Saturday, August 30, 2014

Science Saturday: Slugs, Skunks, and Indian Pipes!

(A skunk we accidentally trapped....we were aiming for woodchucks)

A few interesting things!

  • Slugs are not snails and they are not leeches. They look the same from a distance, but in reality they aren't even close to being the same!
  • A Slug's body is all one piece. They do not have segments. They are part of the Gastropoda family, which means "stomach-foot."
  • Slugs aren't too much trouble. Usually. We did have one eat our watermelon before, but that's the first time we've had that happen. They tend to enjoy eating the wild plants.
  • Skunks are among the top animals hit by cars. Most often they are hit around February during mating season.
  • Skunks are best known for their scent glands which are used as a weapon against predators. They can spray them up to 10ft away, temporarily blinding the predator. The smell and the pain prevent them from getting eaten.
  • Skunks are opportunistic carnivores. They like anything that they don't have to chase too much. They enjoy insects, birds, mice, turtle eggs, toads, and frogs. Occasionally they will help themselves to carrion. (Which is why they often become carrion ;~D )
  • Indian Pipe is a flowering plant. The flower hangs like a bell from the top of the stem, which makes it look like a pipe!
  • It doesn't feel like a flower, but more like a mushroom. Interestingly enough, you can not transplant it.
  • It lacks chlorophyll, so it can't manufacture it's own food. Instead it obtains food from the roots of nearby trees. The Indian Pipe absorbs food from it's towering friends, and grows quite happily.

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