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Reflections in Nature: Ants may just be our most interesting insect

I opened the door of the kitchen cupboard to get the peanut butter and saw an ant scampering away. I quickly dispatched the ant. Now I have a problem. If I tell Mary Alice about seeing an ant, she will take everything out of the cupboard and begin scrubbing. I think I’ll keep quiet since I don’t believe that one ant makes an infestation. Later my problem was solved when Mary Alice opened the cupboard door and saw an ant, she immediately declared war. She decided to use a liquid ant killer that we had from last year. When I read the small print on the bottle label, I learned what ...

Montoursville native LaFon runs 165 miles for MS Run the US relay

Every day, Aubrey LaFon was surrounded with beautiful views. There were gorges and canyons that she ran by. Then she saw plenty of farmlands. It was a 165-mile stretch between Colorado and Nebraska that LaFon ran through. And while she was roughly 1,200 miles away from Pennsylvania, LaFon ...

Nature adventures can support kids health

If you want your kids and yourself to be healthier and more peaceful, develop keener observation skills and improved mental health practices, get outdoors. Obvious benefits to kids’ physical health include increased heart pumping (aerobic exercise). Outdoor activities support coordination ...

Reflections in Nature: A look at staghorn sumac in the state

The staghorn sumac seed heads are beginning to change color and are now pale yellow, but as summer progresses the seed heads will become a crimson color. If you are not familiar with the staghorn sumac, it is the small tree that produces the large, crimson seed heads. Although many people believe that this tree is poisonous, it is not. I read in the book “Shrubs and Vines for Northeastern Wildlife” that the ringneck-pheasant, quail, wild turkey and 30 species of songbirds will eat the sumac fruit. Also, cottontail rabbits will occasionally eat the bark, and during the winter ...

WVSA completes streambank restoration project on Mill Creek

Wilkes-Barre, PA – The Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority completed a major streambank restoration project along Mill Creek near the border of Wilkes-Barre and Plains Township. Known as the Mill Creek “The Bog” project, the work repaired about 300 feet of badly eroded streambank that had begun to damage nearby backyards and exposed important sewer infrastructure. Erosion had become a serious problem, with parts of the streambank washing away and threatening homes and public utilities. WVSA stepped in to fix the damage and prevent future problems by reshaping the streambank, ...

Community Outdoor calendar for week of July 1

AUDUBON EVENT: BLUEBIRD WALKS WHERE:Rider Park WHEN: Tuesday, July 1 at 7:30 a.m. (Bluebird Walk #2) ... Tuesday, July 15 at 7:30 a.m. (Bluebird Walk #3). NOTES: Join Bruce Buckle and Fred Stiner for an exciting bluebird nest box inspection walk at Rider Park. Explore the 26 nest boxes scattered throughout the park and dive into the fascinating world of bluebird habits, along with insights on tree swallows and wrens. With binoculars in hand, you’ll have the chance to spot other captivating birds as we stroll along. The program is free and open to the public. For more ...