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not sure if Boreal or Western. Found at night when a number of amphibians came to an outdoor light to feed on insects attracted there- Chorus Frogs, Peepers, Red Efts, Blue-spotted and Yellow-spotted Salamanders. Never had a night like that before or since.

This species is re-discovered after 136 years of presumed extinction, after a single (holotype) specimen was collected in 1885 (Natura Croatia, 2022;31(2):217-224, https://hrcak.srce.hr/en/clanak/417209 and Linzer biol. Beitr 2022:54(1):251-256; https://www.zobodat.at/pdf/LBB_0054_1_0251-0256.pdf). The main feature of the species is the black marking on the male clypeus. Females were firstly observed and described from this location. Currently considered endemic to Croatian coast, including the Mosor, Kozjak and Dinara Mountains.

Wondering if this is A. hemiophrys but not sure what I'm looking for to distinguish between it and americanus- yes- it's wild. west side of the northern Sable Island on Lake of the Woods (this time of year there are thousands of toads (mostly babies) there so this one caught my eye for being different)

Back when I was say, 9 or 10, me and my sister were playing the backyard on the swing set. Our Mother watched us as we swung. Suddenly, my Mother shouted out to us to get into the house. We were confused and scared, why the yelling? We quickly ran into the house and looked back to see a giant raccoon emerging from the shed. It was massive! It could totally take down boy me!

The raccoon walked up to the swing set, and was confronted by my Mom with a broom. She swiped at it. Me and my sister watched behind the bug screen, probably not the best idea. After a short while, the raccoon returned to the shed, and forever after that, we feared the shed.

The raccoon's presents was marked by one the shed's doors, which the raccoon had bent out of shape.

Flash forward to the summer of 2020, and we finally decide that we wanted our shed back. We hadn’t used if for years! On June 8, my Father came with a pool net and prepared to face the raccoon. The whole family waited with anticipation, what would we find? After some time, I heard a shout, I quickly turned my attention to the shed, it was the raccoon, but not how we expected. In the pool net lied the skeletal remains of the raccoon, was it all over?

My Father brought the skull and some other bones to our outdoor table. The years of fear finally at an end. The following week would see the further discovery of other body parts. A nest was also found, stained by bodily fluids and decomposition. I also found a dead rat, it still had fur but you could see its bones.

The raccoon skeleton remains in the backyard, and the shed is ours once again.

This week marks the second anniversary of this event.

File name :DSCN7259.JPG
File size :643.4KB(658875Bytes)
Shoot date :2003/10/24 10:06:21
Picture size :1600 x 1200
Resolution :72 x 72 dpi
Number of bits :8bit/channel
Protection attribute :Off
Hide Attribute :Off
Camera ID :N/A
Model name :E995
Quality mode :FINE
Metering mode :Multi-pattern
Exposure mode :Programmed auto
Flash :No
Focal length :31 mm
Shutter speed :1/33.4second
Aperture :F5.1
Exposure compensation :0 EV
Fixed white balance :Auto
Lens :Built-in
Flash sync mode :N/A
Exposure difference :N/A
Flexible program :N/A
Sensitivity :Auto
Sharpening :Auto
Curve mode :N/A
Color mode :COLOR
Tone compensation :AUTO
Latitude(GPS) :N/A
Longitude(GPS) :N/A
Altitude(GPS) :N/A