Beavers are the official mammal of New York State, and occur almost anywhere there is moving water and trees on the shoreline. They are also the largest rodent on the continent of North America.

Adult beavers average a length of 3-3.5 feet and a weight of 30-60 pounds. They are most easily identified by their broad, flat tails that help them swim, fell trees, and signal danger, among other functions. The lifespan of most beavers is less than 10 years, but some individuals far surpass that, and can even reach age 20.

The preferred foods of beavers are plant materials, including aquatic vegetation, and twigs and bark from trees. Their favorite species of trees to consume are poplar, aspen, birch, willow, and maple, and beavers make sure they stock up on these in the fall, so they’ll be set through the winter. To make it through the colder months, a beaver family may require a one- to two-ton food cache.

Beaver Dams and Lodges

Aside from their flat, paddle-like tails, beavers are most well-known for the large dams they build in running bodies of water. While most of these dams average about 100-200 feet in length and 5-7 feet in height, some have measured as long as 2,000 feet and as high as 10 feet from the bottom of the stream.

To build these remarkable structures, beavers use their sharp front teeth to fell trees, which they drag into the water. They anchor the wood with mud and rocks, and pack mud, leaves, and other debris in between logs to hold back the water. Beavers build dams to stop the water from running, so a pocket of deep water is created. They choose to build their lodges in these areas of deep water, so they can dive down and be safe from predators.

Beaver lodges are typically 12-14 feet wide at the base, with 5 to 6 feet protruding above the water. Like dams, lodges are built from logs, sticks, rocks, and mud, and typically feature two underwater tunnel entrances. Beavers also build separate feeding and bedding areas. In the winter, lodges may hold the adult male and female, their young from the most recent breeding season and the one before that, and occasionally related non-breeding adults. As many as 12 individuals could lodge together.

Beavers in the Adirondacks

Beavers were abundant before European settlement, and could be found all over New York State, with the exception of Long Island. Unfortunately, the popular New World beaver pelt trade and deforestation resulted in only a few beavers being left in the Adirondacks by 1840.

Between 1901 and 1907, 34 adult beavers were released into the region by private landowners and legislators who wanted to help the species’ numbers increase. By 1924, the population had grown so significantly that a regulated trapping season was instituted to control nuisance and damage.

The Department of Environmental Conservation estimates that the current beaver population in the Adirondacks is between 50,000-70,000. Over time, it has been found that the regulated trapping has been the most effective means of reducing the negative impact of beavers on other species. While they are an important part of the ecosystem, beavers can unfortunately flood property, cut down rare trees, and can lead to water temperature increases that make bodies of water uninhabitable for other species, like trout.

Beaver Fun Facts

Beavers are second only to humans in their ability to modify their environment

The gestation period of a beaver is 3.5 months

The average litter contains 2-4 kits

Kits can swim immediately after they’re born

Beavers are nocturnal

Beavers have transparent eyelids so they can see under water

The largest beaver dam in existence is in Wood Buffalo National Park and can be seen from space

Beavers’ large teeth never stop growing

SOURCE: ADIRONDACK.NET

I found a great article on thefactfile.org website detailing amazing facts about St. Patty’s Day. 

From: thefactfile.org:

St Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17^th. The day is the observation of the death of St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. With these 30 St Patrick’s Day facts, let’s uncover more about this great festival which is celebrated all over the world.

1. St Patrick was born in 385 AD in a place believed to be Banna Venta Berniae, a town in Roman Britain (his exact place of birth is however uncertain). He died during the fifth century in the year 461 AD at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland.

2. St Patrick’s Day commemorates the arrival of the Christianity in Ireland. It happened in the year 432.

3. Patrick was born to Roman parents (Calpurnius and Conchessa). He was not Irish, instead, he was English. His given name was Maewyn Succat. Thus, technically we would be celebrating “Maewyn Day” instead of the “St Patrick’s Day” if his name was not changed. He wrote a book–Confessio–during his last years.

