When I was working as an elementary school librarian I had a great article from VA Wildlife about Woolly Bears in my files . . . however, since I am retired and all my files are in hodge-podge storage in my garage (and a few other places!). In other words, I can’t find that article.

So, I have searched the Web for info and have learned all kinds of interesting tidbits. Did you know that there are Festivals that honor the Woolly Bear? Or that there are Woolly Bear Races? How about the fact that the Woolly Bears color bands have 13 distinct segments? Do you know who Dr, C. H. Curran is and what is connection is to the Woolly Bear? Well, if these are burning questions that you must have answered, then continue reading!

~KK

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

From the Old Farmer’s Almanac . . . view link

In 1948 Dr. C.H. Curran (a curator of insects at the American Museum of Natural History) and his wife visited Bear Mountain State Park to collect and study Woolly Bear caterpillars. The caterpillars reported ability to forecast the severity and length of winter had fascinated Curran for a long time. Over a period of 8 years he studied these insects, attempting to prove scientifically a connection to weather predictions. His efforts were recounted in The New York Herald Tribune.

Typically, the bands at the ends of the caterpillar are black, and the one in the middle is brown or orange, giving the woolly bear its distinctive striped appearance. According to legend, the wider that middle brown section is (i.e., the more brown segments there are), the milder the coming winter will be. Conversely, a narrow brown band is said to predict a harsh winter.



Note here from KK: I have only seen ONE Woolly Bear so far here on the Eastern Shore and it was a solid russet brown/orange color.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Woolly Bear Festivals

There are numerous festivals held each year in places like:
Vermilion, Ohio view link
Banner Elk (Avery County), NC view link
Beattyville, KY view link (You have to scroll down for the article.)
There are loads of activities, crafts for sale, and just good family fun!

Woolly Worm Woad Wace


Woolly Worm Ball


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Predictions seem to vary . . . personally I LIKE THIS ONE!

(By: MICHELLE WILLARD, Post Staff Writer; Posted: Sunday, October 19, 2008 8:17 am) view link

The verdict is in and all evidence points to a mild winter.

“I believe, as weather lore predictors suggest, that we are going to have a mild winter with average temperatures,” said Dewayne Trail, UT/TSU Extension agent and winter weather lore expert.

Although the Farmer’s Almanac said otherwise, Trail is certain this winter will be mild. He based his prediction on a variety of indicators, but mostly it was the official winter weather forecaster – the wooly worm, also called a woolly bear or fuzzy bear.

“Weather lore suggests that winter will be bad if the wooly worms have heavy hair coats, lots are seen crawling around, their movement is unusually slow and if their black bands are wider than the orange, rust colored bands,” Trail said.

This year the wooly worm population has been conspicuous in its absence.

“As a general rule, by this time of year wooly worms are crawling around and I haven’t seen one wooly worm yet,” Trail said. “That’s another indication that the winter is not going to be that harsh.”



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The annual Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk, North Carolina is fun for all ages, as this Mountain Television report shows.