Critters

	Richard Evans with MedCorp Ambulance Service gets a not-so-close look at a snake in Black Oak. The small stake was taking advantage of the warmer weather and warm sunshine and, other than a good fright, was released unharmed. (April 14, 2009, Dennis Brown)
	Numerous turkey vultures have been seen around Lewis County recently either roosting in trees or slowly circling on wind currents looking for their next meal. The birds can grow to have a wingspan of up to six feet and help to remove dead animals from nature. (March 31, 2009, Dennis Brown)
	A Bald Eagle perches in a tree near the Ohio River west of Vanceburg apparently on the lookout for its next meal. A state road worker spotted the American icon last week while doing road patching on Ky. Rt. 8 west of Vanceburg. (January 27, 2009, Dennis Brown)
	This Blue Jay works to break up a kernel of corn near a residential bird feeder. With the recent colder temperatures, birds of all sorts are seeking out feeders to help supplement their diet. Blue Jays are year-round residents of the eastern half of the United States. (December 2, 2008, Dennis Brown)
	COUNTING THE DAYS . . . These turkeys didn't seem to mind that Thanksgiving was just a few days away. Although not quite Butterballs, these wild turkeys seem to have been eating well over the fall months to get ready for the cold days ahead. (November 24, 2008, Dennis Brown)
	ON THE HUNT . . . A peacock's tail is too much of a temptation for a curious kitten in Lewis County last week. Neither kitten nor peacock were injured during the encounter. (April 11, 2006, Paula Franke)
	A bald eagle picked a catfish out of the Ohio River at Vanceburg while on the wing and landed on the riverbank recently. (August 30, 2005, Roger Jahn)
	THEY CHECK IN BUT THEY DON'T CHECK OUT. . .Several wasps apparently found their way in to this electric meter but were unable to find their way out. The meter, located in Vanceburg, is still operational despite being "bugged". (July 5, 2005, Dennis Brown)
	Lewis County beekeeper Dan'l Sisson prepares to remove a swarm of honeybees from a maple tree in the front yard of Matt and Kelly Dyer on Ky. Rt. 3037 near Ginn's Plumbing. The swarm, which had settled in the tree two days before its removal Thursday evening, was so heavy that the branch was nearly touching the ground. The bees were safely relocated to Sisson's farm. (May 17, 2004, Kelly Dyer)
	This very large moth and its mate visited Vanceburg last week. The brightly and unusually colored pair were spotted on Second Street early Sunday morning. (June 29, 2004, Sam Howard)
	A bald eagle has been sighted recently at Sherman Kegley's farm in Lewis County. (May 25, 2004, B. Kegley)
	FARMYARD FINERY . . . A peacock struts his stuff in an attempt to impress the feathered ladies during a break in storms over the weekend in Lewis County. (May 18, 2004, Paula Franke)
	MEOW . . . This opossum has been a regular visitor at the home of Louie and Ramona McKibben recently. The critter make night time visits to dine on cat food and makes little effort to retreat when confronted. (March 2, 2004, Kaitlin Brown)
	This "fairy ring" was apparent last week near Lewis County Central Elementary. The ring is actually a fungus growing outward from a central point at a rate of a few inches to several feet per year. The mushrooms appear at the out edge of the ring during certain conditions. Centuries ago, people thought that the mushrooms appeared where fairies had danced the night before. (July 22, 2003, Dennis Brown)
	A flock of young turkeys tries to decide which way to go on one of Lewis County's back roads. (July 8, 2003, Paula Franke)
	NAME THAT CRITTER . . . This rarely seen Red Bat visited Vanceburg over the weekend. Normally a solitary forest dweller, this little fellow spent Saturday roosting next to the ATM machine at Citizens Deposit Bank & Trust. (April 15, 2003, Dennis Brown)
	Danny Ruiz bagged this 18-point buck in the Lewis County/Fleming County area on November 8. (November 19, 2002)
	Chris McCane got this eight-point, spotted piebald buck on November 13, on private land on Fly Branch. (November 19, 2002)
	Larry Bloomfield, a student in Mrs. Stone's class at Lewis County Central Elementary School, models the newest classroom accessory -- hissing cockroaches! The students are having a good time taking care of the critters, which were donated to the class by Assistant Principal Matt Stanfield. (October 29, 2002, Lewis County Central Elementary photo)
	Lee Caldwell displays the 12-pound, 40-inch in circumference mushroom that he and John Billman found on Slate Hollow, Tuesday, October 1. (October 8, 2002, Tiffany Stamper)
	DOGGIE DRIVE-UP . . . The Lewis County Farmers Market attracts a variety of customers, including this handsome fellow waiting behind the wheel, apparently for a bit of drive-through service. (August 13, 2002, Paula Franke)
	TURKEY SEASON . . . This young wild turkey couldn't make up its mind which side of the road to cross in the Ribolt area last week. (August 13, 2002, Paula Franke)
	FOR GOODNESS SNAKE! . . . Herald staffer Paula Franke had a close encounter of the snakey kind with this young snake one morning last week. (August 6, 2002, Paula Franke)
	A closer view, if you dare! Tom Cook has identified this reptile as an Eastern Milk Snake. He says they are non-venomous and eat mice, lizards and such. (August 6, 2002, Paula Franke)
	Spring showers bring a traditional Lewis County treat: morel mushrooms. Donnie King Jr. of Tollesboro had a successful hunt recently, which he shared with neighbors. (May 7, 2002, Paula Franke)
	SPRING BREAK...A snapping turtle breaks out from its eggshell. It was one of a clutch of eggs that turned up after a field was plowed recently. (April 2, 2002, Paula Franke)
	CAUGHT IN THE ACT . . . This early morning bandit seemed somewhat irritated that his snack was interrupted recently by the camera flash. An accomplice fled the scene after noticing the approaching vehicle. (August 28, 2001, Dennis Brown)
	CALL OF THE WILD . . . Vanceburg had an unusual visitor last week when this wolf arrived Tuesday morning in the field behind the Lewis County Farmers Market. It is the traveling companion of a trucker who stopped briefly at the Bee Mart truck stop for a rest break. (July 31, 2001, Paula Franke)
	One of Lewis County's more colorful critters is the tiny Red Eft, the land version of the Red-Spotted Newt. It ranges in size from 1-3/8 to 3-3/8 inches, and color range is bright orange-red to dull red or orange. They can be found in moist, forested areas. (May 22, 2001, Paula Franke)
	This flock of wild turkeys blocked traffic briefly on one of the back roads near Ribolt but quickly headed for the relative safety of tall grass and the woods. Think they realize that Thanksgiving Day is approaching? (November 21, 2000, Paula Franke)
	Turkeys heading through the weeds to the safety of the woods.
