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That and This Mud Lake Monster? by Mark Arvid White click for larger pic     My seven year old son, Conner, and I ventured to Mud Lake late this spring. I was hoping to get a few photographs of dragonflies, or at least a few of the new flowers that were showing here and there. We did find some dragonflies, and took several pictures. click for larger pic We also noticed a strong smell. Something in the area had died, and it didn't take long for us to find it. Down an embankment near the edge of the lake, the remains of a large bird could be seen. Something had partially eaten away at the carcass, leaving scattered feathers, and there was no sign of the bird's head. Not wishing to dwell on the find, I turned Conner back up the hill. It was then that we noticed this: click for larger pic   At first I thought it was just a gnarly tree branch, but as I bent down to look closer, I could see that this was something quite different. The object was roughly the length of an adult forearm, and had several triangle and diamond-shaped compartmentations along its surface. I did not want to touch it, not knowing what it was, but I did put my foot along one side of it, and pressed lightly down. It gave with a consistency similar to rubber. I was quite surprised. I would have liked to examine the object further, but it was getting late, and I had to get Conner back home. So I left it there, but took a couple of photographs for evidence. What was it? A fungus? A hive complex fallen from a tree, or dragged from the safety of its hole? A deformed branch? The tip of a tentacle from some lake beast, torn in some epic struggle with the large bird? Some of you may know, and I hope to find out. Just remember that when you are out and about, even in the semi-wilds of Alaska, you never know what you might encounter. click for larger pic