#north american red squirrel

[mostlybirdsandphotos]

travelled to visit family and spotted some new birds for the first time (｡^ᴗ^ )

^ pine grosbeaks (female)

a very pretty bird, both in plumage and song! I didn't get any photos I was quite satisfied with for the males, but they are a very pleasant pink colour ( ˙꒳​˙ )

^ bohemian waxwings

very elegant-looking birds! they're most easily distinguished from cedar waxwings by the cinnamon colour of their under-tail coverts—cedar waxwings' are white ( ˙꒳​˙ )

^ north american red squirrel

a very loud and cute squirrel ( ˙꒳​˙ )

[wildlifetracker]

Red fox and red squirrel tracks

[sitting-on-me-bum]

An eastern gray squirrel

‘Beneath the Bird Feeder’ Documents the Spectacular Wildlife Visiting a Wintertime Food Source

During the winter months of late 2020 into early 2021, photographer Carla Rhodes cared for a birdfeeder that hung outside of her home in the Catskills of New York. The suspended food source garnered attention from myriad cold-weather adventurers, including a brilliant northern cardinal, numerous pairs of mourning doves, and furry little field mice, who visited the area amongst the snow and frigid temperatures.

An American red squirrel

A deer mouse

A northern short-tailed shrew

[nhaelm]

American Red Squirrel

Canon 2000d

[amnhnyc]

It’s Groundhog Day! Today, everyone closely watched as these stout members of the squirrel family (unscientifically) predicted an early spring. The Groundhog Diorama in the Museum’s Hall of North American Mammals depicts a groundhog emerging from its burrow to graze on red clover, one of its favorite foods. Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, spend much of their lives underground—their burrows can have passageways stretching 40 feet (12 meters) or more!

See this diorama up close in the Museum’s Hall of North American Mammals. We’re open daily from 10 am-5:30 pm! Plan your visit.

Photo: D. Finnin/© AMNH

[uncharismatic-fauna]

Close Up with Coyotes

Often confused with wolves, foxes, or even stray dogs, the coyote (Canis latrans) is a species of canid found only in Central and North America, from Panama to central Canada. Historically, the coyote mainly occupied grasslands, scrubland, and deserts; however, in the past few centuries the species has expanded its range to include deciduous and evergreen forests, mountains, swamps, and even cities. Generally individuals and groups keep to one home territory, but they will move when resources become lacking.

Among the canines, coyotes are rather small, weighing only 8 to 20 kg (18 to 44 lb), and males tend to be larger than females. Generally coyotes sport a light gray, red, or brownish coat with a lighter underside; however, regional populations may differ wildly. This species may be identified from other canids by its large pointed ears, whitish facial markings, and narrow snout.

Though C. latrans does occasionally form packs, it is more likely to hunt individually or in small family groups. Nonfamily packs, usually made of bachelors, are rare. In addition, coyotes have been known to form mutualistic hunting relationships with other species like badgers. It is primarily carnivorous, hunting mainly at dawn and dusk for rabbits and hares, squirrels, mice, lizards, and occasionally larger targets such as deer or pronghorn. This species will also readily consume carrion, as well as produce and human food waste, making it highly adaptable to urban areas. Traditionally, the species has been limited via both competition and direct predation by wolves and cougars; in its expanded range, coyotes may also be predated upon by bears, alligators, lynx, and golden eagles.

Though reproduction typically takes place in the spring, from January to March, temporary pair bonds may form as early as November. Mates prepare dens, which may be dug out or selected from tree hollows or pre-existing burrows, and establishes a territory up to 19 square km (11 square miles). During this time, daughters from a females previous litter, or her sisters, may join the group. Pregnancy typically lasts just over 60 days, during which time the male and any assisting females do most of the hunting. Litters average 6 pups, and weaning takes about a month. During this time, the male continues to provide for the mother and pups, but will abandon the den if the mother goes missing. By the age of four or five weeks the pups develop a hierarchy through play-fighting. After about 6 months, the male pups will leave, while females will typically stay with their mothers until at least the next mating season, at which time they reach sexual maturity. In the wild, individuals may live as long as 10 years.

Conservation status: Due to its large range and adaptability to human habitats, the C. latrans is considered Least Concern by the IUCN. In urban areas, coyotes are regularly hunted as a nuisance species due to their predation on free-roaming pets and, occasionally, livestock.

