Most people who hear the expression tree hugger picture stubborn, barefoot hippies either chaining themselves to trees, or setting up camp high in the branches, as their way of fighting lumbering. But, the term goes back much farther in time.

In 1730, the original tree huggers were villagers belonging to the Bishnois branch of Hinduism. Following a village woman's cry of "A chopped head is cheaper than a felled tree", 363 people, trying to protect their trees, had their heads quickly removed from their bodies by the swords of soldiers under orders from a local...

Click Here to Read More...

Our Sierra Nevada mountain range is home to Sequoia National Park, which is home to the General Sherman, the largest tree, by volume, in the world. Sequoia Park is also home to a tiny, blind, glow-in-the-dark millipede, Motyxia sequoia alia, which because of its bioluminescence, is unlike any other millepede in the world.

Motyxia is a genus of millipedes native to the western United States. Unlike most bioluminescent organisms that emit light continuously, motyxia millipedes emit light in short bursts or pulses.

The inch long creature that calls this dark, damp forest home, adds a unique charm to Sequoia National Park as they emerge each night to illuminate the forest floor with their green-blue glow.

Why do they glow?  As these millipedes are blind,...

Click Here to Read More...

Downslope winds in the Sierra Nevada mountains are meteorological phenomena that greatly influence the region's weather patterns and local ecosystems. These winds often occur when air descends rapidly down the eastern slopes of the Sierra Nevada range. As the air moves from higher elevations to lower elevations, it compresses and warms due to adiabatic heating, which leads to significant temperature increases over short distances.

One of the most notable downslope winds in this region is the "Tahoe Gap Wind," which occurs around Lake Tahoe. During periods of high pressure and clear skies, cool air from the Sierra Nevada's western slopes accelerates downslope, funneling through gaps in the mountain range. This wind can be strong and gusty, affecting local weather conditions by quickly...

Click Here to Read More...

For years, fires in our forests have been extinguished as soon as possible. That practice, when combined with warmer temperatures, and drier conditions, has made for larger and more intense fires. In fact, new words have been coined to better describe the immensity of recent fires; a megafire is being used to describe 100,000 acre blaze, and anything over that becomes a gigafire. For perspective, 100,000 acres equals a little over 156 square miles.

Many recent studies have shown that a forest is more that just a stand of trees. It is a thriving ecosystem, with fire an important part. For instance, neither sequoia nor redwood trees can reproduce without fire. Native Americans knew about the need for fire. What colonists thought of as a pristine, untouched wilderness was the...

Click Here to Read More...

Fleas and ticks may not be common in the Tahoe Basin, nonetheless, they are here — living here, some even thriving here. Don't believe anyone who tries to tell you otherwise.

In the Sierra Nevada mountains, fleas are commonly associated with rodents; squirrels, chipmunks, and mice, which serve as the primary hosts. Other animals, like deer, or just about anything with fur, can also host fleas.

The most common species of fleas in the Tahoe Basin is the cat flea. Despite its name, the cat flea is an equal opportunity feeder, not differentiating between cats, or dogs, or humans. Anyone, or anything, is fair game to a flea.

Although a rare occurrence, fleas can transmit disease to both animals and humans. Disease aside, flea bites can cause itching, irritation, or allergic reactions in humans.

Small and wingless as they are, fleas can be found in wooded areas, grasslands and even residential neighbo...

Click Here to Read More...