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November 17, 2009
Bob Mount: Neuropathy not given much attention
Several months ago I began experiencing episodes of instability, usually when standing or walking after having been seated for a while.
November 03, 2009
Bob Mount: Kingdom of the ants, water bugs and gnats
Dr. Lawrence Graham is Auburn University’s fire ant expert. One of his projects has been an introduction of a parasitic fly whose host is the fire ant. The fly deposits an egg on the ant’s back, it hatches, the larva penetrates the ant, makes its way to the ant’s head and the head falls off.
October 28, 2009
Bob Mount: Spanish novelty found near backyard pond
A large piece of coral has been lying on my pond pier for about 10 years. As nearly as I can determine, my late son, Robert Jr., found it on a beach at Vieques, a Puerto Rican island.
October 20, 2009
Bob Mount: Scary names don’t mean scary critters
I have always been interested in colloquial names applied to some of our native animals by country folks in and around areas where I grew up.
October 14, 2009
Bob Mount: Something should be done about area’s wild hogs
Not too long ago, a friend of mine, Fletcher Little, showed me some disturbing photographs. They were made with a motion-sensitive camera displaying animal life on a wildlife food plot he had established within the forested area west of Tamplin Farms Subdivison and south of Wire Road.
October 06, 2009
Bob Mount: Save vegetation on our mountain tops
Among the most ecologically destructive practices I can think of is mountaintop removal (MTR) to mine coal. The practice involves removal of all the vegetation from the mountaintop and pushing the overburden over the sides to reach the coal seam. Obvious results are stream pollution, destruction of terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal life, and displeasing scenery.
September 29, 2009
Bob Mount: Trading house calls with the good doctor
Geezer Bob Sanders in his column last Saturday was poking fun at fellow Geezer Dr. Whoopee Meeks, our world-renowned expert prostratologist. As CEO of the Geezers, I feel obligated to a recent episode involving Dr. Whoopee.
September 22, 2009
Bob Mount: Fire ants not making it easy for nighthawks
Flocks of nighthawks, a.k.a. bullbats, have been passing through our area for the past two or three weeks on the way to their over-wintering habitats in the tropics.
September 15, 2009
Bob Mount: Carbon dioxide emissions now out of control
“After running a fever for a while and noticing abnormal aches and pains, you see a specialist. The doctor examines you, runs tests, and says you have a serious disease.
September 09, 2009
Bob Mount: Watch out, amorous snakes are on the prowl
It’s snake-crawling time of the year. It’s the season when males of several species, including rattlesnakes, are actively searching for mating partners. Several years ago about this time a lady friend of mine called. “Bob, I need your help. Two large rattlesnakes are mating in my backyard, and they’ve been at it for nearly an hour. I need your help, please.”
September 04, 2009
Bob Mount: Living wills are worthy of consideration
My late father-in-law, Dr. Jack Douglass, was an eye, ear, and throat specialist who practiced in Jackson, Tenn., until he retired at age 93. He was the oldest practicing physician in the state of Tennessee.
August 25, 2009
Bob Mount: Exercise caution with credit cards
Twenty months ago, my wife Janie signed a contract with a local establishment that provides in-house exercise equipment.
August 18, 2009
Bob Mount: Panther population growing thin
Last week, I commented on the death of the large cat killed by a hunter in Georgia, stating that DNA tests identified the big cat as a Florida panther, considered an endangered species at the federal level.
August 11, 2009
Bob Mount: Florida panther killing a real shame
Several weeks ago an article appeared in area newspapers depicting an exceptionally large cat-like animal that had been killed by a “hunter” in central western Georgia not far from the Alabama boundary. It resembled a Florida panther, an endangered species known with certainty to occur only in southern Florida.
August 06, 2009
Bob Mount: Huckabee: Political leopard who changes spots?
“Dear Wayne: My desire is that you be released from prison. I feel that parole is the best way for your reintroduction to society to take place.” This was a letter written to Wayne DuMond, a prison inmate who was convicted of raping a teenager in 1984 and had 25 years remaining on his sentence.
July 28, 2009
Bob Mount: Goldfinches doing just fine in Lee County
Most folks in these parts recognize goldfinches, a.k.a. wild canaries, when they see them, especially the males when they are adorned with their brilliant yellow breeding plumage.
