive when surprised, cornered or when protecting their young.  The first line of attack for many skunks will be to growl, spit, raise their tails, and stamp the ground. But if you don't heed its message to "get out of town" seriously, the skunk will turn, lift its tail and spray in your direction. Sometimes an overly-enthusiastic pet dog, even in an urban setting, may bring a sampling of this disgusting scent to your backdoor when returning home after a skunk encounter. This powerful sulfuric deterrent against predators is a strong smelling oily liquid produced by the glands under its tail.  They are known to shoot this foul spray as far as #1____________ (How far do you think? I'll give you several quiz questions su

  Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on raccoons. With that white fur around its black mask and a stripe that runs from its forehead to nose, who can't help by smile at the sight of a raccoon—a robber in the woods. The raccoon's toes are as flexible as your hands for it to grab and hold on to food—sometimes washing its meal off in the water—looking like a little person handling the food—only how many toes (or fingers) do they have? (I'll give you several quiz questions such as this one.  Keep track of your answers and find the correct answers at the end of this podcast.) They have outstanding climbing ability being able to forward up trees as fast as they can go backwards. All these things go together to make baby raccoons adorable to the average person and whenever a young one is found alone in the woods, it is sometimes adopted by a human family—"to save it." Things go okay in the human environment until the little guy becomes a big guy

Alligator Gar Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor tip on alligator gar—frequently called the misunderstood big daddy of freshwater fish. I’m not getting in that water! One of those gar might take my arm off! People are often weary of the toothy-snouted fish called the alligator gar. The prehistoric looking fish does have a mouth full of teeth, but there are no publicized cases of a gar attacking a person. Of the seven species of gar, the alligator gar is the largest. These monsters can grow almost to 10 feet in length and reach over 300 pounds. They are an olive green or yellow with a heavily scaled body. Its mouth is filled with teeth and its snout is wide and long like an alligator’s thus giving it its name. It is believed that this species with a prehistoric appearance has remained largely unchanged since the dinosaur—they might even be called living fossils. They have a fierce look, but there are no recorded attacks against people.

  Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor tip on zebra mussels. Non-native zebra mussels were found for the first time about 20 years ago in North America. It is thought they were carried in the ballast tanks of ships from western European ports to Lake St. Clair and the lakes Huron and Erie. Now, a great deal of attention has been on the ballast water of cargo ships to prevent more introductions of this invasive animal into the Great Lakes region. The name “zebra mussel” comes from the striped pattern of their shells. The pattern does vary from very dark to the point of only light stripes on some shells. The mussels can grow to a size of about 50mm but are only 5-10 mm during their first year of age. Zebra mussels have upset the aquatic food chains of many inland lakes in the United States Their voracious filter systems deplete the microscopic organisms that are critical parts in each lake’s ecological food system. This affects the food for

  Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor tip on earthworms. As a kid, I can remember the favorite bait my family used for fishing was night crawlers. They were easy to keep alive in a “bait box” as long as it was in the shade and were easy to put on the hook—much easier than keeping minnows alive and on the hook—and worms always seem to catch as many fish. You may have had the experience of taking a shovel out in the backyard and digging some fresh worms for a fishing trip. Or maybe, you went out after a rain in the evening and gathered what you called “night crawlers” for fishing. While you may think an earthworm is an earthworm, there are about 6000 know species of earthworms. In most cases in the United States you have a species of what’s called a common earthworm and red worms largely used in composting—although these two general categories represent a number of different species. The two general types have

Tarantulas  Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor tip on tarantulas. They are fearsome looking, but they are a novel and adored pet for some people. They also serve as delicacies at the dinner table for people of the Amazon. Tarantulas are the largest spiders and hold a position in folklore across the world. There are about 850 species of tarantulas in the world and more than four dozen species in the United States. In the southwestern US, they live alone in desert basins, mountain foothills and forest slopes. Their nests can be in burrows or crevices sequestered in the ground, in cliff faces and between tree roots. Some produce a buzzing sound by rubbing their jaws or front legs against each other. Tarantulas will attack anything that they can subdue including beetles, grasshoppers, other spiders, lizards or even mice. They kill by using their fangs to inject venom into their victims. They inject a chemical into the prey that dissolves the flesh. During m

