Show your Bugs and Critters

[Manixguy@1994]

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug are heavy this year . Dan

[Mushroom]

An invasive Brown Lipped Snail on Martha's Vineyard

[Aladinsane]

Mountain Lions in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
They took a big hit in the 2020 Fire. But I’ve seen game camera footage of at least two since then. I’ve been a cat person since birth. My earliest memory is of my father pulling a Siamese kitten off my chest - I cried because it was a warm purring thing that made me comfortable.
Cats are “critters” that I get along with.
I’ve held Snow leopard kittens in my arms, and stroked a Jaguars paws so that he spread his paws apart so that I could stroke between them.
All of that in a zoo, of course, as a worker there. I’ve caught and taken the tiniest, and also the largest spiders I’ve caught in my house outside so they could finish their lives as nature intended. But mosquitoes! Don’t get me started!
I’ve spent more energy in one night than 1 million mosquitoes spend in a lifetime trying to swat just one of those little things during a night when it got past the window screens into my bedroom. But, actually, I’m just a “critter” too.
I hope nothing swats me!

Fantastic! I wish we still had mountain lions in the Smokies!

[Manixguy@1994]

Monarch Butterfly on Alert Aster bush . Dan

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

Big turtles making little turtles

Jerk just left her hanging

Sent her on her way

[Mushroom]

LOL! That’s funny!

That’s the lil guy on his back though. I think his heart was bigger than his… shell. Knocked himself over trying too hard!

[TkoK83Spy]

"Momma" as my mother calls her. Wondering who the stranger is in "her" backyard

[Ow!Icutmyself!]

Aladinsane, you probably do have mountain lions in the Smokies. They not only exist in every state in America, but also exist from Alaska to the southernmost tip of South America. I believe their latin name is Felis Concolor. I could be wrong. They are shy creatures with very sensitive ears and noses. They know that it is important to avoid human contact. Here in California, I think we still have a mountain lion hunting season! To me that is a Mortal Sin. If you wish to kill a creature, it should be for food, not for masturbating your ego!

[Manixguy@1994]

"Momma" as my mother calls her. Wondering who the stranger is in "her" backyard

Great shot Rick ! I have a lot of animals passing through my yard living near the edge of the river bottoms . Dan

[Mad Mac]

It may seem counterintuitive
but licensed hunting and designated wildlife refuges
actually serve to conserve and restore
endangered species for future generations.

Bicyclists, hikers, toddlers in backyards and French Poodles
attacked, mauled or killed by mountain lions
need love too.

For example, Yellowstone's wolves are thriving inside the park, but when they leave its boundaries, they are considered "fair game" for hunting and trapping under state regulations in surrounding areas like Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/wolf.htm

On my ranch if it was just me
I would name the coyotes and feed them.
But the noble beasts are responsible for calf predation.
That is an unacceptable financial loss.
Calves need love too.

[Manixguy@1994]

It may seem counterintuitive
but licensed hunting and designated wildlife refuges
actually serve to conserve and restore
endangered species for future generations.

Bicyclists, hikers, toddlers in backyards and French Poodles
attacked, mauled or killed by mountain lions
need love too.

For example, Yellowstone's wolves are thriving inside the park, but when they leave its boundaries, they are considered "fair game" for hunting and trapping under state regulations in surrounding areas like Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.
https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/wolf.htm

On my ranch if it was just me
I would name the coyotes and feed them.
But the noble beasts are responsible for calf predation.
That is an unacceptable financial loss.
Calves need love too.

Around here in Illinois, Coyotes have decimated the Fox population . Open season on them all year . Bars even have contests for most kills . They are hard on just about anything especially in winter. I hear them every night in Winter after dark . Dan

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

LOL! That’s funny!

That’s the lil guy on his back though. I think his heart was bigger than his… shell. Knocked himself over trying too hard!

[SaltyCaribbeanDfly]

"Momma" as my mother calls her. Wondering who the stranger is in "her" backyard

That’s a big ol nanny goat

[vivi]

saw a few of these in my woods today. Some sort of orb weaver I think. Haven't seen them here before.

[Mushroom]

I think this is a small Atlantic Sea Nettle -







Spotted on Martha’s Vineyard

[Manixguy@1994]

I think this is a small Atlantic Sea Nettle -







Spotted on Martha’s Vineyard

Wow very cool , beautiful. Dan

[Manixguy@1994]

This young Cooper Hawk has been around all Summer hunting . I have found piles of feathers several times , surprisingly he has got at least two Blue Jays and a Flicker . Dan

[Manixguy@1994]

Anybody ever see a Assassin Bug ? I had one on my table this afternoon. It has a row of spikes behind its head , predator insect eater and has a painful bite to humans . Dan

[Mad Mac]

I managed to picture a colorful one two years ago
admiring her reflection in the window of my Toyota.
viewtopic.php?p=1731012

[cabfrank]

Aka North American Wheel Bug I think. Weird little dude.