July 21, 2009
Bob Mount: I’ve seen my share of snakes over the years
During my career as a herpetologist I was frequently called by someone having a snake problem. Following are some of the more interesting.
July 09, 2009
Bob Mount: Recognizing a leopard who has changed his spots
A man who sought a seat in the U.S. Senate from a mid-western state must have been kidding himself if he believed voters would consider him a serious candidate. He believed that marijuana should be legalized and that prostitution should be regarded as a legal occupation. He expressed his support of the Taliban in Afghanistan and disagreed with how the federal government was spending taxpayers’ money, so much so that he refused to pay federal income taxes for 14 years. He ran on the Libertarian Party ticket and was soundly defeated.
June 23, 2009
Bob Mount: Conscience wins out with sunflower secret
Janie and I bought some property in a wilderness area in eastern Lee County about 30 years ago. Only a few people, who, like I, are wilderness enthusiasts, are permitted to access the property. The nearest human residence is at least four miles away. The land provides optimum habitat for a variety of snakes, including rattlesnakes, and I call it my “rattlesnake refugium.”
June 16, 2009
Bob Mount: Shell president on target with climate change
A Shell Oil advertisement in the July-August edition of the Atlantic magazine caught my attention.
June 09, 2009
Bob Mount: Good to have friends in times of need
It’s difficult to imagine an event in an adult’s lifetime more devastating than an unexpected loss of a spouse or child, and few things are more appreciated than manifestations of kindness and sympathy shown by friends to the family of the deceased.
June 02, 2009
Bob Mount: Bug spraying has collateral damage
Last week I wrote about some of the potential harmful effects of the insecticide being sprayed in Opelika to reduce mosquito populations. The space the editor allows me precluded me from mentioning detrimental effects other than those I included in the column. Some of the latter are as follows:
May 27, 2009
Bob Mount: Opelika mosquito spraying chemical raises flags
A label on a chemical contains the following: “CAUTION, Contains petroleum distillate. Harmful if swallowed or absorbed through the skin. Causes eye irritation. Avoid contact with skin, eyes, or clothing ...
May 19, 2009
Bob Mount: Nothing wrong with a little mischief
Quite a while ago I was attending a family reunion in Waynesboro, Tenn., where I attended school during first and second grades. I mentioned a problem I was having with my late son, Robert Jr.: “Robert seems to relish making mischief.”
May 12, 2009
Bob Mount: Stay away from those pesky coachwhips
Is the climate changing and the weather becoming increasingly unpredictable? I am convinced it is, and I suspect most weather watchers my age (77) or older share my belief. Are many forest-dwelling songbirds, lizards and terrestrial snakes declining? They are, without a doubt.
May 05, 2009
Bob Mount: Birds’ tune growing quiet in my yard
Last year about this time I lamented about how silent the woods were around my place; sadly this year is even quieter. Cardinals, Carolina chickadees, tufted titmice, at least three woodpeckers and great-crested flycatchers are holding their own, but I seldom see or hear summer tanagers and, notably scarcer than in years past, are three species of vireos and wood thrushes. I assume that one of my favorites, the Chuck-wills-widow, has deserted my premises permanently.
April 28, 2009
Bob Mount: Teddy Roosevelt—avid hunter who loved birds
Following are paraphrased excerpts from a book soon to be published. The author is Douglas Brinkley, who wrote an article in the May issue of the magazine Vanity Fair.
April 21, 2009
Bob Mount: Time to test your Alabama knowledge
The following is a test of your knowledge of events in Alabama history.
April 08, 2009
Bob Mount: Customs, Yorkshire pudding and drawing stares
“Horrors. She touched the queen,” blared the front page of a British tabloid in an account of Michelle Obama’s encounter with Queen Elizabeth II.
March 31, 2009
Bob Mount: Should we bring back the chain gangs?
A week or so ago, an entire page of this newspaper was devoted to instances of criminal activity in Auburn, Opelika and other areas of Lee County. Many involved burglary, thievery, and apparently, dope-dealing. Reports of rape and child abuse appear regularly.