Glowing Animal Eyes   Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor tip on why animal eyes glow in the dark. Have you ever caught a deer in the headlights of your car at night and seen a luminescent glow in its eyes? Have you gone along a river or lake at night shining the shoreline with a spotlight and seen a spooky glow of eyes seeming to stare at you through the dense darkness? This phenomenon is caused by a series of special adaptions designed to help animals see in low light. The shine from the eyes is caused by a layer of tissue, Tapetum Lucidum, located behind the retina that reflects light back through the retina giving the receptors a second chance at the rays of light.  This increases the available light providing a kind of night vision for the animal. Also, when a light shines, it reflects a bright glow that can be seen from a distance. When light enters the human eye, it passes through the pupil that regulates how much light strikes the retina at t

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on the history of the domestic cat—and many of the cats that continue to live in our outdoors.  One hundred years ago there were very few cats that lived inside.  There is no universal agreement as to when cats became indoor species living in the homes of people.  We do know that for more than 10,000 years cats have lived outdoors sharing their habitat with wild creatures, and millions of feral cats continue to live outdoors today.  It is an accurate statement to say that cats continue to be prolific inhabitants of the outdoors in many parts of the world. Human civilization and domestic cats co-evolved, but the feral cat population was not created by humans.  Cats are not new to the outdoors and did not originate from lost pets or negligent pet owners.  The have had a place in the natural landscape beginning in early times. Evidence of domesticated cats was found on the Gree

  Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on water hyacinths.  You often see these floating perennial plants in backwater areas or along the edges of rivers or ponds.  They display their light blue to violet flowers on terminal spikes coming out of the plant. The average person often sees these beautiful plants as a pleasant addition to our waterways. Unfortunately, many people find water hyacinths as a destructive invasive species. It is thought that the history of the water hyacinth in the United States dates back to before 1880 in Brazil.  In 1882, the National Cotton Planters Association planned a centennial exposition to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the cotton industry.  New Orleans was chosen for the event and the city was decorated as never before with December 16, 1884 being the opening day of the exposition. The Exposition built Horticultural Hall, the largest greenhouse in the world.  It remained in use

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on living near trees is good for your health.  This importance of interacting with nature and our good health is one of the most important topics I like to discuss.  Much of this article’s discussion is built on Robert Harrington’s articles on “How Living in Nature Proves to Be great for Health.”  It is founded on the concept that living near trees can boost your total wellness. Scientists have discovered that living near trees is good for your health with this topic being found in recent headlines in popular media.  These articles outline various health benefits from living in the middle of trees and other vegetation.  Spending time in nature is rejuvenating and health sustaining.  One study concludes a major benefit is that trees significantly improve the air quality and in turn, fresh air in your lungs. In parts of the United States that has its air quali

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on necrotizing fasciitis—commonly known as the flesh-eating disease.  It is extremely rate, but it is a vicious bacterial infection that causes your body tissue to die destroying skin, muscles, and fat.  It develops when the bacteria enters the body usually through a cut or scrape.  These bacteria multiply releasing toxins that kill tissue and cut off blood flow to the infected area. Symptoms of infection include small, red lumps or bumps on the skin that rapidly spread with sweating chills, fever, and nausea.  Organ failure and shock are often complications. It’s important to treat a victim immediately to prevent death.  Sufferers are usually treated with antibiotics and surgery to remove dead tissue.  Amputation is often necessary if the disease spreads through a limb.  Patients can undergo skin grafts after the infection is cleared up to help the healing process

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor EXTRA tip on poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. I’d like to share with you Alex Reshanov’s article, “Everything you need to know: Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac.” It’s summer and kids will be going off to camp; adults will be hiking or going birdwatching in the woods. There are three often hidden threats in the woods that are devious plants just itching for the chance to ruin your outing. CLICK ON THIS LINK for Alex’s complete article.

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on Why do people watch birds? A birder is defined by the US Fish and Wildlife Service as anyone who takes a trip one mile or more from home for the main purpose of observing birds, or who has closely observed and identified birds around the house.  With that definition the US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates there are 48 million birders in the United States.  It is calculated that birding generates $82 billion in the economy including both direct and indirect expenditures.  This means 671,000 jobs and $28 billion in employment according to the same Fish and Wildlife Service report. So birding is popular, but why do people watch birds? Throughout history, people have been interested in watching birds.  Early civilizations believed the flights  and calls of birds could predict the future.  Even today, it is thought that birds can be indicators of environmental conditions.  The

