A Black Deer In Connecticut?

Do you think he is black? Unlike the very rare albino deer which is white or not white, the black deer's dark coloration can range from gray to very black. Some say it is more rare than an albino. It is the melanism, unusual darkening of body tissues caused by excessive production of melanin; especially, a form of color variation in animals.
Some more video of black deer.
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White-Tailed Deer (Early Bird Nature Books)
Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, William Munoz

The Stick

One great thing about enjoying the outdoors is its simplicity. Last year the stick took its place in the toy hall of fame museum in Rodchester, New York, as part of the Strong National Museum of Play.

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Not A Stick by Antoinette Portis is a picture book that gives young children a chance to think about the many ways a stick can transform itself.

A White Squirrel?

My son spotted a white squirrel in our yard today. We live in Durham: it is in the southern, central part of Connecticut. Like most of us, his first thought was albino. But this white squirrel is not an albino; according to biologists, it is a genetic mutation of the eastern gray squirrel. Its dark, not red, eyes reveals its true identity. They are, however, fairly rare. One observer in Ridgefield, Connecticut suggested that the other squirrels did not like him. How did he know this? Well, it seems that another gray was always chasing him.
Other interesting animal coloration included the piebald dear which brown and white patches making it look, more like a cow than a deer.
Share you other interesting sitings with my readers.

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A new picture book, A Little White Squirrel's Secret: A Special Place To Practice, by Penny Hunt and others, captures the white squirrel's beauty and his triumph over being different.

Is It Spring Yet?

No. But I can dream, can't I?

Dancing With The Stars

Is she ready?

Green Sea Turtle At Baltimore Aquarium

A visit to an aquarium or even a nature center can begin a wonderful immersion in the world of nature.
This Green Sea Turtle rescued off the Long Island swims easily in the protected water at the Baltimore Aquarium; even without its flipper, amputated due to the infection it sustained after it was cold-stunned. Here is a science activity for 6th to 12th graders to teach about this phenomena that is not unlike hypothermia in humans.
Even though, the sea turtle is threatened, there is some hope, according to the Nature Conservancy.

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Sea Turtles (Undersea Encounters) by Mary Jo Rodes and David Hall;March, 2006; ages 9-12

One Tiny Turtle: Read and Wonder by Nicola Davies (author) and Jane Chapman (illustrator); June 2005; K-Gr2

Diego and the Baby Sea Turtles by Lisa Rao; May, 2008; ages 3-7

Do You Know?
May 23, 2000 was designated the first National Turtle Day by American Tortoise Rescue.

Whose Tracks Are They?

Before you hurry to the car, take a moment to check out the tracks crossing the fresh snow next to your doorstep. One glance will intrigue even the busiest among us to stop and wonder who or what made them. Some of us will use it as a brisk reason to spend time outdoors following the mysterious steps. Even the least adventuresome might find it exciting to imagine who passed by your window when you were not looking.

What better way to tweak a child's imagination on a snowy winter day?

What is the biggest, scariest, smallest track you have seen?


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Tracks In The Snow by Herbert Wong is a 2007 children's book about an Asian girl who follows her tracks through her neighborhood discovering they are her own from yesterday's walk.
This soft 32 page picture book is a great beginning preschoolers to second graders to connect with the wildlife walking and running on the same paths they use every day.

In Big Tracks, Little Tracks Millicent Selsam tells her 7 to 9 year old readers why a cat looks like an animal with two feet.