In traditional Indigenous American stories, the coyote was seen as a trickster or anti-hero (here is an interesting paper about the 'Coyote' character in traditional stories versus western interpretations). The European colonization of North America and the eradication of large predators like wolves and cougars has allowed coyotes to spread far beyond their original geographic range and become a 'nuisance species' in urban areas.

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Photos

Neil Nurmi

Carlos Porrata

Natrice Miller

Tom Koerner

[asteroidtroglodyte]

A brief overview of:

(North American) Gryphons

• Bald Eagle X Grizzly Bear

• Roadrunner X Coyote

• Crow X Raccoon

• Hummingbird X Pika

• Roadrunner X Hare

• Red Tailed Hawk X Coyote

• (California) Condor X Mountain Lion

• Owl X Fisher (Pékan)

• Duck X Muskrat

• Pigeon X Rat

• Jay X Squirrel

{please note that American Gryphons, unlike their European counterparts, tend to have mammalian forelimbs and torsos, with avian hind limbs, wings, and head}

[aer-in-wanderland]

PSYCHO-PASS: Providence - According to Japanese Twitter

After a long wait (or maybe it just felt long to me), PSYCHO-PASS: Providence finally hits North American theaters this week (14 July 2023), before becoming more widely internationally available in early August.

Unfortunately, as I'm not currently in Japan, I've not yet seen it. Fortunately, I speak Japanese, so I've read pretty much everything I could find about what happens. If you're like me and can't wait to see it in cinemas/don't mind major spoilers, this post is for you.

What follows is a compilation of everything my sister and I know about PPP -- drawing from fan talk on Twitter, director and writer interviews and tweets, and other official promotional materials only available in Japanese -- without actually having seen it.

We also explain some of the major plot points and go into detail on the real-life works referenced in the film, so if you watched it but feel like you could still use some clarification (as many Japanese fans did), this post might be for you too.

Once again, this post is nothing but spoilers (to be taken with several grains of salt as there is a certain amount of guesswork involved), so read on at your own risk.

*Note: "SN" denotes tweets/quotes by director Shiotani Naoyoshi.

We open on a snowy, stormy night, January 2118 (2 months post-SS Case.3).

A team of armed mercenaries board a transport ship off the coast of Kanagawa, Japan and set about killing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) Suppressing Action Department (SAD) agents on board. 

Among them is Kai Mikhaylov, a Russian agent with a large burn scar on the left half of his face.

Kai Mikhaylov (VA: Kase Yasuyuki): A member of the “Peacebreakers.” In order to obtain the Stronskaya Document, he launches an attack on the ship Milcia is on. 

Leading the mercenaries is fellow mercenary Bokamoso Murray, who sports distinctive red dreadlocks.

Bokamoso Murray (VA: Shirokuma Hiroshi): A combatant affiliated with the “Peacebreakers.” He operates in tandem with Kai Mikhaylov; beginning with the assault on the Grootslang, he works to seize the Stronskaya Document. 

For the record, the Grootslang (the ship’s name) is a mythical giant snake rumoured to dwell deep in a cave in the Richtersveld, South Africa. It’s said that anyone who encounters it will meet with misfortune. Well then.

Indoors on the same ship, we find Dr Milicia Stronskaya, who has been invited to Tokyo from Russia to participate in an important political conference. 

Milcia Stronskaya (VA: Tsuda Shōko): A researcher and global authority on behavioural economics and statistics. She establishes the basic theory simulation referred to as the “Stronskaya Document.”

Realising the ship is under attack, she hurriedly sends a communication to someone, apologising under her breath as she does so.

She pulls out a gun just as a helmeted mercenary bursts into the room, and she shoots him dead. You can tell from how she handles it that she’s competent.

Kai charges in next, dodging her shots and pinning her down.

Leaning over her, Kai calls her “professor,” at which she startles. He then says to her, “There’s nowhere left to run.”

Kai shoots Dr Stronskaya, killing her. 

Bokamoso shows up then and says to Kai, “You screwed up, huh, Kai,” and “We’re switching to Plan B.”

Meanwhile, Kogami Shinya, one of our two main protagonists, heads to her rescue.

Kōgami Shinya (VA: Seki Tomokazu): Special Investigator, Suppressing Action Department, Overseas Coordination Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Age 33. He was living a nomadic life abroad acting as a mercenary but was recruited by Frederica and returned to Japan; currently, he’s pursuing international incidents. He prides himself on his advanced combat techniques and honed physique.

