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WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A LIVE TRAPPED ARMADILLO?
In reference to the previous post, where to release the animal. This location should be at least 5-10 miles away from where it is caught. However, you cannot release it just anywhere. According to the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division, “You should not relocate or release a live-trapped armadillo onto public lands or someone else’s property without explicit permission, and holding a live armadillo requires a permit.” The WRD goes on to say, “If released on private land, you must have the landowner’s written permission.” They also recommend, “Armadillos should be released in suitable wooded habitat with cover and water.”
You should not hold the mammal for any extended period of time since to do so you need a specific state permit.
For more detailed information regarding moving live-trapped armadillos, contact the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division at 706-557-3350.
THE HACKBERRY GALLS – PROVIDES IMPORTANT WILDLIFE FOOD
Most of us recognize that the hackberry is a fantastic wildlife food plant. It is a caterpillar host for a variety of butterflies including the hackberry emperor, tawny emperor, snout, mourning cloak, question mark and comma. The tree’s berries are eaten by at least 48 species of birds and other wildlife. The importance of the hackberry’s berries is compounded by the fact they remain on the tree throughout the fall, winter into the next spring. And yet the tree’s value does not end there. It is a little-known fact that the galls that appear on the tree’s foliage are also fantastic sources of food.
Although the galls are not pleasing to the eye, they do not cause any real harm to the tree. These odd unsightly growths are made by insects known as the blackberry psyllids. Hidden inside the galls are tiny grubs packed full of protein.
Many birds peck into the galls and dine on these tiny morsels of food hidden there throughout the year. The tiny insects housed in galls from late summer into early fall are a great source of food for southbound songbirds.
During rhea winter insect-eating birds also dine on the insects living inside the galls. In spring, when the adult psyllids emerge, they are an important source of protein and fat for breeding songbirds and migrants heading north through the state.
Wow! It is astounding that galls that we commonly overlook are so important to so many.
GEORGIA’S LARGEST GRASSHOPPER MAY BE IN YOUR BACKYARD
Recently while walking across the Augusta University Campus my granddaughter spotted the largest grasshopper, she had ever seen.
Since she knows her grandmother and grandfather are interested in wildlife sightings, she took several pictures of the huge insect using her smart phone and later shared them with us.
It turned out that she had photographed the largest grasshopper found in Georgia. This gigantic grasshopper is the eastern lubber (Romalea microptera). The critter is sometimes called “The Georgia Thumper.”
This grasshopper measures 2½ to 3½ inches long.
Fortunately, my granddaughter did not try to handle the insect. The reason for this is, if the grasshopper feels threatens, it defends itself by launching a horrible-smelling toxic spray.
If you find a lubber grasshopper, you will notice it is equipped with extremely small wings. In fact, they are so tiny, it cannot fly. As such, it moves from place by walking or crawling.
Since this native grasshopper ranges throughout the Southeast, there is a chance you might see one in your yard. If you do find one, please let me know the city and county where it was seen.
BACKYARD SECRET – GRAY SQUIRRELS EAT BONES
One the wonderful things about wildlife watching is every day when you walk outside you have a chance of spotting an animal you have never seen before, or observing wildlife engaged in a behavior you have never witnessed. A few days ago, my daughter, Angela, saw a gray squirrel do something that she had never seen.
As far was my daughter is concerned, she sees squirrels in her backyard far too often. While she doesn’t have anything against the agile tree inhabitants, her major complaint is they eat more than their share of the seeds and suet she offers her bird neighbors. Then on top of that, they destroy her feeders. That being said, they engage in some fascinating behaviors. A few days ago, she witnessed a gray squirrel do something she had never seen before.
As she idly watched a squirrel scampering down the top of the 6-foot wood fence that stands along the backside of her yard, she noticed it was carrying a bone about four inches long and about the width of a nickel. It looked to be one of the bones left by her dog.
When she told me about the experience, I told her that she was probably correct since gray squirrels do eat bones. While gray squirrels devour a variety bones, they are particularly fond of those that are sun-bleached.
Gray squirrels dine bones for a couple of reasons. First of all, the bones help wear down their front teeth. This is necessary because these teeth continually grow throughout their lives. If the squirrels do not gnaw on hard bones the teeth will continue to grow and eventually curl and prevent the animals from eating.
The second reason is bones are an excellent source of much-needed calcium and phosphorus.
If you happen to see gray squirrels carrying or eating bones in your yard, you will know why they are engaged in this bizarre behavior.
Isn’t it amazing what you can see taking place just outside your backdoor?
THE EYE-CATCHING LARGUS BUG
Many of the insects found in Georgia are very difficult to identify because they look so similar to their close relatives. In fact, some must be dissected to them apart; such is not the case with the largus bug (Largus succinctus). It is roughly ½-inch long, and has a flattened oval, blackish-colored body that is outlined with an orange to red border. As such, it is easy to understand why some call it the bordered plant bug.
