3 minute read
Letters To The Editor
Backyard Abuzz
This photo was taken June 3 in our backyard, just after no-mow May. Thank you for the good work!
Ed Johns Milwaukee
Another Look Reveals Loow-Alike
What’s that plant flowering in yellow umbels? It might be wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa), shown below at left, an invasive species that can cause blistering to the skin if touched. Or perhaps it’s golden alexander (Zizia aurea), shown below at right, a native species in Wisconsin. The plants are strikingly similar and easily mistaken for each other.
The summer magazine included a photo in a story on invasive plants, with an image of golden alexander incorrectly labeled as wild parsnip.
Golden alexander is typically shorter than wild parsnip and has fewer leaflets. Wild parsnip is much more robust, with a thick, grooved central stem, and will often form dense patches that exclude other plants.
Given the at-a-glance look-alike nature of these plants — and the discomfort that can be caused by wild parsnip — it might be best to avoid anything with a similar look.
Black And Blue
I thought this was a black butterfly, but as I followed it until it landed, I got a picture. It was not just black, it was a nice blue-black.
Steven Sandberg Caledonia
Thanks for the photo, Steven, and you can check out the recent summer issue at wnrmag.com for a look at several common Wisconsin butterflies.
Fox Makes Itself At Home
As an avid fan of the DNR magazine, I thought you would enjoy this photo of a red fox. We’ve had a pair in our yard for two years now. They raised four kits last year, hopefully, more this year!
Thanks for a great magazine. I read every issue cover to cover! P.S.: The DNR magazine makes a great inexpensive gift for any outdoor enthusiast.
Elaine Jacobsen Okauchee Lake
Blanding's Turtle On The Move
I saw this turtle in Fond du Lac County on April 15. Can you ID it for me?
Tom Neubauer Whitefish Bay
DNR conservation biologist Andrew Badje replies: “This is a Blanding’s turtle ( Emydoidea blandingii), which can be identified by the hint of a yellow chin slightly evident in this photograph. It’s quite an old one, based on all the wear on the shell.
Other ways to identify them are based on their highly domed shell (compared to a painted turtle, which is much less domed) and the yellow speckling on the shell as well; the latter becomes less obvious as the turtle ages. We track this species for conservation purposes, as it is of special concern and protected.
