Fun Fungus Food

Laetiporus sulphureus – Aka: Sulfur shelf, chicken of the woods – is a genus of edible fungus found in most places on the planet. I found this specimen growing on a standing dead red oak on my land. Stunning in its beauty and delectable in culinary repasts, it grows on both living and dead trees, mostly hardwoods. Growth on living trees causes the tissue to be infected with a brown cubical rot which causes the wood to become brittle and the tree to eventually break. Pretty tasty though!

What the…….?

I was performing a scheduled security check at a client’s house and went down to the basement. I always check the glue traps here as there have been mice in there. I did a double take on the one in the corner. Is that a mouse? Nope. It was a little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus). With my security check completed I took the little guy outside to decide what to do. I was just going to dispatch it to the great beyond but took pity on it and set about freeing it from the sticky fate to which it was stuck. I pulled out my trusty leatherman, one of the greatest tools ever, and carefully began working the delicate wings loose from the glue. I could see the fine bone structure within the wings and was concerned as to whether or not this was a good idea. Long story short, it took me about 30 minutes to free the bat, totally unharmed! I have no idea how long it was attached to the glue trap but I bet it was thirsty. I got a napkin from the truck and poured some water on it and squeezed the water around the bats mouth. After it finished the uber high pitch screaming and clicking, it began to lick the water greedily. After a few squeezes it was ready to go. I took it away from the property and found a sheltered tree and let it crawl off my hand to the tree. Good deed for the day I suppose.