4. At the age of 16, St Patrick was kidnapped and was taken to Ireland. He was kidnapped by a group of Irish raiders who were attacking his family’s estate. He worked there for 6 years tending sheep and then escaped and became a priest.

5. St Patrick’s Day is also known as the ‘Feast of Saint Patrick’ and the ‘Day of the Festival of Patrick’. Patrick studied and received his training in the religion for more than 12 years after he escaped from the captivity of the Irish raiders.

6. Saint Patrickused Shamrock (a young sprig of clover) to teach the pagans about the Holy Trinity. The shamrock is now the official flower of Ireland. It is associated with St Patrick.

7. St Patrick’s Day has been observed by the Irish asa religious holiday for more than 1,000 years.

8. ‘Blue’ was the color associated with St Patrick before the adoption of green as the color for the festival. The color blue was featured both in the royal court and on ancient Irish flags. In 1798, the color green became officially associated with the day.

9. The first Patrick’s Day paradewas held in Waterford (the oldest and the fifth most populous city in the Republic of Ireland) in 1903.

10. More than 100 Saint Patrick parades are held across the United States. Almost 12% of Americans claim Irish ancestry. More people of Irish ancestry live in the United States than in Ireland.

11. One claim in history deeply associated with St Patrick is that he banished all the snake from Ireland. However, this claim is not true because it has been discovered that the chances of survival of snakes in Ireland are minimal because of the cold conditions of the region. However, some say that the snakes represent the pagans he converted to Christianity.

12. In 1762, the first New York City parade took place. With over 150,000 participants, the St Patricks Day parade in New York is the world’s oldest civilian parade and the largest in the United States. And more than 3 million spectators line the parade route which is 1.5 miles long. The parade takes more than 5 hours to come to an end.

13. On this day, Catholics attend church in the morning and then watch a St Patrick’s Day parade.

14. The Chicago River (the system of rivers and canals has a combined length of 156 miles) is dyed green on this day (since 1962). However, the first year when the river was dyed green, 100 pounds of vegetable dye was released into the river. This kept the river green for almost a week. However, today, they use only 40 lbs of the green dye to color the river for the day to keep the environmental damages in check. Now, the dye lasts for about 5 hours.

15. Guinness (an Irish dark beer that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness) sale almost doubles on St Patrick’s Day as compared to the regular days when 5.5 million pints of it is sold.

16. The200^th anniversary of St Patrick’s Day was marked in Sydney Opera House by making it green.

17. Thefirst St Patrick’s Day celebration in the United States was held in Boston in 1737.

18. On this day, people usually eat corned beef and cabbage, and they wear green. However, corned beef is an English dish and not Irish.

19. Wearing green attire or shamrock is also a St Patrick’s Day tradition. It is one of Irish tradition to pinch someone who is not wearing green on the day.

20. Between 1903 and 1970 most pubs in Ireland were closed because St Patrick’s Day was a religious holiday. However, the holiday was reclassified as a national holiday and the nation started drinking even on this day. Drinking on this day has become a strong St Patrick’s Day tradition.

21. St Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in both Ireland and North Ireland. It is a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland.

22. World’s shortest St Patrick’s Day parade is held in Arkansas, which runs for a total of 98 feet.

23. More than 450 churches are named for St Patrick in the United States. And 5.5 million tourists visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City every year.

24. St Patrick’s Day is one of the most celebrated festivals in the world. Others may includeLa Tomatina — Buñol, Spain; Holi — Celebrated by Hindus Around the World; Carnaval — Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Lantern Festival — Pingxi, Taiwan. 

25. St Patrick’s Day parades began in North America in the 17^th century but they did not spread to Ireland until the 20^th century.

26. St Patrick’s Day is not celebrated on March 17 when it falls within the Holy Week (the week just before Easter, Holy Week in 2018 will begin on Sunday, 25 March and ends on Saturday, 31 March). This once happened when the day coincided with Palm Sunday in 1940 and then again in 2008. The celebration of the Day is adjusted in such a scenario. In 1940 it was observed on 3 April and in 2008 it was observed on 15 March. Now, until 2160, St Patrick’s Day will not fall under the Holy Week.