Kogami makes an insane jump from an aircraft wearing a wingsuit. (I’ve seen him described alternately as Batman, Captain America, and a flying squirrel here lol)

SN: What colour suits a man who flies... Thinking about it.

Kogami proceeds to fight his way through the enemy soldiers with his typical efficiency.

Unfortunately, he arrives too late to save the professor, and the mercenaries have already absconded with her head. The reason for this is explained later.

On deck, Bokamoso and his team board their aircraft and make their escape.

Kogami, who has followed them out, takes aim at the aircraft but is tackled to the deck by a reanimated SAD agent. The man’s mouth doesn’t move but we hear a voice quoting what appears to be a passage from a religious text.

An explosion goes off and Kogami breaks free of his attacker and escapes the conflagration by jumping into the ocean.

Backlit by the flames and treading water, Kogami — vexed but composed as usual — reports on the situation via his device.

<<Opening Credits>>

OP: 「アレキシサイミアスペア」 (alexithymiaspare) ~ 凛として時雨 (Ling tosite sigure)

We cut to the opening credits, set to Ling tosite sigure’s “Alexthymiaspare.” The group also contributed to the soundtracks for PP1, PP2, and PP: The Movie (M1), so this is one of many ways in which the film “returns to its roots.”

The credits are then followed by a brief shot of the Sibyl System accompanied by the following text: 《"The Sibyl System," a vast surveillance network that assigns numeric values to and governs human beings’ mental states. Detectives who carry "Dominators" — guns that measure "crime coefficients" — pursue "latent criminals" before they commit crimes.》

The next morning, our other main protagonist, Tsunemori Akane, now Chief Inspector of the CID, attends a meeting of senior bureaucrats to discuss the proposed abolishment of the Ministry of Justice and the old system of law.

Tsunemori Akane (VA: Hanazawa Kana): Chief Inspector of the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s Public Safety Bureau. Age 25. She commands the Public Safety Bureau’s Criminal Investigation Department. She possesses an incontrovertible sense of justice and a stalwart mentality that makes it difficult for her Hue to cloud; she makes an appeal for maintaining the law under the Sibyl System.  

The official name of the conference, which is being held at Nona Tower (i.e. the Ministry of Welfare’s HQ), is “Review Meeting on the Topic of the Overseas Expansion of Industry RE: the Sibyl System.”

Shindo Atsushi — father to PP3 protagonist Shindo Arata — is also in attendance, alongside officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Shindō Atsushi (VA: Sugō Takayuki): Director-General of the Statistics Department, Minister’s Secretariat,  Ministry of Health and Welfare. One of the elite who started his career as an Inspector [at the CID] and entered the MHW. He’s involved in the exportation of the Sibyl System, immigration policy, etc.

For the record, this is the same conference that Dr Stronskaya was originally scheduled to attend at Atsushi’s invitation.

Akane is the only woman and by far the youngest person present, but she doesn’t hesitate to say her piece. When it’s her turn to speak, she opens by saying, “‘Under the Sibyl System, the law is unnecessary.’ Is that truly the case?”

Akane is basically the sole voice of dissent, while Atsushi assumes a more neutral position. 

During the meeting, Atsushi receives a text message, which he checks covertly before stashing his device in an inner pocket of his suit jacket.

Moments later, Akane receives a red alert on her device and excuses herself.

Atsushi calls a break in the meeting while Akane steps out to take a call from Mika.

Shimotsuki Mika (VA: Sakura Ayane): Inspector, Division 1, Criminal Investigation Department, Public Safety Bureau, Ministry of Health and Welfare. Age 21. The youngest Inspector ever inducted. At the time, she took a negative stance towards Akane’s way of thinking, but the two have a good working relationship now. She’s competitive but possesses both presence of mind and rational judgement.

Director Shiotani tweeted a quote by Rousseau that I saw someone identify as having been in reference to this scene. It’s not clear to me though whether a character quotes it aloud, or if Shiotani just meant it as an overarching theme:

SN: “Keep this truth ever before you—Ignorance never did any one any harm, error alone is fatal, and we do not lose our way through ignorance but through self-confidence.” by.Rousseau

from Rousseau’s Emile (On Education), Book III

SN: “Real knowledge is knowing the extent of one’s ignorance.”〈matcha emoji〉

from Confucius’ Analects II, Political Philosophy

Keep reading here.

[willtheweaver]

A writer’s guide to forests: From the poles to tropics, part 2

Dearest writers, and all who find this guide, big shout out to you. Now let’s get back into things and move ever closer to the equator.

