Kate MacQuarrie
@katemacquarrie.bsky.social
📤 54
📥 16
📝 148
Award-winning biologist, naturalist, and author in Prince Edward Island, Canada
Often, the best thing we can do for wildlife is the one thing we find the hardest: leave them alone. Check out today’s post to learn why!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/baby-wi...
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Baby Wildlife
Spring is a time of renewal, including for PEI’s wildlife. Early breeders such as Coyotes, Foxes, and Ravens have their young now, and others such as Snowshoe Hares, Striped Skunks, and Red Squirrels ...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/baby-wildlife
2 days ago
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Why flower with the summer crowd when you can get a jump on the competition in spring? Being precocious comes with advantages and disadvantages. Learn more in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/red-map...
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Red Maple Flowers
It’s that time of year when many people are anticipating the first flowers of spring, without realizing that some are already here! We’ve looked at two of my favorite precocious plants – Willow and Be...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/red-maple-flowers
5 days ago
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Tiny red flowers appearing now will become tasty native nuts in late summer. Find out how in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/hazelnu...
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Hazelnut Flowers
Some of PEI’s early spring wildflowers are showy, in-your-face sorts. Others are tiny, delicate, and go unnoticed to all except to those specifically looking for them. Today’s plant is in the latter c...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/hazelnut-flowers
9 days ago
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This common, native fungus looks like scat-on-a-stick and infects Cherry trees. Learn about Black Knot in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/black-k...
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Black Knot Fungus
This is a great time of year to spot a PEI fungust that's best known as a disease of Cherry trees: Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa).Black Knot fungus forms distinctive, black galls on stems and branch...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/black-knot-fungus
12 days ago
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They’re more than just a cute name: Pussy Willows are important for pollinators, and the mature plants have a host of ecological benefits. Check them out in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/pussy-w...
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Pussy Willows
One of PEI’s first botanical signs of spring are Pussy Willows (Salix spp.). We have more than a dozen different Willows on the Island, but only one – Salix discolor – officially has the common name ‘...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/pussy-willows
19 days ago
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Beautiful, secretive, and beneficial - what’s not to like about Flying Squirrels? Read more about these common PEI mammals in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/flying-...
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Flying Squirrels
One of my favourite PEI animals is seldom seen despite being fairly common: the Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus), shown here in a photo by Ron Serres (used with permission). Flying Squir...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/flying-squirrels
23 days ago
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They fix nitrogen, feed wildlife, and are indicators of clean air and older forests. Meet Lung Lichens in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/lung-li...
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Lung Lichen
You may think there’s no old growth forest or wilderness on PEI, but that’s not true. We have amazing ancient and wild spaces if you know where to look and can recognize the signs. Lung Lichen (Lobari...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/lung-lichen
26 days ago
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This PEI bird is rare (and rarely seen!) but its distinctive signs can be found across the Island. Meet the Pileated Woodpecker (well, its holes at least).
www.pei-untamed.com/post/pileate...
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Pileated Woodpeckers
Some PEI wildlife signs are subtle, while others are hard to miss! These are the unmistakable holes of a Pileated Woodpecker. Pileated Woodpeckers are roughly crow-sized birds, with black bodies, whi...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/pileated-woodpeckers
about 1 month ago
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The death of a tree is part of the life of a forest. Check out today’s post about the tremendous importance of standing and fallen dead trees!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/cavity-...
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Cavity Trees
We’ve looked at needle-leaved and broadleaved trees this winter but standing and fallen dead trees make enormous contributions to PEI’s forests, too! Trees die naturally from a variety of causes: old...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/cavity-trees
about 1 month ago
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It’s not easy swimming in icy water or standing barefoot on the slushy shore. Fortunately, waterfowl have a special adaptation to keep their temperatures in check. Learn more in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/duck-feet
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Duck Feet
PEI’s bird tracks come in five different forms. So far this winter we’ve looked at two: game bird (featuring Ruffed Grouse and Ring-necked Pheasant) and classic (aka ‘anisodactyl’, illustrated by a Ba...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/duck-feet
about 1 month ago
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It may be St. Patrick’s Day to you, but to us it’s Cuan’s fifth birthday. Here’s the birthday boy on his first day home, and looking more mature and stately in today’s wind. 🥳🐾🥳
about 1 month ago
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You may not associate insects with winter, but some very important species appear this time of year. Meet the Winter Stoneflies!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/stonefl...
