Observations: June 2, 1997 Time: 7:30 pm Weather: Overcast and cool

A Mobile Home Look in pools on the rocky shore when the tide is out, and you may see shells scurrying about. These fast moving shells contain Acadian Hermit Crabs (Pagurus acadianus). Unlike other crabs that have a hard, external skeleton, hermit crabs have no protection on the back half of their bodies. A hermit crab wraps its soft, coiled body around the inside of an empty periwinkle, whelk or moon snail shell, making a portable "house". The crab blocks the entrance to the shell with its front claws, one small and one large. When the hermit crab retreats inside its shell, it is very difficult for predators to dislodge. However, the crab can leave its shell easily. As it grows, the Acadian Hermit Crab will look for a larger "home".

What did you call that? In the spring, along the edges of the forest in the Nature Park are bushy trees with elegant white blossoms. These trees (Amelanchier spp.) are known by several common names across Canada including serviceberry, shadbush, juneberry or Saskatoon. "Shadbush", its local New Brunswick name, comes from the fact that these trees flower when the shad run up river. The blossoms, which have five, widely-spaced petals, appear before the leaves in the spring and develop into red berries in the summer. These sweet and juicy berries are eaten by birds and mammals, and are often collected by people. They were once a staple to many native North Americans who pressed them with meat and animal fat to make pemmican. Today, they are eaten raw or made into jams or jellies.

Flap Your Hands and Fly In the early evening have you seen bird-like creatures flying above you on the trail or road? What you have probably witnessed is the feeding activity of the Little Brown Bat (Myotis lucifugus). Bats use echo location for tracking insects, their only food. The bats emit bursts of high pitched sound (too high for humans to hear) and then use echoes that bounce off objects to guide them to their food and to stay away from danger. The Little Brown Bat has a wingspan of up to 27 cm from tip to tip, it weighs up to 13 grams, and has a lifespan of 10 years. The "wings" of this bat are actually elongated fingers of the front leg, with skin stretching between them down to the hind leg. Since the wings evolved from legs, bats are awkward on land. They roost high up in protected areas, such as tree cavities and under tree bark. During the winter these creatures retreat into caves and tree cavities where they will cluster together to keep warm. Despite popular belief, bats do not get tangled in your hair, or carry any more diseases than any other wild creature.

The Naturalist's Notebook is published quarterly. If you have any questions or topics that you would like to see addressed, please call John Gilbert, Manager, Fish and Wildlife, J.D. Irving, Limited, (506) 632-7777.