One of our more unusual native residents has an adorable face, makes welcome mats out of their own poop, openly carries weapons, and plows snow all winter. If you snowshoe or ski in the backcountry, you’ll likely come across its furrows. Often, these trails will dead-end at a large tree, and if you look up, you might actually see the rascal itself, a ball of fur and quills sleeping among the branches.

What would catch your eye more – a photo of a bald eagle or a photo of a freshwater mussel? If both were asking for funding for important conservation work, which would you donate to? For many people the bald eagle is the easy choice. This comes down to the species’ charisma, and some human psychology. Charisma might be something you associate with the recent pop culture term “rizz,” but it can also be considered an attribute of many species.

The idea that plants benefit from kind words, or from speech in general, has roots that go back at least to Charles Darwin, who supported the concept.

Proceeds from calendar sales benefit Nature Up North's community outreach initiatives. Each year, Nature Up North reaches hundreds of local residents through guided hikes, paddles, workshops, and K-12 programs. Thanks for your support!

Thimble and Blossom let us know that they loved all of the nature questions you had for them this year, and were thrilled to receive a selfie too! Although it was a warm fall and they were able to enjoy the North Country into November this year, they had to continue south in search of warmer climates for the winter. Before they left, they took a moment to write their answers down and share them with us!