![]() ![]() Maggots! Making most people feel queasy, these are actually larvae – usually fly larvae – the same stage that a caterpillar is to a butterfly (and honestly, not super different looking either!). Whether it be an animal carcass, a fallen tree, or scat – who else do we have to thank for dealing with the dirty work? MARVELOUS MAGGOTS Vultures aren’t the only members of nature’s clean-up crews. Vultures are incredibly well-adapted to their cleaning job because they have a potent digestive system that can kill many of those dangerous microorganisms! In fact, while some may have negative feelings about vultures, they actually help keep us and other animals safe! People should definitely avoid dead animals because they can harbor diseases, like harmful (though often natural) toxins. (Photo Credit: Peter Joseph, CC-BY-NC-ND) Vultures are sometimes mistakenly referred to as “buzzards,” which are actually a cousin that reside in Eurasia. Instead, it’s an endless cycle of opportunity for life to go on. The fact that these large birds can consume a considerable amount of carrion, decaying flesh of dead animals, means that without them, it’s possible that an animal carcass smell might linger a bit longer than we’d like – that’s the real yuck! But in nature, nothing goes to waste. However, vultures have a crucial role in recycling nutrients from animal carcasses. Vultures are often regarded as pests, harbingers of death, or even thought of as diseased or unclean. Starting with an easy one: vultures in the San Antonio River Basin are most likely Black Vultures ( Coragyps atratus) or Turkey Vultures ( Cathartes aura). Let’s take a look at a few misunderstood organisms that might be scary enough for some this Halloween. Let’s face it: there are just some creatures that give people the creeps! Whether they look “gross” or live in sketchy, damp places – you’re not alone in wanting to avoid them, but these are often the types of creatures that we’d certainly miss if we didn’t have them because of the essential ecosystem services they provide for in the watershed. ![]()
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