Largus bugs are often seen feeding on a wide variety of plants including, shrubs, trees, forbs, as well as ornamental and garden plants. It often inhabits oaks, pines, and wax myrtles. (This insect rarely causes significant damage to these sources of food.)
In case you are wondering, the largus bug does not bite humans.
THE 5-7-9 RULE DOESN’T WORK FOR BLOGGER
In my last blog for 2025, I wrote about the 5-7-9 rule. These recommendations relate to the ideal location for a bird feeder. The rule simply states that feeders should placed 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet away from structures such as fences, shrubs and trees, and in a spot 9 feet below an overhanging limb. In the posting, I asked for feedback from anyone that has erected a feeder following these parameters.
To date, only one individual has been kind enough to share his experiences. Here is what John Kelly says about what happened when he place a feeder in his yard following the rule, “I have a feeder that met all of those criteria, but squirrels didn’t have any problem dropping 10 feet from an overhanging limb and landing on the feeder. They could easily grab onto the rough wood top. So, I covered the top with smooth metal, painted it with slippery paint, and waxed it. It was hilarious to watch them hit the top and slide right off.”
I want to thank John for sharing his experiences with us. If you have experimented with placing feeder in your yard using the 5-7-9 rule, please share your findings with us.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO ATTRACT HERMIT THRUSHES TO YOUR YARD IN WINTER
One of the most difficult birds to attract to Georgia bird feeders during the winter is the hermit thrush. I have been trying to do so for years. In comparison, I have a good friend that hosts this handsome thrush most winters. Let’s explore some of the reasons why hermit thrushes avoid most of our yards.
Limited information suggests that hermit thrushes wintering in residential areas inhabit yards that have an abundance of vegetation and are adjacent to wooded areas. Berries are the hermit thrush’s primary winter food, consequently yards and nearby woodlands that have trees and shrubs that bear fruits and berries that persist in the winter, are more likely to be used by hermit thrushes than those without them.
Some the best sources of the thrush’s winter food include cedars, junipers, pokeberry, native hollies, hackberries, grapes, and mistletoe. While fruits and berries are the hermit thrush’s favorite foods, they will eat insects found in leaf litter. Consequently, leave dried leaves beneath your trees and shrubs.
Blog follower, Ron Lee attracts Hermit Thrush
Hermit thrushes will feed at elevated feeders. However, they prefer to eat food found on the ground. The birds will dine on dried fruits, mixed seeds, suet, and bird puddings.
Ron Lee has attracted more hermit thrushes than anybody I know. He is convinced that his success attracting these secretive birds is his wife Jennie’s cornbread. The birds love it so much they will appear out of nowhere whenever he goes outside to feed them. Some hermit thrushes like it so much, they will feed at his feed while he is scattering food.
Hermit thrushes will often visit bird baths and avoid food.
Hermit thrushes will join roaming flock’s kinglets, chickadees, and other birds. With that in mind, closely study any of these flocks that pass through your yard.
With a little good fortune, perhaps a hermit thrush will find its way to your backyard this winter.
ODD MOCKINGBIRD BEHAVIOR
It is easy to believe that researchers fully understand the behavior of birds. Such is not the case, however. Last week my daughter, Angela Dupree, watched a mockingbird doing something she had never seen before.
It seems that, as she walked to her car parked in the large parking lot adjacent to her workplace, she noticed a mockingbird placing small sticks atop the left rear tire on the passenger side of her car. When she looked around, she found the bird had apparently done the same thing atop 4-5 cars parked nearby.
The next day the bird did the same thing. In fact, it acted perturbed when she watched it at worked. She also noted small piles of sticks on the ground near the tires on several cars parked nearby. It appeared these sticks had fallen off the tires when the drivers had moved their vehicles the previous afternoon.
When she asked me if I had any idea what was going on, I told her that perhaps the bird was attempting to build nests. I based this interpretation on the fact that mockingbirds sometimes build several nests in an area before selecting the one they use as their nesting site. However, that does not explain why a mockingbird was choosing the tops of tires as potential paces to build nests.
I have done a little research on the subject and found that, while the behavior has been seen before, nobody seems to know exactly what is happening. Some suggest the birds are just marking their territory. Who know!
If you have seen have witnessed this behavior or can explain it, please let me know.
My daughter’s experience demonstrates we have a lot more to learn about the behavior of even common birds such as the northern mockingbird.
SUET SUCCESS STORY
Recently Becky sent the following that describes the fantastic success she is having attracting birds to her yard with suet. Wow! I wish I could attract as many different species as possible to my yard.