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  Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on sand. Sand frequently goes with the outdoors and water.  I’ve enjoyed the white sand of the Gulf Coast many times, but some of my most pleasant experiences have been squeaking through the sand while camping on remote river sandbars.  We take sand for granted with it getting in our hair, clothes and food during a picnic at the beach.  But sand can have an interesting history. Sand is granular material composed of fine rock and mineral particles normally defined finer than gravel and more coarse than silt.  The composition of sand is dependent on local rock sources and conditions, but inland or non-tropical sand is normally made of silica, a form of quartz.  The second most common type of sand is calcium carbonate created by millions of years of life forms such as coral and shellfish. Sand particle size ranges in diameter from .0625mm or 1/16 mm to 2mm according to geologi

      Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/    Here's your outdoor tip on snails.   Snails are found in gardens, ponds, and even the sea.  They are related to oysters, clams, and other shellfish in the group called molluscs.  They have unsegmentated bodies protected by a hard shell.  The main difference between a slug and snail is the snail has a shell holding its visceral hump containing its organs.  The shell is attached to the body and proves refuge when it is disturbed.  Snails are gastropods from the Latin gastro for stomach and pod for foot or belly-footed animal.   Snail ancestors are one of the earliest known animals in the world with primitive gastropods living 500 million years ago.  Gastropods rank only behind insects as far as the number of named species.   Snails are most active at night and on cloudy days.  When disturbed, they withdraw back into their shells.  With dry weather, a s

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/ Here's your outdoor tip on cattails. The cattail is one of the most common plants in large marshes and on the edge of ponds. It is called the wetlands supermarket by many people. White, dense, and furry cigar-shaped seed heads sit at the top of very long stalks. There are two common species in the United states—broad-leaved cattail and narrow-leaved cattail. Their flat-blade leaves reach heights from3 to 10 feet. Both can be propagated by rhizomes or seed dispersion. Hybrid and Southern cattail are also other varieties found in the United States. Cattails like shallow, flooded conditions establishing themselves in 1 to1.5 foot of water. Pollinated flowers develop into fluffy seed heads that blow through the air. They spread through their root systems with thick white roots called rhizomes. Large amounts of food are stored in the root system and the dense foliage and debris from the old plants make it difficult for completing plant specie

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on choosing a flashlight. A flashlight can be your best friend not only when you are outdoors at night, but also any time you need to see in a dark space during the day.  In the early days of the dry cell battery, the battery had a very limited amount of power.  To save it from discharging quickly, the “flashlight” was operated intermittently—just long enough to send a quick light out to check the environment.  Improved technologies have made flashlights better than they have ever been, but at the same time the vast selection and prices of portable lights have made the selection process more complex than ever. Prices for flashlights can range from a few dollars to several hundreds of dollars yet they can be the same size.  Brightness, weight, east of control, and power supply are some of the main alternatives for you to consider.  The list of variables is a long one:

Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on Chia seeds. Remember the Chia Pet®--soak a clay animal in water, cover it with a paste of seeds, and almost by magic, you have a green, hairy looking pet in a few days. It was a great gift--at least for the giver. I'm sure many Chia Pets® never left their boxes, but they were also great "regifts."  This topic is a bit different for the Outdoor Professor, but it is a unique twist on the use of a natural seed. The Chia Pet® name was first used on September 8, 1977 and is the registered trademark belonging to Joseph Enterprises, Inc., the originators of the Chia Pet. Name recognition for people of the late 70's and 80's was super for this "pet" and many people still remember the trademarked name today. Over the past few years, chia seeds have become an important supplement for those wishing to boost their energy and vitality. Past civilizations discovered that these seeds provided a high level

    Hello, I'm the OUTDOOR PROFESSOR from DiscoveringTheOutdoors.com/  Here's your outdoor tip on crawfish and their chimneys. Crawfish can be a delicious part of the Southern cuisine.  Particularly crawfish tails are great for catching a variety of fish.  But what about those mud chimneys that you often see in a yard or flat area with high water table—water close to the surface?  Common crawfish burrow during the late summer, spend most of their time in the fall and winter underground in tunnels filled with water, and then move to open water in swamps, ponds and lakes. There are a large number of crawfish varieties.  Most are about 3-4 inches long.  Crawfish are detritivores because they break down organic materials like leaves and consume lots of microbes for protein.  It has been said the crawfish eat everything and everything eats crawfish.  Crawfish are inactive during the day and come out at night to feed.  Crawfish predators include birds,