Temperate rainforest

While most people think of rainforests as being a purely tropical environment, several exist in more seasonal areas of the planet.

Location- Coastal regions. The North American temperate rainforest is a thin belt stretching from California, through British Columbia and up into southern Alaska. In the southern hemisphere, the largest forest is found along the southern stretches of the Andes.

Climate- Temperate to subpolar. Conditions are wet, with moisture coming in the form of rain and sea mist. Seasons are variable, with summers being warm and winters cold and snowy.

Plant life- Conifers dominate these forests, with deciduous trees restricted to lower altitudes. In the north, the primary species are Sitka spruce, Douglas fir, red cedar, western hemlock, and giant redwoods. Southern forests are dominated by Podocarps, Monkey puzzle, and southern beech. High humidity means that moss, lichens and ferns grow amongst tree trunks and the forest floor.

Animal life- Whilst more densely populated than the boreal forests, the amount of wildlife is limited by resinous conifer needles, and the lack of plants on the forest floor in denser areas. Most species are arboreal, with weasels, squirrels, and various birds along up the majority of life. Moist conditions mean that there are many types of amphibians and invertebrates that live on the forest floor. Southern hemisphere forests have become host to many invasive species, such as deer, beavers, rats, and ferrets.

How the forest affects the story- The most obvious challenge for characters will be the changing of the seasons. What do your characters do as the days grow shorter and colder? And let’s not forget that rain and mist are common. Damp conditions are a breeding ground for mold and rot, so people will have to come up with ways of keeping them and their possessions dry.Then comes the vegetation. What kind of culture would develop among the tallest trees in the world? Do they live on the forest floor or up in the trees? The density of the canopy can make farming impractical, unless done in clearings or tree top platforms. If your characters and their society are arboreal, then how do they travel between trees? Bridges? Zip-lines? Or do they take inspiration from nature and glide between trees? Imagine if people on the ground meet those from up above. How would these two cultures be different? Would interactions be peaceful, antagonistic, or do they have no contact (at least until the plot requires it)? Being close to the coast, does the sea have an influence on characters and their culture? How would you explain this to someone not familiar with this environment? And you are not limited to the Earth. Remember, the California forests were the stand-in for the forest moon of Endor from Star Wars.

[rabbitcruiser]

National Squirrel Appreciation Day

With their bushy tails and quick movements, these little creatures are a joy to watch as they scamper through the trees and hunt for nuts.

Squirrels are one of the most common animals that people see on a regular basis. These little creatures with a fluffy tail are practically everywhere–in cities, parks, college campuses and forests. They might live in trees or dig a hole in the ground to serve as a home. Some people might even say that squirrels are nuts for nuts, and can last through the harshest of winters without much trouble at all.

Squirrels have the ability to adapt to their environments quickly, they have a decent memory for some of the best locations for food, and they are super soft and fluffy. National Squirrel Appreciation Day encourages people to learn whatever they can about these creatures and admire them for their resilience in the wild.

History of National Squirrel Appreciation Day

With more than 250 species of squirrels that exist across five continents (excluding Australia and Antarctica), these little creatures are fairly prolific in most of the world. And that’s a great reason to appreciate them!

Squirrels are part of the Sciuridae family, which makes them cousins to a variety of rodents such as chipmunks, groundhogs, prairie dogs and other rodents. The earliest fossils of squirrels date back to the Eocene epoch which was perhaps more than 30 million years ago.

National Squirrel Appreciation Day was founded by wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove, who is affiliated with the North Carolina Nature Center. According to Hargrove, people should consider helping to celebrate these creatures by putting out extra food and learning about the species.

Many rock funky hairstyles, survive rattlesnake bites and are extremely adorable, so appreciate the squirrels today by giving them some nuts to eat!

How to Celebrate National Squirrel Appreciation Day

National Squirrel Appreciation Day is a fun excuse to have a celebration on a random day in January. Share this holiday with friends and express that love for squirrels and try out some of these other ideas with the intention of enjoying the day and honoring squirrels:

Discover Fun Facts About Squirrels

Squirrels are considered by some to be beautiful creatures and, depending on the type of squirrel in question, it’s certainly possible to find out amazing facts about them. Try out some of these interesting facts and tidbits about squirrels to impress friends, family members and coworkers in honor of National Squirrel Appreciation Day:

An arctic squirrel can lower its temperature to below freezing to help survive the longest hibernation, which is over 8 months.

