Nature Walk

an exaltation of my local flora, fauna and fungus (Illinois)

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I am an amateur nature enthusiast and misidentifications may happen. It is not intentional and corrections or suggestions are welcome.

Check out my Maine blog @whitepines

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scaly ink caps on a decaying log - Peoria County, Illinois

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moss phlox - Phlox subulata

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moss phlox - Phlox subulata

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a visit from the non-native but noninvasive Scotophaeus blackwalli mouse spider. this is a European species, not to be confused with the larger more aggressive Australian mouse spiders.

Notice those big spinnerets, those aren't for building webs but for using a strong, gluey web to take down prey. it's sticky enough to take down other, much larger spiders if it so desires.

females like this one are commonly seen indoors in autumn, just another sign that fall is here in the northern hemisphere.

[werebutch]

Deadbeat fathers don’t deserve roadkill deer

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Turkey Vulture, part of nature’s clean-up crew

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Social System

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Juniper in full bloom 🌸🌿

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[antiqueanimals]

Wildlife in North Carolina. February 1965. Illustration by John Taylor.

Internet Archive

[mostlythemarsh]

Pressure

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Under the Sea

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Lepista nuda syn. Clitocybe nuda

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Yellow Warbler Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 6

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Bet the neighbours wont be so pleased when these foxes wander into their homes expecting food

[avoiding-claws]

I adore foxes I really do… but do people know how many parasites foxes have as a norm?? The amount of fleas, as a bare minimum? They give me the jeebies when we have foxes in the hospital for a short stay with the amount of things that jump off them (or that they leave in their wake), let alone having them in your house.

[iheartvmt]

Even worse, in a lot of places foxes are also a rabies vector, so when they show up at someone else's house acting completely unafraid of humans, they're going to get shot and rabies tested :[

[is-the-fox-video-cute]

This is in the UK, which is a rabies-free country. Unfortunately this means people tend to be less cautious about stuff like this, although I've also seen plenty of Americans habituating animals like foxes, coyotes, raccoons and even bears, and letting them into their homes.