River otter tracks along River Meadow Brook, October 20, 2010.

-Taken by Liz Newlands, Mass Audubon, RMB-Ecological Inventory 2010

~Otters are large members of the weasel family and depend on rivers and lake chains for habitat.  Although elusive, their tracks and signs can be seen along brooks and rivers in Lowell year-round.  Look for paw prints in the mud during the warm season, and, look for prints and slides in the snow during winter months.

The nest of an American robin above River Meadow Brook, October 20, 2010.

-Taken by Liz Newlands, Mass Audubon, RMB-Ecological Inventory 2010

~The American robin is a well known resident in New England.  Here's a little birding tip: When sizing up a bird for the sake of identifying it, ask yourself if the bird you saw is bigger, smaller, or about the same size as a robin.  (A robin is about the median size of commonly seen birds.)

Painted turtle in Black Brook on the Trust's Nicole Conservation Land, April 6, 2010.

-LP&CT Image Archives, Brian Cutler

~The painted turtle, locally known to some as the "sun turtle," is often witnessed basking in the sun on rocks and logs.  Reptiles like this are cold blooded and depend on the sun for survival.  This aquatic turtle is well adapted for a variety of freshwater habitats, including brooks, rivers, ponds, and lakes.  Their streamlined shell and webbed feet help them to swim.  These turtles feed on a variety of invertebrates, amphibians, small fish, and plants.

Northern brown snake (Adult) at the Trust's Jollene Dubner Park, October 18, 2008.

-LP&CT Image Archives, Brian Cutler

~The Northen brown snake, one of the smallest snakes in New England, is sometimes found along the Concord River in Lowell.  The snake seen here is full grown.  Their hatchlings appear worm-like with mechanical movements.  These snakes prey on a wide range of invertebrates.

Love is Green: Two Eastern gray squirrels seen "kissing" along the Concord River Greenway.

-Taken by Martha Iarrapino, LP&CT Member & Volunteer.

~Eastern gray squirrels are arboreal, meaning that they live in trees.  From late fall to early spring their nest-like (squirrel) dreys can be seen high in tree tops.  Squirrels have excellent spacial memory for locating burried acorns and seeds.  These herbivores also have an excellent sense of smell, allowing them to locate their food beneath the snow.  Squirrels can point their hind feet backwards to help them climb down the sides of trees.  Their monocular vision and hearing help them to locate and evade would-be predators.

Great blue heron in the falls at Lower Locks, May 26, 2008.

-LP&CT Image Archives, Brian Cutler

~The great blue heron is the master of the surprise attack.  With its long legs and toes, the heron wades through shallow waters in search of frogs and fish.  It creeps along and captures its prey with its spear shaped bill. 

What would you do without fall foliage or maple syrup?

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) has not been found in Lowell to date. 

However, we are deeply concerned about the spread of this invasive pest to Lowell from isolated sites in Worcester and Boston.  The ALB came to the U.S. some years ago from Asia and threatens our forests.  It feeds on certain trees to a point where they are too weak to support their own weight and collapse, thus killing the tree and potentially the broader tree canopy of a region.  Please, do your part to know how to spot these pests and signs of them. 

For more information on ALB's or if you think you may have spotted ALB's or signs of them, for a second opinion, Contact Us or call 1-866-702-9938.

Ring-billed gulls in the breeze by the Merrimack River, along the Vandenberg Esplanade, Januray 7, 2012.

-Taken by Charlie Cutler, LP&CT Member and Volunteer

~Ring-billed gulls are very common along Lowell waterways.  Not to be confused with other common gulls in Lowell, such as the herring gull and black-backed gulls, the ring-billed gulls takes three years to mature.  Therefor its plumage varies.  Gulls thrive near human populations, as they feed on what we tend to leave behind.  Gulls also feed on a wide range of invertebrates, fish, and anything (in general) smaller than themselves.