MYSTERY SOLVED!

On October 15, 2017 I wrote about some unusual 'wildlife' that I encountered in the middle of Chicago during one of my urban hikes. I have reprinted my original post below:

I had long ago given up hope that someone would respond to my original email.  Yesterday at 2PM I received an email from Mr. Matt O'Hara whose many titles included: IDNR-Fisheries (Illinois Department of Natural Resources), Aquatic Nuisance Species Aquaculture Program, Natural Resources Advanced Specialist, and Asian Carp Project Leader. This guy is apparently very busy, I am grateful that my email was addressed even if I had to wait nearly three months for a response.

Here was the response:

Hello Marc, 

Thanks for your email, about the creature you encountered. The creature is an aquatic crawfish, this crawfish is a nonnative or invasive crayfish to the Chicago area known as a “Red Swamp Crawfish”. Although the Red Swamp Crawfish is a native to the very southern tip Illinois, they are invasive to northern areas. They can outcompete native crawfish for food and habitat.

Thanks 

Matt O'Hara

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So this mystery is solved.  I never really thought it was a lobster, but it sure looked like one. I also never really thought it was a scorpion, but it sure looked like one. I had never really ever seen a Red Swamp Crawfish before, so it never occurred to me that it might be one. I am very grateful to Mr. O'Hara for taking the time to answer my question.

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I was well aware that I have been overeating the past week. I have 'smartly' combined this with zero amount of exercise. No shock  when my Saturday weight was 248.9 lbs. 

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my original email included two photos.

Greetings,
Although it was lightly raining around 4:00PM when I was on Goose Island, Illinois earlier today October 14 and headed to the bridge that takes one to North Avenue - I spotted this creature (approx 3”) slowly walking along the road.  Was this a scorpion? 

Thank you for letting me know.

Marc Jacobs
Chicago

Mt. AIRY FOREST in CINCINNATI, OHIO

Summertime is hiking time. During the cold dark months of late fall, winter and early spring it is appropriate to workout indoors. As much as possible, with increased hours of light and warm temperatures it is best to get outside (and forgo the joys of netflix). Yesterday afternoon after visiting customers, and after the Cincinnati temperatures had 'cooled' to 88° it was time to take a hike. I drove to the Mt. Airy Forest where I expected to find a number of trails. If I was without my MapMyWalk app, I would have been quite nervous as I would have not known in what direction I was traveling or how to get back. The app solves that problem and lays down the path one has travelled always on a real map of the area. Although the trails are not part of the this app - the roads that surround the the park are always present. As long as one's battery is charged, and a cell signal is available - one always knows where one is, and how to return to the point of origin (aka one's parked car). Quite a handy feature!

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Showing my 'Payton' pride in a shirt that I recently picked up at a thrift store.

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Part of my hike had me sharing the road with automobiles - this was a welcome sign.

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After all the twist and turns, the hike was completed after I had walked 11 miles.

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Cincinnati is on the western edge of the Eastern Time Zone - therefore sunset arrives after 9PM. 

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Your Food Diary For:

Monday, June 20, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Kellogg's - Fruit Loops Cereal	550	130	5	5	675	60
	550	130	5	5	675	60
L U N C H
Apple Cinnamon Rice Cake, 14 Cake	700	154	0	14	0	42
	700	154	0	14	0	42
D I N N E R
Vegetable Fried Rice	250	32	11	5	216	1
Sweet and Sour Seitan	400	54	15	17	1,166	38
Prosciutto	100	0	7	11	815	0
Cantalope - Fruit	100	24	0	2	2	23
	850	111	32	36	2,199	62
S N A C K S
Red Delicious Apple, 3 medium apple	285	75	1	2	5	57
MILK CHOCOLATE CHERRIES	100	14	6	1	6	12
YOGURT RAISINS	150	25	6	1	13	22
Wasabi Peas	150	22	3	7	245	4
DARK CHOCOLATE GINGER	170	29	7	1	5	25
	855	165	22	11	274	119
Totals	2,955	559	60	66	3,148	284
Your Daily Goal	3,537	442	118	177	2,300	132
Remaining	582	-117	58	111	-847	-151
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 1,607 extra calories from exercise today

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Your Exercise Diary for:

Monday, June 20, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	185	1,681
MFP iOS calorie adjustment	N/A	-74
Daily Total / Goal	186 / 30	1,607 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	186 / 210	1,607 / 4,130

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one last thought...I am a city boy, anytime I see natural wildlife, I find it particularly exciting. A couple of weeks ago, while hiking in the Indiana Dunes, I spotted a wild turkey. Yesterday while hiking a trail in Cincinnati, I was brought to a stop as there was a snake on the trail. Before I could snap a photo, it slithered away. Back in my hotel, I tried to figure out what kind of snake I might have seen, but that was impossible as there are many types of snakes that could be found in this part of the country. The last time I saw a snake was on a trail at the base of Devil's Tower in Wyoming about 4 years ago. Other than that, I have no memory of ever seeing a snake in its natural habitat. It is somewhat jarring, even if they are not dangerous.