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ApS · 04-26-2005, 04:34 AM

Grant's experience with crayfish echoes my own; however, "acid rain" seems to have taken 99% of the crays away over the past 25 years in my area. It could be that up Melvin way, the waters are more thoroughly refreshed by rivers (and less acidic).

As to chipmunks: They are semi-hibernators and perhaps it is the colder earth in their burrows that is keeping them still hibernating in a year that saw a lot of cold.

Another thing, is that some years the seeds and "mast" availability changes from year to year. It doesn't seem possible there has been a mass die-off of chipmunks, but Nature will restore balance.

BTW: "Chipmunk" is a Native-American word for that critter. I'd wondered for years what its derivation could have been. Now I'm certain it is for the two "calls" that they make.

1) A high-pitched "chip". (What this is about, I don't know).
2) A low-pitched and definite warning "munk", which I've come to realize is associated with hawks and owls. Listen for blue jays and crows sounding their own alarms at the same time.

It's Nature's 9-1-1 call, and a good way to "spot" hawks and owls in the woods.

04-26-2005, 04:34 AM	#7
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,085 Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts	Still hibernating? Grant's experience with crayfish echoes my own; however, "acid rain" seems to have taken 99% of the crays away over the past 25 years in my area. It could be that up Melvin way, the waters are more thoroughly refreshed by rivers (and less acidic). As to chipmunks: They are semi-hibernators and perhaps it is the colder earth in their burrows that is keeping them still hibernating in a year that saw a lot of cold. Another thing, is that some years the seeds and "mast" availability changes from year to year. It doesn't seem possible there has been a mass die-off of chipmunks, but Nature will restore balance. BTW: "Chipmunk" is a Native-American word for that critter. I'd wondered for years what its derivation could have been. Now I'm certain it is for the two "calls" that they make. 1) A high-pitched "chip". (What this is about, I don't know). 2) A low-pitched and definite warning "munk", which I've come to realize is associated with hawks and owls. Listen for blue jays and crows sounding their own alarms at the same time. It's Nature's 9-1-1 call, and a good way to "spot" hawks and owls in the woods.