Friends of Murphys Point Park

Just in time for Halloween, our #SpeciesOfTheWeek is the American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus). Toads are often recognized as a symbol for Halloween due to their association with witches and their “warty” skin. You’ve probably even heard the age-old myth that touching a toad will give you warts too! The little bumps on their skin are actually called “granular glands” and help toads camouflage with their surroundings. They also have two large parotoid glands located behind their eyes, which secrete a milky, white substance, that is mildly poisonous when ingested by predators. After picking up a toad, a dog will promptly drop it and may foam at the mouth, but will not be hurt. American Toads live a primarily nocturnal life, and often spend much of their day hiding in the leaf litter on the campgrounds and trails here at Murphys Point. Make sure to keep an eye out for them next time you’re here!

This week we’re looking at the American Crow. Their scientific name, Corvus brachyrhynchos, comes from Ancient Greek — it translates to ‘short-billed crow.’ Interestingly, a group of Crows found together is called a ‘murder.’ Crows live in family groups that can have as many as 15 individuals with young from 5 different years! American Crows don’t typically mate until they are 3-5 years old. As with other members of the crow family, such as the Common Raven and Blue Jay, they are considered intelligent and have occasionally been seen making and using tools. They will also follow other bird species in order to locate their nests, whereupon they steal their eggs and young. These birds are extremely common throughout Murphys Point — often seen perching high above campground roads in trees and on telephone wires

Our #SpeciesOfTheWeek is Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus). Sometimes called the chicken polypore, their scientific name translates to “with bright pores” (Laetiporus) and “the colour of sulphur” (sulphureus). Identifying mushrooms can be a difficult task, but this is arguably one of the easier ones to identify! This mushroom is recognized for its large, overlapping, fan-shaped shelves, and sulphur-yellow to bright orange colour. As they age, these mushrooms fade to a tan or whitish colour. Named after its taste, many people think this mushroom tastes like chicken and has a similar meaty texture. Others think it tastes like crab or lobster, earning it the nickname “Lobster of the Woods”. This species typically fruits from late summer into the fall and is often found on hardwood and conifer trees. Have you ever spotted this bright mushroom on the trails here at Murphys Point?