27. St Patrick’s Day is celebrated in countries including Canada, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Russia and other countries of the Irish Diaspora (refers to Irish people and their descendants who live outside Ireland).

28. More than 1 million people take part in the St Patrick’s Festival (between March 15^th and 17th) in Dublin every year.

29. John Fitzgerald Kennedy the 35th president of the United States of America worn a green tie for photographs when Ireland’s ambassador to the US, Thomas Kiernan, turned up at the White House with a bowl of shamrock on 17 March.

30. Finding a four leaf clover on St Patrick’s Day is considered lucky as you only have one chance in 10,000. Generally, you will find a three leaf clover.

SOURCE: THEFACTFILE.ORG

Why is St. Patrick’s Day celebrated on March 17?

Where and when was the first St. Patrick’s Day parade ever recorded?

What’s the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world?

What do the three leaves of a shamrock symbolize on St. Patrick’s Day?

What does the circle at the very center of a Celtic cross represent?

What is a boxty?

Which coastal Southern city has had a huge St. Patrick’s Day parade and celebration since 1813?

What does “Erin go bragh” mean?

How do leprechauns earn their gold?

What is the traditional main dish served at many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in America?

So, how did you do?

It’s the day Saint Patrick died in 461 CE.

St. Augustine, Florida, in 1601. The area was then a Spanish colony, but it had an Irish vicar.

The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, first held in 1762.

The Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost), according to the legend that Saint Patrick used the shamrock to illustrate the concept to potential converts. It can also symbolize love, hope, and faith.

The sun.

An Irish potato cake.

Savannah, Georgia.

Ireland forever.

Making and mending shoes.

Corned beef and cabbage.

Until next month…stay sharp!

When I was a kid, if you wanted to carve a pumpkin, you got Mom’s sharpest knife (and then she took it from you cuz you might cut yourself) and then you got the knife Mom thought was safe and you cut out your pumpkin face. If you were lucky, you didn’t cut yourself and the jack-o-lantern was passable.

But these days?  There are stencils and cutters to make carving pumpkins easy!

Then there are the pumpkin works of art!

Happy carving!

From All That’s Interesting:

5 Pittock Mansion

Most haunted houses in the United States bear the spiritual scar of past horrors. But the Pittock Mansion in Portland, Oregon, is a different story. The ghosts there are said to be fairly friendly.  Pittock Mansion was first constructed in 1909 by Henry and Georgiana Pittock. Already elderly, the wealthy Pittocks wanted a home for their retirement. Architect Edward T. Foulke designed them a beauty — a 46-room French Renaissance mansion overlooking the city below.

But by the time Pittock Mansion was completed in 1914, the Pittocks didn’t have much time left to enjoy it. Georgiana died in 1918, and Henry died a year later. In death, however, the Pittocks seemed determined to stay at their mansion. After all, they’d hardly been able to enjoy it in life.

Today, the mansion is a historic site and open to the public. Visitors and workers alike have reported odd experiences that suggest the Pittocks stuck around in the afterlife. Most of these encounters happen in the upper stories of the house, where their bedrooms were located.

There, many people claim to have smelled rose perfume — as if Georgiana is passing through the room. Visitors have also heard footsteps throughout the house and insist that portraits of Henry Pittock sometimes move. One visitor says that she saw a woman in a long dress. And a staff member recalled that one night after she had turned off all the lights and locked the mansion, every light in the house suddenly flared back on.

Visitors have even reported hearing the sound of shoveling and heavy footsteps outside. Some speculate that this is the groundskeeper doing his rounds. Like Henry and Georgiana, he lived and died in Pittock Mansion.  All in all, though, Henry and Georgiana Pittock seem like friendly ghosts. Though they make their presence known, they seem perfectly content to share their beautiful mansion with the public.

