Just Don't Eat Them!

   Early this afternoon, Son and I were out doing a bit of yard work when I noticed some beautiful "nuts" on the ground near the citrus trees.  Uh, oh!  Time to grab a bucket and start gathering.  The chore brought back memories of being on the farm and picking up pecans each fall but these "nuts" were not nearly as nice.  You see, what I was gathering today were not nuts.  They were the seeds of the Red Buckeye Tree.  Although the seeds greatly resemble chestnuts when free from their outer case, there is a HUGE difference.  Buckeye seeds are highly toxic.  If eaten, they can cause many, many problems even death.  So a warning....never eat buckeyes!  In fact, the seeds of the buckeye tree are toxic to animals as well.  Deer, squirrels and raccoons love nuts but will not touch these as they know...you just do not eat these things!  Supposedly, the toxicity can be lessened if the seeds are prepared correctly by boiling and leaching them but why take the chance?  It seems to be a lot more logical to gather the hickory nuts that simply go to waste because of their hard shells.  Those are edible just difficult to open.  I would rather smack something edible with a hammer than take a chance of eating something poisonous.

  So. at this point, you may ask why I was so intent on gathering the seeds?  Well, it is a simple fact that each of these seeds will drop, sprout and make yet another tree.  Then, I would be gathering thousands of seeds instead of the fifty or so that were on the ground today.  While I love the gorgeous blooms in the spring, I am not a fan of stumbling over the seeds during the fall and winter.  It is just easier to pick up the seeds and dispose of them.  

  Before I throw them in the burn bin, however, I always have to admire the beauty of the woodgrain on the seeds.  When the outer husks split open the seeds are a rich reddish-brown and are quite shiny.  After drying for a few days, they become almost black and are rather dull.  The change is amazingly quick.  It is said that if you wish to sprout the seeds, you must plant them while they are still fresh.  Once they dry, the seeds are no longer viable.  

  So, folks.  As tempting as it may be, please do NOT eat the buckeye seeds!  You have been warned!  This is one case where something that looks so good is not edible.  Looks can be deceiving, for sure!  

Classic Pose

   Along about dusk a couple of days ago, Mark and I made a quick trip to the pier.  On the way down the hill, I made mention that we would probably see a snake since cottonmouths are more prone to be nocturnal.  We talked as we walked and made no effort to be stealthy.  As we started up the board ramp to the pier, a sudden stench reached us.  Yep, there was a cottonmouth somewhere!  Sure enough, just a short way down the pier, I spied our snake.  At first, the snake tried to sit quietly in hopes of going unseen but, once it realized we were aware of its presence, it went into its classic cottonmouth pose.  That pearly white mouth part was a sure signal that this snake was in no mood to put up with us.

  This classic pose of the cottonmouth is sort of a last ditch warning.  First, the musky smell of a cottonmouth will often be enough to deter anyone from getting too near.  The odor is hard to describe but once you do realize what it is, you will remember.  To me, it is sort of a combination of a pair of stinky socks and the muddy smell of low tide.  (Maybe throw in a few rotten potatoes, for good measure!)  Trust me, it is not a nice smell but it gets the job done.  The stench is there to warn you that a snake is in the area.  If you do smell it, the best move is no move until you find the snake, then slowly back away.   The next warning is that body tense, head up and mouth gaping pose...the classic cottonmouth pose.  With its mouth wide open, the origin of its name is quite apparent.  The inside is cotton white.  At first, the fangs are not extended but sort of laid back in a relaxed position.  If a threat is perceived, then the fangs come into action!  At this warning, people should have the good sense to know that the snake is not going to back down.  It will hold its ground and deliver a nasty bite.  Those hollow fangs are there to inject venom.  The bite is extremely painful and you should seek medical help immediately if bitten. 

  Mark and I were safe even though the cottonmouth was doing its best to warn us of its potential.  Being high up on the pier (instead of down on the same level as the snake) gave us the advantage of safely viewing the warning actions and that classic threatening pose.  If anything can be said about the cottonmouth, at least it does give warnings!  Sometimes, however, people are just not smart enough to heed those warnings.  Folks, it is best to watch where you are treading and never, ever think a cottonmouth is smiling at you when it is gaping.  It is warning you that those fangs are ready and able to give you a whooping and it will be one you will never forget!  Don't mess with a cottonmouth.

 

The White Flag

  Have you ever sat and pondered why the underside of a lot of critters' tails is white?  Just around the Bayou, I have noticed a good many animals have the trait.  Deer and rabbits are probably the most noticeable but this morning, it finally dawned on me that birds have the same white tuft beneath their tails.  Why??  Well, it is a warning flag.  Once an adult critter recognizes a danger, they flick that white tail like a flag.  This is an alert for their little ones to take cover, freeze in their tracks or flee the area as quickly as they can.  The white tail flick is a universal alarm in the critter world.

  Early this morning, I headed to the pier as usual. My encounter with the cottonmouth a few days earlier left me alert and ready if need be.  Once on the pier, I was able to relax a bit and take notice of what was around me other than watching the placement of my steps.  To my left, a mama rail was busily showing her brood the fine art of catching minnows.  She had brought the youngsters to the perfect place since the mudflats were teeming with stranded minnows.  Small rivulets were alive with minnows trying to escape the ever-shrinking puddle of water.  Low tide is not kind to procrastinators!  Mama Rail snatched up minnow after minnow.  She would immediately drop her catch and call for her little ones.  This was all before she noticed me.  Even though the bird is familiar with me, she flicked that white flag and made the call of alarm.  Her chicks raced under the cover of the pier and were not to be seen.  She continued to feed in the shallows but the little ones stayed put.  

  Mama Rail had just used me as a lesson for her young.  "If I give the warning, you are to take cover and not come back until I call you." she seemed to have told them.  Her lesson had been learned well and her chicks were safe all due to the flick of the white tail.