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The invisible Animals of Seminary Woods
Seminary Woods is the last original wild forest in the Milwaukee area. Since I live in
S. Kinnickinnic Ave this is the favorite place for my daily walks with my dog Merlot.
Here I find most of my recent subjects for painting. The flora and fauna there is
gorgeous. Beside the common animals like deers, coyotes and horn owls there are
living some creatures which have such a hidden existence, that they are invisible for
the public. The following etchings show some of these rare animals in addition of the
few informations we have about their character and behavior.
The size of the etchings is 3.3" x 3.3".
Seminary Woods is the last original wild forest in the Milwaukee area. Since I live in
S. Kinnickinnic Ave this is the favorite place for my daily walks with my dog Merlot.
Here I find most of my recent subjects for painting. The flora and fauna there is
gorgeous. Beside the common animals like deers, coyotes and horn owls there are
living some creatures which have such a hidden existence, that they are invisible for
the public. The following etchings show some of these rare animals in addition of the
few informations we have about their character and behavior.
The size of the etchings is 3.3" x 3.3".
Cervulus Hennii
This little deer like creature is also known as “Forest
Bottom Jumper”. The size is about 6 to 8 inches from
head to tale and the antlers of the male can become 1
inch long. It is very shy and therefore rarely to be
seen. Nevertheless bishop Henni managed to tame
one of them so that it took food out of his hand. It
even used to jump in his footsteps when he walked
through the Seminary. Unfortunately one student
thought it was the devil and threw his prayer book
after it. Only one other exemplar was found dead in
1926 and brought to the Public Museum, but before
it could be stuffed the lab technician’s dog had eaten
it.
This little deer like creature is also known as “Forest
Bottom Jumper”. The size is about 6 to 8 inches from
head to tale and the antlers of the male can become 1
inch long. It is very shy and therefore rarely to be
seen. Nevertheless bishop Henni managed to tame
one of them so that it took food out of his hand. It
even used to jump in his footsteps when he walked
through the Seminary. Unfortunately one student
thought it was the devil and threw his prayer book
after it. Only one other exemplar was found dead in
1926 and brought to the Public Museum, but before
it could be stuffed the lab technician’s dog had eaten
it.
Macroscelida americanus intellegens
The “Intelligent Trunk Shrew” looks like a mixture
of mouse and elephant and has a rather big head. Its
highly developed brain is a sign of outstanding
sensibility and above average intelligence. This may
be the reason why the trunk shrew managed to
survive invisible to people until today. It is said that
one of these little animals can outwit an entire pack
of coyotes and drive dogs crazy by its tricks, while the
dog walker isn’t able to realize even its presence. The
trunk shrew is living in large groups whose members
communicate by using their trunks like trumpets not
only as a warning system but obviously also for
entertainment. What they chatter about remains their
secret until today.
The “Intelligent Trunk Shrew” looks like a mixture
of mouse and elephant and has a rather big head. Its
highly developed brain is a sign of outstanding
sensibility and above average intelligence. This may
be the reason why the trunk shrew managed to
survive invisible to people until today. It is said that
one of these little animals can outwit an entire pack
of coyotes and drive dogs crazy by its tricks, while the
dog walker isn’t able to realize even its presence. The
trunk shrew is living in large groups whose members
communicate by using their trunks like trumpets not
only as a warning system but obviously also for
entertainment. What they chatter about remains their
secret until today.
Macroscelida vulgaris
The “Common Trunk Shrew” has a smaller head and
may be not as bright minded as its cousin, the
intelligent trunk shrew, but it breeds continuously
and would be a suitable object for labor experiments,
if scientists would know how to feed them. Their
nourishment is their secret until today. They can
sometimes be seen chewing on little branches, but
that seems more for fun or for their digestion. Some
experts believe that they eat a special kind of
underground mushrooms growing in the widespread
cave system, in which they spend most of the day
time. Instead of using their trunks they communicate
by drumming with their feet on the ground like hares.
The “Common Trunk Shrew” has a smaller head and
may be not as bright minded as its cousin, the
intelligent trunk shrew, but it breeds continuously
and would be a suitable object for labor experiments,
if scientists would know how to feed them. Their
nourishment is their secret until today. They can
sometimes be seen chewing on little branches, but
that seems more for fun or for their digestion. Some
experts believe that they eat a special kind of
underground mushrooms growing in the widespread
cave system, in which they spend most of the day
time. Instead of using their trunks they communicate
by drumming with their feet on the ground like hares.
Pseudopithecus exophtalmoides
This funny little guy looks like an ape, but is a
masurpial and nearly related to the Opossum. The
Indians called it “Little Skota Man” after the Skunk
Cabbage ( Indian: Skota), as it is mostly found in
areas where this plant is growing. Its fine fur was
highly estimated as lining for winter mokassins, but
as it is night active, it is very difficult to catch and
only the chiefs were allowed to wear such valuable
shoes. Salomon Juneau is said to have once traded
one pair against his best rifle. When the Indians left
the country, they took with them the knowledge
about the existence of the Little Skota Man. First in
1987 remnants of its fur were rediscovered in some
pellets of a Big Horn Owl in Seminary Woods.
This funny little guy looks like an ape, but is a
masurpial and nearly related to the Opossum. The
Indians called it “Little Skota Man” after the Skunk
Cabbage ( Indian: Skota), as it is mostly found in
areas where this plant is growing. Its fine fur was
highly estimated as lining for winter mokassins, but
as it is night active, it is very difficult to catch and
only the chiefs were allowed to wear such valuable
shoes. Salomon Juneau is said to have once traded
one pair against his best rifle. When the Indians left
the country, they took with them the knowledge
about the existence of the Little Skota Man. First in
1987 remnants of its fur were rediscovered in some
pellets of a Big Horn Owl in Seminary Woods.
Semipapilio crassus
This animal is not only called “Fat Caterpillar”, it is
factually a caterpillar which exceptionally never
changes to a butterfly, but remains for lifetime in its
caterpillar shape. It reaches the size of a guinea pig,
is hairy and despite its eight legs it is rather slow.
Nevertheless it is difficult to find one, as they live in
trees and never leave them and like chameleons their
color is aligning with their surroundings. They have
no natural enemies, because they are not tasty and if
any inexperienced animal would try to attack them,
they sweat out a secretion with a terrible stench.
That’s why Indians called it “Skunk Caterpillar”.
They hibernate in hollow trees and it is said that they
can reach the age of a Galapagos turtle, but there is
no scientific proof about that until now.
This animal is not only called “Fat Caterpillar”, it is
factually a caterpillar which exceptionally never
changes to a butterfly, but remains for lifetime in its
caterpillar shape. It reaches the size of a guinea pig,
is hairy and despite its eight legs it is rather slow.
Nevertheless it is difficult to find one, as they live in
trees and never leave them and like chameleons their
color is aligning with their surroundings. They have
no natural enemies, because they are not tasty and if
any inexperienced animal would try to attack them,
they sweat out a secretion with a terrible stench.
That’s why Indians called it “Skunk Caterpillar”.
They hibernate in hollow trees and it is said that they
can reach the age of a Galapagos turtle, but there is
no scientific proof about that until now.
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