6 Franklin Castle

Considered the most haunted house in Ohio, Franklin Castle is a strong contender for the most haunted house in America, too. And for years, its grand turrets and stone façade masked terrible tragedies.

In 1881, German immigrant Hannes Tiedemann built Franklin Castle in Cleveland for himself and his family. However, not long after they moved in, Tiedemann’s teenage daughter died of diabetes. Then his mother died. Soon, three more children died. And finally, Tiedemann’s wife, Louise, died in 1895. Shortly after that, Tiedemann himself left the house.

But this series of tragedies led some to speculate that Tiedemann had more than bad luck. Before long, rumors spread about what had really happened behind Franklin Castle’s ornate walls. The darkest of the rumors claims that Tiedemann hanged his teenage daughter and killed the others. Human bones were even found in the house in 1975, but most believe that the current owner planted them to drum up publicity for ghost tours.

Today, Franklin Castle is home to many purported ghost sightings. People have claimed to see a “girl in white” wandering the halls, allegedly the ghost of Tiedemann’s daughter. Others say they’ve seen Louise Tiedemann staring down at the street from a window. The room where she died is known as the “cold room.”

Franklin Castle is allegedly so haunted that several paranormal teams have visited it to investigate.  “Franklin Castle is unlike any other,” explained Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures investigator Zak Bagans. “You can come here, open the door, walk inside and begin having experiences like that.” He and his team claimed that something pushed them, and they recorded a ghostly voice that muttered: “Feels like… kill you.”

Certainly one of Ohio’s most haunted places, the Franklin Castle may also be one of the most haunted houses in America. Though visitors can only see it from the street, you may still catch a glimpse of Louise Tiedemann from the window.

SOURCE: ALLTHATSINTERESTING.COM

Today is the birthday of one of my favorite actors—Zachary Levi.  Zach was born in 1980 and starred in my one of favorite tv shows—Chuck. One of the reasons I loved this series so much was the plausibility of the story plus the added bonus of watching the characters evolve and grow and it’s hysterical at parts.

The above picture is Chuck, season one.  He is a nerdy employee at an electronics store, not living up to his potential.  He was one semester from graduating from Standford when he was unceremoniously thrown out of college for cheating (he did not).  He college roommate turned him in.  That same roommate sent him an email which upon opening, “downloaded” government secrets into his brain.  An NSA agent and a CIA agent tracked the email to him and they want to throw him in a padded cell and squeeze information out of him.  He falls for the female CIA agent and proves he can be an asset. 

In season two, Chuck matures somewhat revealing his feelings for his CIA handler.  The team spends the season fighting and eventually defeating, a rouge group of agents known as Fulcrum who think the government has gone soft. He discovers his father invented the Intersect (computer) program and actually designs a program to remove it allowing Chuck to lead a normal life.  But in the finale, Chuck’s best friend is killed in front of him and this time he purposely downloads the program into his brain to save those he loves.

Season three sees Chuck progress as a spy even more, developing incredible skills.  His look reflects that as well, but, of course, conflict in his romance is inevitable. Chuck does not believe in killing anyone—even bad guys—and it leads to his CIA girlfriend falling for a macho fellow agent.  He tries to brush it off, but eventually admits his feelings and fights for (and wins) her back.

The fourth season reveals that Chuck’s mom, whom everyone thought had abandoned them, was actually alive.  The season is a search and rescue season and it’s revealed that she is an agent too.  This season also sees Chuck and his girlfriend engaged and eventually married.  (Comic genius in this season revolves around feminizing Sarah—the CIA’s top agent—with wedding details.)

Season five, the final season, sees the couple trying to create a life outside the spy world.  A cyber security type business—his computer savvy combined with her badass bad guy knowledge. The problem is, the same type of Intersect program steals all of Sarah’s memories and she doesn’t recognize Chuck or the life they were building.  He has to fight for her all over again.  (But our hero is up to the task.)

Happy Birthday Zach!

I found this article on Reader’s Digest—I was intrigued by the title—and wanted to share it!

