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

.
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.

.

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. 

* * * * * * * * * *

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

WILDLIFE

Among the reasons that walking about town, or taking a real hike in a park is far more interesting than mindlessly walking on a treadmill as I used to do, is that outdoors one can see real wildlife. During my hikes I have seen frogs, snakes, deer, herons, chipmunks, turtles and wild turkeys. Yesterday as I hiked through Goose Island I spotted something that appeared to be moving. At first I thought it might be a leaf, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be something that I would have never expected to see on a Chicago street. I think it was a scorpion. It was about 3 inches long, and when I got near it to take its photo, it curled up in a defensive position. I sent this picture to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to see if they would be kind enough to confirm my sighting. If I hear back from them, I will let you know... If it wasn't a scorpion, then perhaps it was a three inch lobster, and that seems highly unlikely. But seriously, a scorpion? In Chicago? Walking across the street? 

It took a lot of effort to squeeze in this 6 mile urban hike yesterday.... It rained practically the entire day. In fact, there were thunderstorms in the morning, afternoon and evening. When I set out on this hike, with my daughter, the rain had stopped briefly. This break in the precipitation was short-lived, so we got a bit wet. 

Your Food Diary For:

Saturday, October 14, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Grits	300	66	5	6	930	3
Trader Joes - Pumpkin O's	220	50	2	4	280	18
	520	116	7	10	1,210	21
L U N C H
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
Mariano's - Spicy Salmon Maki	350	39	16	14	278	0
	650	104	16	19	1,778	40
D I N N E R
Rana - Roaster Tomato & Mozzarella Tortellini	600	89	16	22	1,244	2
	600	89	16	22	1,244	2
S N A C K S
Select Choice - Chewy Oat & Honey Granola	200	38	4	4	110	14
Snack Cheese	100	0	9	6	163	0
	300	38	13	10	273	14
Totals	2,070	347	52	61	4,505	77
Your Daily Goal	2,934	367	97	147	2,300	110
Remaining	864	20	45	86	-2,205	33
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,004 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 218.9 lbs in 5 weeks.