If you’re like me and live in a place where mosquito swarms are a regular part of life outside, you’ve probably wondered while being eaten alive - how the heck did people deal with mosquitoes back in the day? I was curious to find out which traditional insect repellant strategies are most effective and also which methods are easy to apply in modern times. In general early humans dealt with … [Read more...] about How Did Early Humans Deal With Mosquitoes? (7 natural ways to become insect-proof!)
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Robin Nesting Habits: How to Find Nests & 5 Nest Behaviors To Observe
Sometimes the most commonly seen birds are also the best teachers of bird behavior. This is why American Robins are truly one of my favorite birds to watch during the spring nesting season. Pretty much every home in North America with a lawn & some nearby trees will have robins nesting within view. It’s amazing how much we can learn from observing such a common bird that so often gets … [Read more...] about Robin Nesting Habits: How to Find Nests & 5 Nest Behaviors To Observe
How To Learn The Plant Growth Stages: Photo examples with annual, perennial & biennial growth stages
One of the most useful things I ever learned about plants is how to observe the stages of plant growth. All plants follow the same basic patterns of growth on their way to maturity and this gives us a better way to identify and understand those plants more deeply. The simplest way to describe plant growth is with 4 stages: Germination is when the seed first becomes active and starts the … [Read more...] about How To Learn The Plant Growth Stages: Photo examples with annual, perennial & biennial growth stages
Raccoon Scat: How To Identify & Find Latrines + Possible Dangers To Know
Raccoons are fun animals to track and one of the most useful skills I ever learned to help me do that is finding and identifying raccoon scat. Raccoon scat is fairly common but it’s also commonly misidentified because it has similar characteristics to the droppings of other animals. Many people don’t know how to tell raccoon scat from dog, coyote, fox or even otter scat.There are also some … [Read more...] about Raccoon Scat: How To Identify & Find Latrines + Possible Dangers To Know
How To Approach Birds Without Scaring Them (tips & body language to build trust with birds…)
One of my favorite things in nature is getting up close and personal to birds in the wild. Most birds are incredibly shy about being approached, but with the right techniques, it’s possible to earn their trust and have some truly amazing close encounters! If you want to get closer to birds, the most important thing is moving slowly enough that you don’t make them nervous. Birds will … [Read more...] about How To Approach Birds Without Scaring Them (tips & body language to build trust with birds…)
How To Understand Nature (What is nature? 6 ways to SEE it for yourself)
Einstein said, “Look deeply into nature and you will understand everything better.” But what does this really mean? And how is it done on a practical level? Like many people who care about the earth, I’ve often wondered about the role that nature might play in my personal journey to find meaning & satisfaction in life. Throughout history, humans have lived closely to nature, yet … [Read more...] about How To Understand Nature (What is nature? 6 ways to SEE it for yourself)
How To Start Learning About Plants (Plant basics & steps for ID)
When I first started learning about plants, I loved the idea of foraging for wild foods while helping to appreciate and understand nature on a much deeper level. But as you may have noticed, plants can also be incredibly intimidating! In fact, it’s perfectly normal for every new plant lover to occasionally experience that mixture of awe & confusion when faced with the great wall of … [Read more...] about How To Start Learning About Plants (Plant basics & steps for ID)
Why Do Crows Attack Owls? (Chasing & Mobbing Behaviors)
Have you ever noticed when you hear a group of crows cawing & making an awful racket in the woods, there’s often an owl at the center of those mobbing birds? It’s a pretty amazing thing to see! In fact, if you know to listen for these crow mobbing calls, it’s one of the easiest ways to find owls in the woods. But it also brings up the question of why crows attack them so … [Read more...] about Why Do Crows Attack Owls? (Chasing & Mobbing Behaviors)
How To Tell If Animal Tracks Are Fresh (in sand, mud & snow)
One of the big challenges whenever we find tracks outside is knowing just how long ago that animal was here. If your goal is to eventually find the animal, it really helps to know whether a trail was freshly made or if you’re still quite far behind. Luckily there is a bit of a science behind aging tracks. If you know what to look for you can gain a practical accuracy at knowing which tracks … [Read more...] about How To Tell If Animal Tracks Are Fresh (in sand, mud & snow)
Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs? (Squirrels As Predators)
One year during the spring nesting season, I noticed a sparrow making soft alarm calls and following a squirrel around the forest. Of course, I became instantly fascinated as to why this was happening, and it got me wondering whether squirrels ever steal and eat bird eggs. As it turns out, squirrels do eat bird eggs when they have the opportunity. If a squirrel locates an active nest, they … [Read more...] about Do Squirrels Eat Bird Eggs? (Squirrels As Predators)