To survive in winter months, squirrels bury nuts and other treasures as a food source to come back to later. If they live in snowy climates, they may have to use their sense of smell to locate their stores, then dig through up to a foot of snow to retrieve the object.

The zig-zag patterns squirrels often run in usually means they are concerned about being chased by a predator. This clever little trick helps them to stay alive and avoid being caught by birds, foxes, cats, badgers and other predators.

Squirrels’ bodies are amazingly agile, which helps them run, climb, jump and more. They can turn their ankles 180 degrees while climbing, and can leap up to ten times the length of their own bodies.

Become More Knowledgeable About Squirrels

One great way to celebrate and appreciate squirrels is by learning more about the kinds of squirrels in each local area. Common squirrels in the United States, such as the American red squirrel, Eastern grey squirrel, and black squirrels all have their own habits and tricks that they do to survive. This is also a great day to take some time to learn about all kinds of other squirrels, even ones that are further away, especially the flying Japanese squirrels which are absolutely adorable.

Learn About Squirrel Eating Habits

It is obvious that squirrels, whether they’re ground, tree, or flying squirrels, all have their unique purpose in the global ecosystem. One way they do this is when squirrels work to bury nuts into the ground, which is a behavior called caching. This work they do not only allows them to save food for the winter months, but it also allows them to assist with fruit and tree renewal, because while some will be able to remember where they buried the nuts, others will not make it back to them.

Squirrels don’t just eat nuts and seeds, though, as their diet is much more diverse than many people think. They also eat many fruits, plants, insects, berries and vegetables. One interesting way squirrels contribute to the ecosystem is through eating mushroom spores. By eating the spores and then excreting them after they’re digested, the fungi help matter to decompose and give plants the nutrition they need to grow. Thus, squirrels help maintain the symbiotic relationship between plants and mushrooms and help spread the growth of plants all over the world.

Have a Squirrely Get-Together

For those who just love any reason to throw a party, this is a unique one! Host a squirrel-themed party in honor of the day. Have guests dress up as squirrels or other rodents, and give friends squirrel-themed gifts. Snacks and treats for the party could include squirrel shaped cookies decorated with icing, or really just about any type of food that is made out of nuts! Decorate with acorns, leaves and squirrels as well as other woodland creatures. It’s likely the guests will have never been to a party quite like this before!

Source

[batmanschmatman]

HBO War Daemon AU Masterlist

Rising from the grave in this fandom to share all my way too many thoughts about war boys (and girls) and their daemons. Daemon AUs are my absolute favorite trope and I’ve spent way too much time bothering my wife with thoughts about what everyone would have and how it would work to fight a war with all these soul critters tagging along for the ride, so here they are! Will add links as I finish write ups.

BAND OF BROTHERS

Dick Winters - Australian Shepherd

Lewis Nixon - Nebelung Cat

Ron Speirs - Peregrine Falcon

Carwood Lipton - North American Beaver

Harry Welsh - European Badger

Eugene Roe - American Pika

Babe Heffron - Raccoon Dog

Joe Liebgott - Marbled Polecat

David Webster - Eurasian Red Squirrel

Herbert Sobel - Mute Swan

Buck Compton - Angora Goat

Bill Guarnere - Ethiopian Wolf

Joe Toye - Dingo

Bull Randleman - St. Bernard

Johnny Martin - Olive Baboon

Don Malarkey - Carrion Crow

Skip Muck - Western Jackdaw

Shifty Powers - Tawny Frogmouth

Frank Perconte - Chihuahua

Chuck Grant - Siberian Husky

Shifty Powers - Tawny Frogmouth

Albert Blithe - Riverine Rabbit

Renee Lemaire - Sand Cat

Robert Sink - Bald Eagle

Norman Dike - Black and White Colobus

THE PACIFIC

Eugene Sledge - Common Genet

Snafu Shelton - Fisher

R.V. Burgin - Basset Hound

Andy Haldane - African Lion

Eddie Jones - Border Collie

Bill Leyden - Blue Jay

Jay De L’Eau - Hare

Elmo Haney - Mountain Goat

Bob Leckie - Raven

Lew “Chuckler” Juergens -

Wilbur “Runner” Conley -

Bill “Hoosier” Smith - Yellow Labrador

Sid Phillips - Crab Eating Fox

John Basilone - German Shepherd

Lena Riggi - Ocelot

I can also do requests or give advice if you’re looking for picks for guys I haven’t gotten to yet or any other characters you might be interested in finding a daemon for! But full disclosure, your best bet for inspiration is always using the analyses at the Daemon Forum as a jumping off point, because those folks are A+ at interpreting animal behavior in fun and reasonable ways. No “owls are very wise, all wolves do best on their own” there!

