LAGUNA CANYON FOUNDATION
July 2010 E-Letter ___________________________________ 

Howl of the Moon Large 

Howl of the Moon, photo by Laura Olson, See Flickr Album.

 
The moon is my mother....
Her blue garments unloose small bats and owls.
 
~from The Moon and the Yew Tree by Sylvia Plath, American poet, 1932-1963 

The moon's constant presence in the night sky has inspired scientists, artists and storytellers. One of the most common myths about the moon is its power to influence human and animal behavior. In the folklore of moon-induced madness, werewolves, vampires and even language (the Latin luna gives us lunatic and lunacy) work against scientific argument.  Although many people are aware of studies linking the full moon to increases in crime, dog bites and other erratic behavior, they are less likely to know about an equally large volume of research showing no such effect. Nocturnal animals such as owls, bats and countless others have evolved natural behavior patterns under many millenniums of moon cycles. Unfortunately, they have no way to adjust to another rapidly growing source of illumination: artificial light. In fact, light pollution not only limits our ability to stargaze but has been tied to population declines among some nocturnal reptiles and mammals. You can protect nocturnal wildlife and the beauty of the night sky by helping us KEEP IT WILD . 
happy hiker logo
 
 Make reservations now for one of two full moon hikes in July and August.  For details and printable calendars through September,
 visit 
LCF Events.
 
Laguna Canyon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting and enhancing the South Coast Wilderness.
 
Help Us KEEP IT WILD 
 
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THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!  
 
Questions? E-mail Ellen Girardeau Kempler, Communications Director, Laguna Canyon Foundation, [email protected]