Hiking? You’re a Poopy Head!

I thought that might get your attention! Well, we’re not only here to insult, but to educate as well, so on this #WildlifeWednesday let’s talk about frass!

This is the time of year, even on a perfectly sunny day, a hiker out enjoying the trails can be fooled into thinking it’s beginning to rain. They can hear the tell-tale tapping on the leaves as they walk. Well, unless we’ve had a rainy weather forecast, chances are, it’s probably not raining. IT’S POOP! Lots and lots…, and LOTS of caterpillar poop! And yes, it’s coming down on you! In fact, my wife was brushing it out of her hair after our last hike!

This time of year, there are tons of caterpillars up in the treetops. If you’re out on the trails of Devil’s Lake State Park right now, you’ll probably see quite a few caterpillars seemly floating in space above the trails.

The ones you see hanging are cankerworms also known as looper or inchworms. At Devil’s Lake we usually see tons of them every summer. And if you don’t see them, you’ll feel them when their silky threads get caught on your face! I’ve often found myself trying to wipe away one thread only to get even more stuck to my eyelids, nose, and mouth.. Blah! You can learn more about cankerworms here.

Of course, there is an upside to the poop rain. Caterpillars live in the trees by the millions. Before they turn into moths and butterflies, all they do all day, every day, is eat and poop and eat and poop. All that poop (frass) provides nutrients that will be instantly available to the forest as soon as it really does rain. Awesome eh? Yeah, and maybe a little gross too.

Listen…

So, are you gonna wash your hair right after you next hike?