[i-was-today-years-old-when]

i learned that the North American Gray Squirrel is considered an invasive species in Britain as the squirrels carry a squirrel pox that is deadly for the Red Squirrels native to Britain. The Gray Squirrel also eats seven times as much food as the Red Squirrels, crowding out any who survive the squirrel pox (x)

[pryce0]

A Modern Stranger - Chapter 7

gif by; unknown

word count; 1,371

a/n: HI!! i’m back, but unfortunately this chapter is filled more than anything. i’m desperately trying to crawl myself out of writers block and i needed to write something. i will be trying to write more. im so sorry!!

PREVIOUS: here

NEXT: here

MASTERLIST: here

—————

I’m not so sure what’s making me feel off about Dutch, but I plan on addressing that at a later time. His whole entire being just makes me so damn uneasy. The way his eyes glint, the way the corners of his lips curl up into a smirk.. I can’t stand it.

Anyway, right now Charles and Arthur are leadin’ me into a woodsy area. I was real concerned about bears, but they said we would have to move more up north to find them. I glance between the two men; I first look at Charles. His hair is partially tied back and it reaches his mid-back. He carries a bow on his shoulder with a pack of arrows on his other, as well as a hunting rifle. I glance at Arthur, whose face is partially obscured by his obnoxiously big hat. He also has a hunting rifle. I hum quietly to myself as barely any words are exchanged. What am I even supposed to say in this situation? I’m still processing everything that I’ve been through so far- going through. My boots crunch the leaves scattered across the grass and I look around. I watch little squirrels scatter around, some going up trees or going behind rocks. It’s so odd to watch little creatures that exist in the past and your own present behave the same way. You almost expect them to be different, look different or act different. That’s what happened with certain dog breeds, right? Like with pugs, they were taller and longer, with longer snouts. Their faces weren’t smushed in as if Rapunzel hit them with her fryi-

“[Name]??” Arthur’s gruff voice suddenly pulls me back to reality, the sounds of nature quickly returning which I never even realized left my hearing. I blink and look at him, a nervous laugh escaping my chest. “Sorry,” I murmur. “I left reality for a second.”

“Clearly.” He snorts, although his tone doesn’t hold any anger. “This is a perfect place to hunt deer.” Charles interjects. “Although it’s an important skill to be able to hunt, it’s also important to use every part of the animal. Even if the pelt is poor in quality, you can use it or you can sell it for profit.”

I nod in acknowledgment. Right, it’s a big Native American practice to respect animals. I solemnly think to myself that Charles would be furious at the world if he came to my present.

…Should I be considering this my present instead of my past now? Have I hit that point yet? I can’t help but allow my eyes to linger on Arthur. He almost doesn’t seem real, like I’m in virtual reality or stuck in a really detailed lucid dream. The light howling of the wind and chirping of birds being masked by Charles’ low voice reminds me that this is all real, though. I can see every imperfection on Arthur’s face and neck, I see he's tucking his hair behind his ear but it’s slowly falling out of place. I see the brown strands of hair falling from his hat, how he hasn’t shaved in a bit. How his nose is red from the sun, God, I can even see the lines in his forehead, the small bump on his nose.

He’s real pretty, huh?

“I have some.. herbivore bait here.” Arthur grumbles, opening his satchel and taking out a small tin of bait that’s tied shut with a few pieces of rope, clearly opened before. “You’ll also want some cover scent lotion. Luckily, I already had some in my bag.” Charles remarks as he takes out a small tin. This tin looks like hair pomade tins you’d find at salons. “Ah.. So, we bait the animal and we wear the scent lotion thing so it doesn’t smell us? Got it.” I mutter as Arthur walks ahead of us into a more open area, untying the ropes on the bait tin and opening it. The lid is seemingly damaged. I drag my eyes over to Charles who approaches me, cover lotion in hand. His lips part slightly, hesitancy clear in his stance and his voice when he finally speaks. “I, uh.. Is it alright if I help you out with the lotion? It takes a while to get a hang of the correct areas on yourself.” He asks, pausing between his sentences. I laugh a bit, but honestly it’s to get rid of my nervousness. I don’t know Charles like that, but I don’t think I have much of a choice. “Sure, Charles.” I respond, tilting my head up. “Go ahead.” I glance at Arthur who is behind Charles, shaking the tin to allow a few pieces to fall onto the ground into a situated pile. I nervously glance back at Charles who is biting his lip ever so slightly, his fingers covered in a layer of the lotion. It’s a white substance, but consistency is more like sunscreen lotion. He glances at my eyes in a nervous way before his hands reach my neck, pressing the lotion into the sides of my neck. I freeze for a moment as his hands are large and they’re warm, fingertips callused. I refuse to shiver even though I want to so badly. His touch is so gentle as he rubs the lotion into my neck, making sure to get every inch of skin he has to touch. Charles clears his throat after a good 30 seconds, offering the tin to me. “You can do your wrists yourself, it’s much easier on your wrists than your neck.”

