The Lunenburg Public Library isn’t just a place for readers and a gathering spot for people—it’s also a community center for hundreds of fascinating, non-human visitors! Take a closer look… You never know who you might meet!
This Week’s Visitor
Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
Named for the streak of dark fur along its back, the gray fox is slightly smaller than its red cousin and sports a distinctive black-tipped tail. These elusive little guys are common in the Northeast but very good at staying out of sight, so spotting two of them at the library was pretty cool!
Library Status: Active year-round
Favorite Section: Dense woodlots and brushlands
Checks Out: Rabbits, squirrels, mice, birds, eggs, insects, fruit, nuts, and even vegetables!
Superpower: Tree climbing! The gray fox is one of only two canid species in the world that can climb trees and leap from branch to branch. It uses this unusual skill to hunt prey and escape predators. Unlike most other canids, gray foxes have curved, partially retractable claws that help them grip tree trunks and branches.
Borrowed Knowledge: The gray fox is what’s known as an omnivore, which means it eats food from both animal and vegetable sources. Its diet includes a wide variety of things, from meat and eggs to fruits and nuts.
Who Else Is Visiting the LPL?
The gardens surrounding the library provide food, shelter and nesting opportunities for native bees, moths, butterflies, beetles, flies, wasps, birds and many other wildlife throughout the year.
When you visit, imagine the remarkable story unfolding around you. Native plants and wildlife have evolved together over thousands of years, forming relationships that help each other survive. Every flower, leaf, seed, and visiting creature is part of that story. Together, they keep our local ecosystems healthy.
How to Explore the Gardens
You can get quite close to many of the flowers if you walk on the sidewalk, children’s path, and gravel walkways between the gardens and building.
As you explore:
- Look closely at flowers and leaves before moving on. Do you spot a visitor?
- Are there clues that someone has been there? Maybe the edge of a leaf has been nibbled or a leafcutter bee has cut a perfect round circle out of a smooth leaf.
- Notice which insects prefer which plants. Are some plants “busier” than others?
- Listen for buzzing and watch for movement and flashes of color.
- Take pictures and share what you discover with library staff!
Nature rewards patience. Some of our visitors are shy, so you may have to sit quietly for a few minutes—or even return another day—to meet them.
You may also want to try visiting at different times of day to discover even more. Some creatures are early risers, while others may not become active until later in the day or at night.
