Some summer insects not to swat
Summer time is insect time. Unfortunately, stinging and biting species such as wasps and mosquitoes get most of our attention for all the wrong...
Monster to neighbor — attitudes about snakes
A few weeks ago I wrote about snakes and why they’re good to have around. I urged readers to protect them rather than kill...
The Warbler Guide: A comprehensive resource
It’s not often I devote an entire column to a single new book, but The Warbler Guide, by Tom Stephenson and Scott Whittle (2013,...
The best and worst of summer, through plants
The best of summer comes from the garden or a roadside produce stand; the worst lurks in our backyards. My favorite summer garden foods...
Copperhead or milk snake or rat snake?
Last week my wife informed me she had seen the first big black rat snake of the year stretched across the road in front...
Whip-poor-will, owls and katydids: Night sounds
At 5 a.m. May 19 I awoke abruptly to a loud sound just outside the bedroom door. As the cobwebs cleared my mind, I...
Mail call: Shalaway hears feedback on ticks
Last week’s column about ticks drew a quick response from many readers, including a great tip about a simple, inexpensive tool to remove engorged...
Lyme disease may be a big problem in 2013
If personal experience and reader reports are reliable indicators, this summer could be a bad one for ticks and Lyme disease.
Since early April, I’ve...
Scott Shalaway: Take the steps to make boating safe
It goes by many different names — life jacket, life vest, life preserver, personal flotation device, or PFD. Regardless the name, its purpose is...
Scott Shalaway: Meet the vireo, a singing bird of its own kind
During spring migration, warblers get lots of attention. Most are brightly colored and sing loud distinctive songs. Yellow warblers, for example, are common, beautiful,...