I wordlessly swipe my fingers in the tin and quickly—but thoroughly— rub the lotion into my wrists. I shiver from the blow of wind against my neck. “Thanks, Charles.” I smile softly at the man, hoping to put the man at ease. He looks like he’s about to keel over and die, or somethin’. So tense he could be a statue. He only nods, and he seems just so out of character. Did I make him uncomfortable?

“I got the bait sorted out.” Arthur huffs as he shoves the tin into his satchel. Arthur grabs the tin from Charles and wordlessly applies it to his neck so rough like; smacking his hands against his neck and vigorously applying it. I chuckle to myself. I guess men aren’t so different, even in different time periods. I’ve seen my male friends apply lotion and sunscreen like that countless times. I let out a big and quiet sigh before I turn and go to a big rock nearby. Soon, both Charles and Arthur join me. I don’t hear their conversation, but I hear Arthur’s quiet snort as if a joke was made. “So, are we doing this now?” I ask, crouching down right after they do the same. Charles nods, taking the bow off from his shoulder. “There are several different types of arrows, the main ones that you’ll need to have on hand are small game arrows, normal arrows, and poison arrows. We’ll focus on small game arrows for today. Arthur here will show you how to work a rifle, and after that I'll show you how to use the bow with small game arrows.” Charles says softly, pulling the string back on his bow, the frame of the bow creaking slightly under the pressure. The string definitely looks like it’ll fuck up your fingers, makes sense why his hands are so callused. I glance at Arthur who has an unreadable expression and once we make eye contact, he quickly grabs his rifle, standing it up by putting the butt end of the rifle on the leaves below, his hand gripping the forestock. “Do y’know anythin’ about guns?” Arthur gruffs out and at first it sounds super fucking rude, but I take a deep breath and remind myself that seems like just how he is. “Yeah.. Very basic stuff, but I know.” He hums quietly and gets closer to me, one knee on the ground, his other foot planted firmly. Arthur picks up the gun and nods to the rifle, which prompts me to grab the rifle.

“Y’better learn quick, or Charles will hafta to take over. Got it?”

..Someone’s grumpy today.

[rodentcompetition]

Preliminaries

Information about contestants below!

Douglas squirrel (Tamiasciurus douglasii)

Sometimes known as the chickaree or pine squirrel. The Native Americans of Kings River called it the "Pillillooeet", in imitation of its characteristic alarm call.

Their appearance varies according to the season. In the summer, they are greyish on their backs and pale orange on the chest and belly. In the winter, the coat is browner and the underside is grayer.

Mostly eat seeds of coniferous trees. They are hoarders, storing their food in a single location. Diurnal. On summer nights, they sleep in ball-shaped nests that they make in the trees, but in the winter they use holes in trees as nests. Territorial; in winter, each squirrel occupies a territory of about 10 000 square metres, but during the breeding season a mated pair will defend a single territory together.

Abert's squirrel or the tassel-eared squirrel (Sciurus aberti)

It is named in honor of the American naturalist John James Abert. It is recognizable by its tufted ears, gray color and rusty stripe on back.

Diurnal. Mostly feeds on the seeds and cones of the Mexican pinyon and the ponderosa pine. It doesn't store food, as other North American squirrels do. Nine subspecies are recognised.

Breeding normally occurs in summer, with a spherical nest being built high in the canopy. It's used year-round by most squirrels for nightly shelter. Three or four young per litter is typical, usually bear one litter per year.

Calabrian black squirrel (Sciurus meridionalis)

It has long been considered a subspecies of the red squirrel, but studies revealed that it is unique in both genetics and appearance, leading to its recognition as a distinct species. It generally resembles the red squirrel in its behavior.

