Ken Lassman has been keeping this almanac for over a decade, He invites you to share your observations and photos in the comments section. You can find his book Wild Douglas County at The Raven Bookstore and The Community Mercantile in Lawrence.
Coon Breeding Moon – November
As you drive down roads this time of year, be aware of the raccoons who are crossing, especially at night. Look for their human-like footprints in the mud and it will clarify why they held such an important place in local storytelling lore.
This month is peak waterfowl migration and the eagles are returning to cottonwood trees along the river. Their white heads and black bodies with large flat wingspans can also be seen in the blue skies, and if you lay on the ground and watch the sky for a while, chances are that you’ll see some migratory bird flocks fly by, sometimes at very high altitudes.
Most leaves are migrating to the ground, with most trees becoming mostly bare in the first week of the month or so. It’s time too get your bird feeders going and this month is when some hunting seasons begin–check the Parks and Wildlife website for details.
It really is a great time to take walks, with insects gone and wildlife made more visible by the leaf drop. The longer nights can draw you into watching the winter constellations which are beginning to rise in the east, with some of the prettiest and dramatic stars of the year, whether you are looking through binoculars, a telescope or your eyes.
Hi Mr Lassman,
Thank you so much for putting this together, I sure appreciate reading it every week and have learned so much from you.
I just saw this spider in the attached picture and was wondering if you have any idea what it is. I donât know how well it comes through in the picture, but the whole back of it is covered in what looks like a wooly substance. I wondered if maybe those could be babies on the back? Have never seen anything like it, plus I included my finger in the pic so you can see how big the spider is.
Thank you so much for taking a look! Was just curious so if you donât know, no big deal, but I imagine you probably do 🙂
Debbie Smith
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Hi, Debbie,
I don’t see any attached picture, but maybe it will show up when I reply. If not, please send as an attachment to my email address, seasonsandcycles@yahoo.com and I’ll take a look at it.
thanks,
Ken
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