Buck Moth Caterpillar

So this guy was walking....crawling... confidently down the center of the dirt road, just after the entrance (#1) to the park. I hadn't seen one of these before and after a little blind research, I believe this is a Buck Moth Caterpillar. Good thing I didn't try to pick it up, I guess it packs quite a punch. Each of those little barbs is hooked to a poison sack that can lead to everything from the usual itching, right up to muscle spasms and seizure. They range all the way up the east coast and seem to be a serious problem in Louisiana where they are actually sprayed back with pesticides. There is even a dreaded "Buck Moth season" down there. They feast on Oak trees. Guess I'll have to stay away from these guys. On your way sir...

The History

This is going to end up being an ongoing entry. The history of Rutland State Park is actually several histories, and some of them are pretty cool. Within this park there are prison camps, "healing" spring waters, hidden cemeteries, mass murders and myriad personal histories that, with help and luck, I will try to uncover and present here. The park has two historical "hearts": The Prison Camps, and Coldbrook Springs. Each of these thrived for a time, given in their own way, and met their end with the clearing of the area for the Quabbin Reservoir Aqueduct system.
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