ZQWanders

Half-feral creature haunting your local ecosystem

[zqwanders]

[byjove]

There were a lot of freshwater mussels on the 2021 US extinction list. They didn’t leave us with haunting recordings of them calling out for a mate they’d never meet, there were no drawings in vivid color. They were extremely important nevertheless and their loss is frustrating too. That’s why stream ecology and mollusks have always fascinated me. They were silent, stalwart little heroes and entire species were lost to pollution.

[byjove]

Yeah, I am bothered by extinct animals. Even this guy. They can’t all be thylacines.

[mossworm]

There are so many extinct mussels in just the southeast USA that the Center for Biological Diversity made a poster. It's outdated by at least 13 mussels that I know of but probably more by now. All of them mattered in unique ways we can no longer appreciate.

[zqwanders]

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[zqwanders]

Garden Life

CW: bugs: insects and arachnids, and some eggs

[vizsladyke]

I wish I could blaze a post telling people to test their smoke alarms but I have literally no money so if y’all could help me spread this the old fashioned way

Test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors

[zqwanders]

Especially if you're going to be lighting your fireplace or wood burning stove!

[zqwanders]

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe (makes about 24)

Ingredients

2 cups pumpkin puree

1 cup melted butter or vegetable oil

1 ½ cup brown sugar

½ cup water

4 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

3 ½ cups flour

4 to 6 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (depending on how strong you want the flavour. I usually just eyeball it)

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon baking powder

Directions

Combine pumpkin puree, butter or oil, brown sugar, water, eggs, and vanilla extract in large bowl

In a separate bowl, combine flour, white sugar, pumpkin spice, salt, baking soda, and baking powder.

Carefully pour into the pumpkin mixture and stir until just incorporated (try not to overmix!)

Spoon batter into greased muffin tin, filling each cup about ¾ full.

Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 to 30 minutes. 

[asmeesh]

Trailcam Buck

Going through our trailcam captures and this one is still a winner

[irascibubble]

Hello I would like to know what's going on about 6 seconds in, please and thank you

[asmeesh]

Nothing to worry about @irascibubble Nothing to worry about at all.

[zqwanders]

Genuinely no need to worry! It's just a reflection of the deer's antlers. This is is common in trail cams, especially at night. :)