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Stoneflies
If you think the best thing about a PEI winter is the absence of insects, I have bad news for you: this is peak season for some of our invertebrates! Carla McKie recently sent me this photo of one the...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/stoneflies
about 1 month ago
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The glowing eyes of wildlife can help identify who is looking back at you. Learn more about this adaptation in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/eyeshine
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Eyeshine
Tracks and scat may be the most common signs of PEI wildlife, but they are not the only ones. Other examples include dens, nests, cavities, caches, browse, and this very cool adaptation: eyeshine. Not...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/eyeshine
about 1 month ago
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Conifers and broadleaved trees each have their adaptations, but what about Larch - a deciduous conifer? Check out today’s post to learn about the tree with a foot in each world!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/larch-a...
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Larch Adaptations
Last month, I posted about the advantages and disadvantages of multi-year needles versus annual broad leaves on trees (You can read about that here: https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/conifer-adaptation...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/larch-adaptations
about 2 months ago
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The largest winter wildlife track on PEI comes from an animal you might not have thought of: the Bald Eagle! Learn more in today’s post.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/bald-ea...
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Bald Eagle Tracks
Pop quiz: what’s the largest winter wildlife track you’ll find on PEI? Coyote is our largest animal, so that would be a reasonable – but wrong – guess. Snowshoe Hare’s hind feet are pretty big, but no...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/bald-eagle-tracks
about 2 months ago
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Winter is a great time to spot a cool phenomenon of conifer trees: blue resin! Check out today’s post to learn about the colour and cause.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/blue-tr...
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Blue Tree Resin
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI. Jeff Matheson sent me this wonderful photo of blue resin on the side of a spruce tree and was c...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/blue-tree-resin
about 2 months ago
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All types of wildlife leave tracks and sign - even birds! Today’s post looks at the differences between tracks of native Ruffed Grouse and introduced Ring-necked Pheasant.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/grouse-...
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Grouse vs. Pheasant Tracks
Birds may not be the first animals that come to mind when you think winter wildlife tracks, but some of our avian neighbours spend more time walking than flying. Two good examples are Ruffed Grouse an...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/grouse-vs-pheasant-tracks
about 2 months ago
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Have you ever thought about the advantages and disadvantages of keeping your leaves year-round like conifers do? The trees sure have - check out today’s post to learn more!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/conifer...
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Conifer Adaptations
Snow on spruce trees is a hallmark of the Canadian winter. While most PEI plants lose their leaves or disappear altogether as temperatures drop, you may not have thought about how and why conifers tak...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/conifer-adaptations
2 months ago
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It takes practice to tell feline tracks from canine, but side-by-side examples can help point out the differences. Check out today’s post to learn what to look for!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/feline-...
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Feline Track Refresher
Whether it’s the potential for Bobcats here on PEI or reports of Eastern Cougar on the mainland, wild cats have a mystique that makes many of us want a track to be Feline. This, coupled with how felin...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/feline-track-refresher
2 months ago
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Ice can be beautiful on frosty winter mornings. We usually call this ‘hoar frost’ but it’s often a very different type of ice. Check out the phenomena in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/hoar-fr...
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Hoar Frost vs. Rime Ice
Few PEI scenes are more beautiful than frosty winter mornings like the one we had last week. Under certain conditions, ice crystals coat trees, twigs, and fence lines, turning the landscape into somet...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/hoar-frost-vs-rime-ice
2 months ago
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It may look like a Muppet ran through your yard, but it’s really a Snowshoe Hare! Learn about Hare tracks & scat in today’s post.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/snowsho...
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Snowshoe Hare Tracks & Scat
So far this winter, I’ve had more questions about this type of track than all others combined. It seems everyone is curious about Snowshoe Hares! I get it: Snowshoe Hare tracks look like they were ma...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/snowshoe-hare-tracks-scat
2 months ago
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Here in the Maritimes, lichens are bright spots in the mostly-monochromatic winter landscape. They also have some very cool adaptations. Check out today’s post to learn more!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/sunburs...
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Sunburst Lichen
The Island’s winter landscape is mostly monochrome, making the occasional burst of colour all that more beautiful. One of my favourite bright spots is the aptly-named Maritime Sunburst Lichen (Xanthor...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/sunburst-lichen
3 months ago
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It’s wild canine breeding season here in the Maritimes, so foxes and coyotes are especially active. That makes it a great time to brush up on your canine track ID! Check out today’s post for helpful tips.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/canine-...
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Canine Track Refresher
It’s breeding season for PEI’s wild canines, meaning foxes and coyotes are more active right now. Even if you haven’t seen (or heard) any in your neighbourhood, tracks will tell you who’s been around....