It is monomorphic (not variable in appearance), being very dark brown to blackish with contrasting white underparts. Compared to red squirrels, the Calabrian black squirrel is also significantly larger, weighing on average about 35% more.

Lives in mixed forests in highlands, its nests are often placed in pine or oak trees, mostly near black pine, as the seeds are an important food source.

[thagomizersshow]

Another Planet Zoo DLC proposal

The OOP NORTH Animal Pack (featuring species from Canada)

Habitat Animal 1: Whooping Crane (Grassland, Aquatic, Temperate, Taiga, North America)

Habitat Animal 2: Vancouver Island Marmot (Taiga, North America)

Habitat Animal 3: Muskox (Tundra, North America, Europe, Asia)

Habitat Animal 4: Wolverine (Tundra, Taiga, North America)

Habitat Animal 6: Canada Lynx (Taiga, North America)

Habitat Animal 6: Walrus (Aquatic, Tundra, North America, Europe, Asia)

Habitat Animal 7: American Black Bear (Temperate, Grassland, Desert, Taiga, Aquatic, North America)

Walkthrough Exhibit Animal: Snowy owl (Tundra, North America)

Runners-up

Habitat animals: Fisher, North American river otter, Rocky Mountain goat, willow ptarmigan, mule deer, Virginia opossum, Canada goose

Exhibit animals: Painted turtle, wood frog, Canada jay, northern flying squirrel, spotted owl, red-sided garter snake

[acommonloon]

out gallivanting I stumbled upon a rare beast I've been coveting from afar.

Okay, "stumbled upon" is mischaracterization. I dropped D at the outlets and drove as fast as I could, a half hour north, to one of the best bottle shops in the state. Big Red Liquors - Cask Strength is well, a store in the Big Red Liquor chain but it's Cask Strength so, you know, way better.

It's is actually better for my tastes. They are close enough to Taxman Brewing to carry all their small release beers I don't get distributed to the southeastern part of the state and they carry beer from Tennessee, I crave, and holy frijoles, beer from the now defunct Trappist brewery in Massachusetts, I've always wanted to try but have never found, despite quite alot of gallivanting.

Score!

There were more but, the real surprise, even more surprising than peach saison from Spencer, was this odd bird from Todd Leopold and Dickel.

I first read about this "new" old kind of whiskey more than a year ago. Leopold, considered a bit of a mad genius in the distilling world, posted a video where he proclaimed he'd discovered the long lost holy grail...of American whiskey.

He said, he was looking through some old... nevermind here's the video if your interested

So he had Vendome in Louisville make him a new old kind of (3 chamber) still and used a heritage variety rye. Because he's small fry, in the whiskey world, he partnered with Dickel who had some rye just lying around and they put out this new-old style whiskey. Exciting!

I looked all over but couldn't find it. I checked the plethora of "whiskey by the glass bars" in the Louisville area but nobody had it. After months of looking, I finally found a bottle!.. in the glass case at Total wine. No, I wasn't so enamored by the hoopla, I'd buy the bottle without tasting it first. That bottle was soon gone and - squirrel- I got distracted by other things.

When I saw it yesterday, I checked the price. $115 and my memory, honed by years of price checking, recognized it as the same price in Total Wine. So retail price. I've only paid so much for a bottle of whiskey a handful of times. I've established a firm policy of try before you buy at that price point.

So I asked if there was any bar nearby who might sell this whiskey by the glass. No, they said, so I paid for my beer and walked out. Then I walked back in. I'd noticed they advertised some of their whiskey as being available to taste. I asked if this one was, knowing it wasn't. I said, if I tasted it, and liked it, I'd buy it.

They said, let me check. A phone call later, they were opening a bottle - for me.

This was equal parts exciting and pressure.

I would finally get to taste this whiskey that promised to be...different. If it was, I'd gladly buy it. If it wasn't, I'd sadly buy it.

So, how was it?

Well it was different. In that it was rye whiskey that tasted like bourbon...to me. It reminded me of Knob Creek 120 proof, candy in a glass.

Keeping in mind, I'd just come from a brewery selling candied fruit beer in a glass, I was disappointed and relieved. At worst, it was whiskey I liked...but twice the price. Maybe it'll be different on a clean palate.

As I write this, my palate is unclean. I've been drinking

all day. This beer features bitter hops and no candy I can discern. No matter.

Some day I'll try it and will be happy or not.