Moths and bears!

 We are caught up in tennis. It's been fun having a distraction. JB is still tired, but improving every day. 

This large moth is an antheraea polyphemus, a North American moth. They are as large as butterflies, which would have been a better title: Butterflies and bears, but there you go.

This is an Imperial moth found on the front deck in June 2012.

I am still wondering what these are. Imperial Moths or bats? I did some research. 

The Imperial Moth has a particular relationship with its environment. It only lives a week. It doesn't eat, either. I haven't seen the caterpillars, I don't think. Female moths lay eggs on the foliage of host plants, where caterpillars feed on leaves from  Maple, Oaks, and Pine trees. 

I could sit out there and try to video them, but I'd need to stay up late and put on bug spray or a fur coat!

 

bugs or bats? from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

I popped down to the trailcams (long sleeves, bug spray), and found the camera askew. I got all excited! We haven't seen them around the house, they follow the shore of the wetland around us. They are smart bears and wary of humans. The former gun range in behind this island in the wetland. The bears don't like tromping in the wetland water. I've tracked them around it.

Papa Bear came by June 26th. That fur coat must protect him from the bugs!

 

Papa Bear from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

June 29th Booboo Bear came by. First he mauls the camera, scares himself, and then poops in front of it. Seriously!

 

June 29 Booboo from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.

Butch Racoon is giving McGregor Muskrat a hard time. Both Booboo and Butch. 

Butch & muskrat from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.