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/canine-track-refresher
3 months ago
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It’s been bitterly cold here on PEI and in many parts of North America. Media have been all abuzz about the temperature causing trees to ‘explode’. Want to look beyond the clickbait and into facts? Check out today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/explodi...
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Exploding trees?
There have been some bitterly cold days this winter, with temperatures well into the minus teens and twenties Celsius. Clear, cold days are great times to be in the woods, but you may notice some unus...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/exploding-trees
3 months ago
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No feet? No problem! Just like other animals, snakes leave tracks and use a range of gaits. Learn about serpentine locomotion in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/snake-t...
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Snake Tracks
We’ve reached that time of year when my weekly posts switch from plants and fungi to wildlife tracks and sign. Here’s a nice reminder that not all tracks are made by feet!The dry summer weather made f...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/snake-tracks
5 months ago
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Some fungi just don’t play by the rules! This fungus is more closely related to many-pored bracket fungi than other toothed fungi, and preys on insects trying to prey on it. The very cool Northern Tooth!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/norther...
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Northern Tooth
Welcome to the final Mushroom Monday of 2025. We’ll end with a large and easy-to-identify species that hasn’t been recorded all that often on the Island: Northern Tooth (Climacodon septentrionalis). A...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/northern-tooth
5 months ago
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Meet the beautiful, migratory songbird that’s among the most-commonly heard in PEI forests (and terrified a 100 lb dog!): the Parula Warbler.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/parula-...
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Parula Warbler
Earlier this year, my youngest (and largest) dog was cornered on the deck by something that was clearly very scary. I rushed to rescue him and immediately saw the fearsome creature: this lovely Northe...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/parula-warbler
5 months ago
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Here’s a group of mushrooms that’s common, edible, easy-to-identify and - here on PEI at least - everywhere! Meet the Slippery Jacks.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/slipper...
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Slippery Jacks
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. Today we have not one species but a whole group that’s both reasonably easy to identify and edible: Suillus speci...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/slippery-jacks
5 months ago
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It’s alien-looking, toxic, medicinal, and the bane of farmers in some places. Meet the interesting - and native - Cocklebur.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/cocklebur
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Cocklebur
If I had to design vegetation for a movie set on an alien planet, I’d take inspiration from this PEI plant: the odd-looking Rough Cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium). Cocklebur gets its name from spine-c...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/cocklebur
5 months ago
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It looks like the leftovers from someone’s lunch but may have an important future in medicine. Check out Orange Peel Fungus in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/orange-...
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Orange Peel Fungus
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. Not all mushrooms have the cap-and-stem look we tend to expect, and today’s species is a well-named example of a d...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/orange-peel-fungus
5 months ago
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They look like a fungus and produce sugar-rich poop. Meet Woolly Alder Aphids!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/woolly-...
5 months ago
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Today’s mushroom is beautiful and delicious but does have a toxic lookalike to be aware of. Meet the Shaggy Parasols!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/shaggy-...
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Shaggy Parasols
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. I taste-tested today’s species for the first time this year, and it’s now among my favourite edible wild mushrooms...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/shaggy-parasols
6 months ago
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Edible, medicinal, and ecologically important? Sounds like the bears are on to something! Meet Bearberry in today’s post.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/bearberry
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Bearberry
PEI has more than 30 native, wild plants with edible berries, but here’s one of the lesser-known: Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi). Bearberry doesn’t compete taste-wise with some of our other wild...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/bearberry
6 months ago
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A delicious, purple mushroom? Why, yes, don’t mind if I do! Meet the Blewit.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/blewits
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Blewits
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. Today’s species is both beautiful and delicious. Meet the Blewit (Collybia nuda). ‘Blewit’ is an odd-sounding name...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/blewits
6 months ago
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Happy Halloween!
6 months ago
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It doesn’t tower like its Birch-tree kin, but it’s still beautiful. Meet Bog Birch in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/bog-birch
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Bog Birch
This fall, we’ve been exploring some of PEI’s least-common trees, including Balsam Poplar, Ironwood, and Jack Pine. Today it’s one many people haven’t even heard of: Bog Birch (Betula pumila). We ofte...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/bog-birch
6 months ago
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When you think of culinary Sweetbreads, mushrooms are probably not the first things that come to mind. Check out today’s post to learn about this smelly, edible fungus!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/sweetbr...
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Sweetbread Mushrooms
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. It’s often helpful to use more than just sight when identifying mushrooms, and today’s species has a very distinct...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/sweetbread-mushrooms
6 months ago
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Holey rocks may or may not bring us good luck, but they definitely benefit the creatures that make them. Check out today’s post to learn more.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/holey-r...
