Cannibal Rat Caught
Jason Price set some rat traps in a garage in Sonora. On one trap, there was a dead rat, with only the head left in the trap. All that was left was the head, and even the back of skull had been eaten away. In another trap was a large, big-bellied rat, un-eaten. Apparently the first rat was eaten by the second, and nobody was around to eat the second rat. We presume he was the cannibal rat. 30 October 2017.
Crazy Photos: Chickaree Stores Hundreds of Douglas Fir Cones in a House
Jason Mink took these photos at a home in Dorrington, Calaveras County, California. A chickaree (aka Douglas Squirrel) was caching Douglas Fir cones in a home. HUNDREDS of them! October 2017.
Artistic Use of Bird Spikes to Repel Bats
Jason Mink had to stop bats from entering around a light fixture at a home in Saddle Creek, Angels Camp, California. Note how he managed to place the spikes around the light fixture, and make it look good. October 2017.
Sawdust Accumulation by Pine Tree Ants
Pine tree ants, liometopum luctuosum, are a native ant that loves to nest in large pine trees that have some decay in them. Houses prove to be a suitable, or additional, place to nest. These ants excavate into lumber to create room for the nest, and they will carry the sawdust and throw it out. The sawdust can accumulate in large piles, under nesting sites. These photos of the sawdust were taken by Jose Rodriquez, at a residence in Forest Meadows, Calaveras County, California, October 2017.
unknown wood destroyer
Maranatha Pine Tree Ant job
A house in the Tuolumne City area had a long-term infestation of pine tree ants, Liometopum luctuosum. Native to the area, these ants like to nest in pine trees. In this case, some wall studs worked just fine. Photos by Jon Shattuck. Video by the home owner.
The images show the wall studs after our repair crew opened the wall.
Banded Garden Spider, Argiope trifasciata
Paul Cooper took these great photos of a banded garden spider, Argiope trifasciata. Murphys California, 16 October 2017.