Information Back From Ask an Expert

This is a screen save I did from the askanexpert.com site. I asked the expert about the benefits of planting only native plants, in our case I wanted to know specifically about plants from Indiana, anyway, what are the benefits from having native plants in your landscape?
The site is a pretty neat site and I encourage everybody to use it, although it is sort of a novelty for me and probably for most people.

Thanks,
Steve

Writing Congressman Buyer about WNS

Hello everyone- I wanted to write today to inform you of a terrible disease which is the number one killer of the North American bat population. The disease is called White Nose Syndrome and scientists have yet to determine the cause of the disease, or have yet to develop a cure.
Bats are very important to the ecosystem as they help keep insect populations in check, especially mosquitoes, and bats also pollinate flowers and plants, and the disseminate seeds. Without a healthy bat population farmers would suffer; and in turn, so would all of us.
I decided to write my U.S. congressional representative, Steve Buyer, and ask that he keep this important issue on the 'table'. Below is the letter I wrote to him and his immediate response- he cannot send an e-mail due to security reasons, but as his letter says he will get back to me in writing, which I prefer anyway.
Thanks,
Steve

P.S.
Please take action and write to your representative and ask that they act on this important issue.







Steve Skirvin
175 Maple Lane
Franklin, Indiana 46131-1305
September 20, 2009


To the Honorable Steve Buyer:
Hello Rep. Buyer,
My name is Steve Skirvin and I live in Franklin, Indiana. I am writing you to ask you to support more funding and research towards finding the cause and cure of the mysterious disease killing the bat population in Indiana and elsewhere. The disease, White Nose Syndrome, is the number one killer of the bat population in North America. Bats are an indispensable part of the ecosystem as the help to pollinate flowers and keep other species' population in control, such as certain insects.
Please ensure that this important issue does not get lost amongst the various priorities and issues. Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Steve Skirvin
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The U.S. House Of Representatives





Thank you for contacting my office. As the representative for the Fourth District of Indiana, I appreciate you sharing your concerns and opinions.

Due to security issues, I am unable to respond to you directly via email. In the meantime, I will respond to you via postal mail. Once these issues are resolved, we will revisit this medium of exchange.

Once again, thank you for contacting my office.

Best Regards,



Steve Buyer

Member of Congress

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Go to the Home Page.

Prepared by House Information Resources on August 18, 2000.

Native Plants

You always hear the benefits of planting native flowers and grasses in your yard. I want to know why? Some benefits are obvious such as the native insects will be more attracted to them, but what else? I asked this question on www.expertcentral.com I posed the question to an expert in botany and landscaping. I am hoping to get a whole list of facts concerning the topic. I will post the answer- but you can go to expert central and find the plant/landscaping tag to see the answer. Thanks, Steve

Hello- Helpful Websites

I have created a social bookmark using www.delicious.com . I will put in ten bookmars, or websites with very helpful information concerning the natural world of Indiana. I am trying to make this so anyone can access it, but right now I am having trouble doing so, but if you want the information about the sites just let me know.

Thank you,
Steve Skirvin

We Got Him!

Sparky had not made his presence known for the last several nights until last night. My neighbor and I set a live trap to capture the rascal, and we used corn cobs for bait, which proved to be too much of a temptation for the interloper. I found our amiable little friend in a rather foul mood this morning as he was caged next to our little garden. I would be mad too if I had to spend the night in jail. It was really neat for my family and I to have such a close up look at a wild animal, although the opossum did not appreciate it much. He would sort of hiss and show his teeth when we got close to the cage. And just as everything I have read about native opossums said- he had short black ears, very long whiskers, and dark black forelegs. His tail was bald and grey; and he had long, yellow claws. He put off quite a stench as well. "He is stinky," said my daughter. Since my neighbor and I planned to let him go later that night into the woods I wanted to make him as comfortable as possible during the day. My daughter and I cut several small branches from the Red bud tree in our yard and draped them over the cage; and as a parent I felt good knowing the memories this experience was creating. We then collected pine cones and walnuts from a neighbors yard down the street and placed them around his cage so it would smell like the forest. I checked on him throughout the day and found him curled up sleeping most of the time, which made me feel good since he is a nocturnal animal and would naturally sleep during the day. I wanted the least amount of stress on him as possible. I am going to upload a short video I made with my camera which shows Sparky in his cage. What a neat day and great learning experience!



-Stay Wild!

Abe and Indiana

Most people are fascinated with Abraham Lincoln- I know I am. Honest Abe spent his formative childhood years living in the woods of Southern Indiana; he grew up in what is now Spencer County. The land was a rugged, untamed wilderness where Indians and wild animals roamed the woods. He had an exciting childhood and was familiar with the ways and dangers of the wild.
There is a wonderful memorial and state park dedicated to Lincoln and his time spent in Indiana. I wanted to know more about this place, so I did a little research. The memorial, located in Spencer County and near the small town of Gentryville, is operated by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Congress established the park as a national park in 1962, although the memorial itself was built in the 1940's. The park contains a working historical, period farm where re-en actors live out the life of early pioneers. There are also trails to explore and a section of an actual cabin where Abe and family lived many years ago. The highlight, however is the memorial visitor center that contains historical artifacts and lots of good information about Abe's early life and what Indiana was like in the late 18th century.
I have been top the park several years ago, and I plan to go back there very soon. I hope you do too! Check out the following web-site to learn more about the park: www.nps.gov/libo

Opossum Update

Well, "Sparky", as he has been named by my daughter has disappeared, or at least he has not bothered the scraps we set out for him. My neighbor and I are still planning on setting a live trap and I hope to make a small video of this for everybody. I hope that wherever the opossum is he is safe and sound.

I consulted the National Audubon Society's Field Guide to North American Mammals and found some interesting information about opossums in general. What we call the opossum is actually called the Virginia Opossum, or Didelphis virginiana. They are in the family of animals called marsupials, which means they carry their young in a pouch on their belly. They are a nocturnal animal, which means they come out mostly at night, and are very good climbers. Their diet is composed mainly of carrion, which is dead animals- this explains why they are hit so often by cars as they eat roadkill at night.

The field guide also lists the following as part of their diet:

• Insects


• Frogs


• Birds


• Snakes


• Earthworms


• Berries


• Apples


• Persimmons


• Corn

Because their ears and tail are not really covered with hair they are susceptible to frostbite during the colder months, and they do not hibernate. They will play dead, or "play opossum" as a form of defense.

When you see an animal up-close and take the time to observe its actions, behavior, and looks, you gain a new appreciation for it and for all of the natural world. I looked at that opossum and I know understand its place in the created order and I see the value in this, otherwise, strange looking creature. Well, I, for one, now consider myself a friend of all opossums and I will keep a look-out for "Sparky"

Stay Wild!

Steve