From Reader’s Digest:

Think humans are the smartest animals? Raccoons pick locks, crows know physics, and bees hold democratic dance-offs.

Smart species

We humans take a lot of pride in our brains and our supposed “dominance” over the other creatures of the earth. But the animal kingdom is full of brainy creatures who would surely blow even the smartest humans away with their intelligence and skills if we gave them the chance. Case in point: Think things like dancing, cheating, and even sleight-of-hand are human inventions, exclusive to Homo sapiens? Think again. Get ready to marvel at some of the smartest animals on the planet—some of which will surprise you!

Raccoons pick locks

If you’re planning a whimsical animal burglary, you’ll definitely want a raccoon anchoring your squad. In a bizarre 1908 study by ethologist H.B. David, raccoons were able to pick complex locks in fewer than ten attempts, even after the locks were rearranged or flipped upside-down. Various studies conducted from the ’60s to the ’90s found that raccoons boast an impeccable memory, able to recall solutions to tasks for up to three years. Bonus fact: Thanks to their broad hearing range, raccoons literally hear earthworms moving underground. (How this will benefit you in your heist is for you to determine.)

Crows know physics

Not only can crows recognize faces to differentiate between predatory and benign species, they also understand basic physics (like this lab crow who mastered water displacement to maneuver a treat within reach), have been known to change entire migration patterns to avoid farms where crows have been killed in the past, and may even memorize city garbage routes so they can snag the inevitable food droppings on trash day. Talk about some of the smartest animals! Cool, calculating, and known to harbor a grudge, crows shouldn’t be compared to gangsters, per se, but we do feel obligated to remind you that a group of them is called a murder.

Pigs use mirrors

Pigs may as well be man’s best friend, according to a 2015 paper from the International Journal of Comparative Psychology. Like dogs, pigs have been shown to understand emotions, demonstrate empathy, solve mazes, learn simple symbolic languages and, most adorably, make best friends. As some of the smartest animals in the world, the youngest pigs even put our youngest humans to shame. In an experiment where wee British piglets had to use mirrors to divine the path to a hidden bowl of food, piggies as young as six weeks old learned the concept of reflection within a few hours—a milestone that takes baby humans several months to grasp.

Octopi are master escape artists

True prison-breakers of the sea, these tentacled creatures have proven time and again their talents for popping lids off screw-top jars, compressing their bulky bodies through slit-small holes, and climbing impossibly out of aquarium tanks to their freedom. Otto, a German aquarium octopus, was even known to throw rocks at the glass and spray water at overhead lamps to short-circuit the annoyingly bright lights (on more than one occasion). Add to their rap sheet the innovation of assembling shelters from coconut shells, and there’s no denying cephalopods will one day be our overlords.

Squirrels use sleight of hand

If you’ve ever second-guessed yourself while trying to remember an online account password, know that you have stooped to sub-squirrel intelligence. According to a Princeton University study, grey squirrels are capable of remembering where thousands of nuts are buried—for months at a time. They’ll even use subterfuge to trick would-be nut takers; in a 2010 study, squirrels who knew they were being watched dug fake caches for their nuts, making a show of digging holes and patting them over with dirt while hiding their precious nuts under their armpits or in their mouth until they could find a more suitable hiding spot elsewhere.

Dolphins cheat

Dolphins are often cited as the second smartest animals on Earth due to their relatively high brain-to-body size ratio, the capacity to show emotion, and impressive mimicry of the dumb apes who research them. Now, findings from the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Mississippi suggest dolphins may also be the second-sneakiest animals on Earth. When dolphins at the Institute were trained to pick up litter in their tanks and exchange them with trainers for fish, one dolphin named Kelly discovered a way to game the system. By hiding scraps of litter under a rock in her tank, Kelly discretely tore single sheets of discarded paper into multiple pieces, then turned them in one at a time to maximize her fishy reward. Kelly’s clever deception, it seems, was no accident; researchers say she did it all on purpose.

