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GIGGLEMOOSE NEWS -- OCTOBER 2003 -- Greetings, nature lovers!
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CONTENTS:
1. Transitions
2. Don’t Overlook Reptiles and Amphibians
3. Pumpkin Time
4. Activity Idea
5. Links You’ll Love
6. Answers R Us
7. Reruns
8. From the Moose Man's Office
9. Don't Forget to Vote
10. We Need You!
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1. TRANSITIONS

Autumn is the season of transition in nature, as wildlife begins a variety of instinctive behaviors to prepare for winter. The world of flora is just as diverse. Some plants become dormant, some are just now producing seed, and many others will die away. Of course, these annual changes in the natural world vary dramatically depending on which climate you live in. This particular fall has been quite a season of transition for us as well, both personally and professionally. First Wendy and I decided we needed to move a little deeper into the woods and forge our homestead on a bigger piece of land. We didn’t find the 30-acre farm that I continually dream about, but we did happily settle into a roomy house on 7 wooded acres. The move also opened the door for pets, which finally puts an end to the constant pleas of our children. We brought home two puppies: Bear, a black Labrador Retriever; and Dixie, a Bluetick Coonhound. Despite the resulting lack of sleep and even greater demands on scheduling, the pair have quickly become a much-loved part of the family. Unfortunately, a big move and two new babies put quite a strain on our commitments to Gigglemoose. We focused our available time on processing customer orders (thank you to the few customers who were patient with minor shipping delays!), but unfortunately were forced to neglect the production of new Web site content. However, I’m pleased to announce that things are now relatively back to normal (well, as normal as things ever get around here!) and this newsletter is just the beginning of lots of new content that’s coming soon. Look for NEW wildlife profiles, quizzes and crossword puzzles, author interviews, nature questions, and much more in the coming days! We’re also in the midst of adding a whole slew of exciting new products to our Nature Learning Store. Our goal is to add at least 100 new items in time for your Christmas shopping! And finally, we’re putting the finishing touches on a surprise working relationship with a leading lesson-planning Web site that will offer teaching activities and worksheets based on some of our nature articles. Stay tuned . . .

 2. DON’T OVERLOOK REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS

 One of the delightful surprises of our new house is a chance to explore all-new habitats. The forest that embraces our property is much more diverse than the wooded lot behind our old house, offering more mast and cover for wildlife. Our wild neighbors include a wandering bear, at least one moose, a village of deer, wild turkeys, and a new crowd of birds. But perhaps the most noticeable difference is the abundance of reptiles and amphibians. Within a few weeks of our arrival, we’d found redback salamanders, a red spotted newt (in its red eft land form), numerous frogs and toads (including a tiny, difficult-to-spot spring peeper), and a family of garter snakes that all like to sun on a woodpile out back. These creatures aren’t quite as exciting as wolves or bears or rabbits or birds to some adults (in fact, some adults could do without them completely!), but I assure you that the boundless curiosity of children is not deterred by things that crawl or slither in moist regions. My gang has had a blast helping me record my observations as a participant in the New Hampshire Reptile and Amphibian Reporting Program. So when you’re exploring the great outdoors or teaching about wildlife, don’t overlook these amazing species. Not only are they worthy of study in their own right, but they also help foster much-needed appreciation for our endangered wetlands.

3. PUMPKIN TIME

 When you think of fall, there are many images that instantly come to mind. Apples, dried corn stalks, mums, colorful foliage, and PUMPKINS! Everybody loves these bright orange orbs, especially when they’re sporting spooky carved faces. Look for our “Pumpkin Patch” on the “Gardening with Children” page of our Web site at http://www.gigglemoose.com/gardening.htm and learn how to pick the perfect pumpkin, keep your pumpkin longer, grow your own pumpkins (it’s never too early to plan for next year), and how to make pumpkin soup and low-fat pumpkin pie!

 4. ACTIVITY IDEA

 When you get that perfect pumpkin home and begin transforming it into a Halloween masterpiece, don’t throw away the seeds! It’s easier than you think to make a tasty, healthy snack. Just separate the seeds from the pumpkin flesh and strings. Wash them well and spread them on paper towels to dry. Then spread the seeds evenly over a cookie sheet and roast them in a 375-degree oven for 20--30 minutes. Dot the seeds with butter or margarine, raise the oven temperature to 400, and brown the seeds for an additional 5--10 minutes. Finish them off with a sprinkling of salt and serve them hot or cold. For a milder flavor, simmer the cleaned seeds for about an hour in salted water and fry in deep oil. Or mix a tablespoon of oil or margarine to each cup of nuts and roast them at 250 degrees for 30--40 minutes until they're golden.

 5. LINKS YOU’LL LOVE

 Certainly you’ve heard of the National Wildlife Federation, the nation's largest member-supported conservation group that unites individuals, organizations, businesses, and government to protect wildlife, wild places, and the environment. But are you aware of all the educational resources available online at their Web site (www.nwf.org)? For more than 60 years, the NWF has been a leader in environmental education, and the education page on their site details many of their initiatives---from school resources like the Schoolyard Habitats Program and Campus Ecology to community resources like the Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program, Earth Tomorrow, and NatureLink. They even list educator workshops across the country. The site is an informative treasure for teachers, home educators, and community volunteers. Visit http://www.nwf.org/education/ and see for yourself. Gigglemoose is a proud supporter of the National Wildlife Federation.

 6. ANSWERS R US

In our never-ending quest to answer all questions nature-related, we provide another insightful response to a visitor's fascinating query. The question this time around is: "How does evaporation work?" Read our explanation by going to http://www.gigglemoose.com/feature_question.htm

7. RERUNS

Did you miss a back issue of one of our newsletters? Would you like to reference a past article? All of our newsletters are now available online so you can read them whenever you’d like. Visit our archive at http://www.gigglemoose.com/newsletterarchive.htm

 8. FROM THE MOOSE MAN'S OFFICE

Many of our nature-loving friends request recommendations for good environmental education resources. Here's another one of the Moose Man's personal favorites:  

South Carolina is home to a unique company that specializes in the design and production of media to support environmental education for children and adults. One of our favorite videos by Environmental Media Corporation is “Nature Neighborhood,” an easy-to-follow, 30-minute program that walks you through the process of creating three different outdoor learning centers: a butterfly garden, a bird observation station, and a mini-pond. The detailed information covers everything from initial planning to step-by-step construction, but the information is presented in a generalized format so that you can easily customize your plans for school, home, or park use. It even highlights some of the animals that might be attracted to your "nature neighborhood" of habitats.  The comprehensive companion teaching guide (available separately or in a money-saving discount pack) suggests mini field trips and activities you can coordinate on your existing school grounds and offers “how-to” chapters that provide detailed instruction in creating and using a mini-pond, bird observation station, and butterfly garden. A resource and reference section points you to teaching resources, field guides, and sources for supplies, animals, and plants. If you’d like to learn more about this teacher-favorite video, or purchase a copy, go to http://www.gigglemoose.com/emcnn101.htm or browse the video section in our online Nature Learning Store.

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