	BUG INVASION? Don't worry about the recent ladybug invasion, there's something bigger lurking in the Garrison area! The 25-foot long caterpillar is actually constructed of five round bales of hay and field tile. It has taken up residence at Dee's Greenhouse on Route 3311, five and a half miles up Montgomery Creek. (Photo submitted, October 31, 2000)
	Asian Lady Beetles were not released in Kentucky by the University of Kentucky or any state agency. The insects, while not native to the Commonwealth, have arrived here as a consequence of natural dispersal. (October 24, 2000, Paula Franke)
	THE SENTINEL? A turkey buzzard appears to be keeping a watching eye over its territory during a recent foggy morning in Lewis County. (September 12, 2000, Paula Franke)
	In this week's Agricultural Cooperative Extension column, County Agent Richard Bowling offered advice on how to deal with yellow jackets, wasps and hornets. This nest (at left) is a typical hornets' nest construction. How unfortunate that something so wonderfully artistic in nature is a bane to both farmers and homeowners! This particular nest, located under an eave of a Lewis County home, is significantly larger than the average football. At this point in time, the homeowners and the hornets are peacefully co-existing. (August 8, 2000, Paula Franke)
	STANDING ROOM ONLY . . . This group of cows near Ribolt try to share a small scrap of shade during the recent hot, muggy weather. (August 8, 2000, Paula Franke)
	TOEING THE LINE . . . This young groundhog found itself in a difficult position when it attempted to cross Rt. 10 in Ribolt recently. Momentarily hugging the double yellow line, the critter looked both ways before scampering to the safety of the far side of the road. (August 1, 2000, Paula Franke)
	What appears to be a juvenile Great Blue Heron was a recent visitor to a pond near Ribolt. According to the National Geographic Society's "Water, Prey and Game Birds of North America", the species are common to the Ohio River area and can reach four-feet in height. (July 25, 2000, Paula Franke)
	WHAT'S THE BUZZ? . . . Beekeeper Dan'l Sisson found his work cut out for himself when a swarm of honeybees decided to take up residence in a wall recently at the Echo Hills Apartments. (July 4, 2000, Paula Franke)
	JUST HANGIN' AROUND . . .This little critter, about three inches long, was recently spotted taking a rest on a block wall near Tollesboro. The black bat is apparently one of three species of bats found in Lewis County. (July 4, 2000, Paula Franke)
	A ruby-throated hummingbird was caught in the moment of visiting a patch of blooming Monarda last week in Lewis County. The four photos were shot approximately three seconds apart. (June 27, 2000, Paula Franke)
	Merle Horsley has quite the fishing story to tell after pulling this 33-inch Atlantic sturgeon from the Ohio River at the mouth of Kinney. He landed the fish around 3:00 a.m. Saturday, June 3, using a worm for bait. A bit of fish research indicated that the Atlantic sturgeon is a bottom feeder normally inhabiting freshwater rivers from Maine to Florida, and can reach as much as 10 feet in length. (June 13, 2000, Paula Franke)
	Perhaps this Lewis County squirrel hopes to confuse hunters when squirrel season opens June 3. Its unique coloring includes a red tail, gray body, and black face, legs and underbody. Squirrel season closes June 16. (May 30, 2000, Paula Franke)
	Damon Clark Robinson, 18, of Vanceburg, bagged his first turkey recently. He is the son of the late "Doc" Robinson of Vanceburg. (Photo Submitted)
	Eric McCane pulled this catfish from the Ohio River, behind the old grade school, on May 22. The fished weighed 20 pounds and measured 34 inches long. The head was 7-1/2 inches wide. (May 30, 2000, Paula Franke)
	UNUSUAL FIND . . . Roscoe Bivins discovered a rock with unusual markings recently in the Trace Creek area. Bivens said the markings may be a type of map used by Native Americans. (May 16, 2000, Dennis Brown)
	Barbara Bryant found this eight-inch tall morel mushroom while walking in her back yard in Ribolt. (May 2, 2000, Photo Submitted)
	James Brown of Vanceburg landed quite the catch with this 31-inch, ten pound catfish, pulled from the Ohio River near Veterans Memorial Park in Vanceburg Saturday afternoon. The fish was later released back to the river. (May 2, 2000, Paula Franke)
	This young buck makes his way into the woods recently after getting a drink of water. With deer season underway in Kentucky, hunters are out looking for a trophy or to put some venison in the freezer. Numbers of deer have been increasing for the past several years and causing headaches for farmers, gardeners and motorists. (November 11, 2008, Dennis Brown)