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Holey Rocks
PEI’s shores are full of interesting finds, including holey rocks like this one. At first glance, you may think this stone was shaped by waves and tides, but the creators of these holes are biological...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/holey-rocks
6 months ago
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I usually ignore LBMs (Little Brown Mushrooms) as being too challenging to identify, but these are uncharacteristically distinctive. Meet Mica Caps!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/mica-caps
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Mica Caps
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. Little brown mushrooms can be tricky to identify, but today’s species has features that help it stand out: meet Mi...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/mica-caps
6 months ago
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Scientific names are important and can keep you from mistaking a toxic plant for an edible one. Check out today’s post and don’t confuse Wild Lily-of-the-Valley with Lily-of-the-Valley!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/wild-li...
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Wild Lily-of-the-Valley
You may think of summer as peak season for PEI’s wild berries, but a few tasty treats are at their best this time of year. One of my fall favourites is Wild Lily-of-the-Valley (aka Canada Mayflower, M...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/wild-lily-of-the-valley
6 months ago
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Happy Thanksgiving! Today’s fungus is appropriately pumpkin-coloured but not one you want to add to the table. Check it out! 😊
www.pei-untamed.com/post/false-c...
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False Chanterelle
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. Today’s species is one I’ve known about for decades but hadn’t found until this year: False Chanterelle (Hygrophor...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/false-chanterelle
6 months ago
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It’s not as well-known as its siblings - Trembling Aspen and Large-toothed Aspen - but Balsam Poplar is a beautiful, rare native tree. Check it out in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/balsam-...
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Balsam Poplar
Most Islanders are familiar with Poplar (aka Trembling Aspen, featured last week), and many know of its relative, Large-tooth Aspen. But you may not have met PEI’s rarest member of this group: Balsam ...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/balsam-poplar
7 months ago
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I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll send your spores out! Today’s post features the fun, edible, and ecologically helpful Common Puffball.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/common-...
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Common Puffball
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. Today, it’s one of the most common and widespread species in North America: the Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlat...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/common-puffball
7 months ago
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Have you ever wondered why Trembling Aspen leaves tremble? Check out today’s post to find out!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/trembli...
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Trembling Aspen
One of PEI’s most common trees is Poplar, aka Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides). The ‘trembling’ name comes from the habit of this tree’s leaves to flutter in the barest of breezes; the gust in th...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/trembling-aspen
7 months ago
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You can roll up this rim, but you won’t win a prize. Meet Brown Roll-Rim, aka ‘Poison Pax’!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/brown-r...
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Brown Roll-Rim
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. This week we have the interesting, toxic, and relatively easy-to-identify Brown Roll-Rim (Paxillus involutus).I ap...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/brown-roll-rim
7 months ago
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Our marine environment is home to amazing and unusual creatures. Unfortunately, this one is also invasive. Check out today’s post on the Golden Star Tunicate.
www.pei-untamed.com/post/star-tu...
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Star Tunicate
Welcome back to Ask a Naturalist, your own personal Google for information on all things natural on PEI. I recently received this beautiful photo with the question: what is this? It’s the amazing (bu...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/star-tunicate
7 months ago
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It’s common, ecologically-important, medicinal, and easy-to-identify. Meet Birch Polypore!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/birch-p...
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Birch Polypore
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at PEI’s fascinating fungi. We’re staying with the Polypore group for another week to look at a species that can be found even during this drought: Bi...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/birch-polypore
7 months ago
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Many people have never seen PEI’s rarest native tree, but you can in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/ironwood
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Ironwood
Most people have never seen PEI’s rarest native tree in person, and some have never even heard of it. Meet the beautiful Ironwood (Ostrya virginiana). Ironwood gets its common name from its extraordin...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/ironwood
7 months ago
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Biology, Geometry, Greek Mythology, and modern medical research all meet in this mushroom. Check out today’s post to learn more!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/maze-po...
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Maze Polypores
Welcome back to Mushroom Monday, your weekly look at some of PEI’s fascinating fungi. The dry weather has made it a poor year for most mushrooms, but you can still find the tough Polypores. Here’s a n...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/maze-polypores
7 months ago
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PEI’s rarest native conifer comes with a very cool adaptation. Learn all about it in today’s post!
www.pei-untamed.com/post/jack-pine
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Jack Pine
It may not be majestic, but it’s PEI’s rarest native conifer and has an adaptation unlike any of our other trees. Meet Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana). If you say ‘pine’ on the Island, chances are you mea...
https://www.pei-untamed.com/post/jack-pine
8 months ago
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