Bees hold dance-offs

Honeybees have evolved what we call “swarm intelligence,” with up to 50,000 workers in a single colony coming together to make democratic decisions. When a hive gets too crowded in springtime, colonies deploy scouts to look for a new home. If any scouts disagree on where the colony should build its next hive, they argue their case the civilized way: through a dance-off. Each scout performs a “waggle dance” for other scouts in an attempt to convince them of their spot’s merit; the more enthusiastic the dance, the happier the scout was with his spot. The remainder of the colony votes with their bodies, flying to the spot they prefer and joining in the dance until one potential hive reigns #1 bee disco of the neighborhood. Alas, if only Congress settled their disagreements the same way. Also, you shouldn’t be afraid of bees. (Unless you’re allergic, of course.)

Elephants don’t need Facebook

In case you’ve forgotten, elephants have incredible memories. They’re able to recall specific routes to watering holes over incredible stretches of terrain and over the span of many years—and they never forget a friend, either. In 1999, an elephant named Shirley arrived at The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Immediately, a resident elephant named Jenny became animated and playful. It wasn’t love at first sight; Jenny remembered Shirley from when they performed briefly in a circus together—22 years earlier.

SOURCE: READERS DIGEST: By Brandon Specktor and Brittany Gibson

Pine Cone Owls

Create some pine cone owls with colorful felt cut into shapes for horns, feathers and noses and glued to the cones. You can use googly eyes for a funny look.

Pine Cone Hedgehog

How about a hedgehog for a pine cone craft project? You could mold clay into a cone shape and paint it when it’s dry. Then glue it to the bottom of the pine cone. These would make adorable place card holders!

Leaf Votive Jars

Wine Cork Pumpkin

Paint one end of the wine corks and leg dry.  Hot glue them together in rows (see photo).  Cut a one cork in half to make the stem.  Glue to the top. Cut out and glue 2 leaves from green felt.  Wrap twine around the stem and tie into a bow.

Apple Votive Cups

Apples make a beautifully rustic tealight holder. Choose well-shaped, unblemished apples, and help your kids to cut out a recess to hold a tealight. Make sure the apple sits flat so that there’s no chance it will tip over. The heat from the tealight will gently infuse the air with the delicious scent of apples, so your decoration looks and smells great.

SOURCE: FAMILYHANDYMAN.COM

Goldenrod is a native North American perennial wildflower that is tall and slim with fluffy golden flower spikes in various shades of yellow. Once regarded as an invasive weed, goldenrod is increasingly valued by gardeners thanks to cultivars that offer better performance and more attractive flowers. Goldenrod grows best in any sunny location, survives well in average or even poor soil, and thrives in temperatures between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Goldenrod Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing goldenrod.

Plant goldenrod in the spring or fall, choosing a sunny location with average soil.

Stake the taller varieties so the plants don’t flop and bend. 

Water young goldenrod plants weekly to keep soil moist until established, then only supplement in drought.

Do not overfertilize; goldenrod does not need fertilizer at all.

Light

Goldenrod craves full sun for optimal flowering. The plant will tolerate a bit of shade, though a shady location can reduce its blooms.

Soil

Goldenrod is not overly picky about soil but it must be well-drained with a pH in the acidic-to-neutral range. This plant can tolerate sandy, rocky, and clay soils. Very rich soil can cause the plant to become leggy and potentially flop over.

Water

Water new goldenrod plants weekly to maintain damp, but not soggy soil. Mature goldenrod plants are drought tolerant and rarely need supplemental watering except when rainfall is scarce.

Temperature and Humidity

The hardiness range varies a bit depending on the species, but most goldenrods thrive in USDA cold hardiness zones 2 to 8, taking heat and cold weather in stride. Goldenrod isn’t fussy about humidity, either.

Fertilizer

Fertilizing goldenrod is typically not necessary because the plants do well in lean soil conditions. However, if the soil quality is poor or you wish to give your plants a boost to increase their height, add a layer of compost in the spring.

Too much fertilization often leads to floppy green growth and reduces flower production.

SOURCE: THE SPRUCE.COM