Bunk grew up in the eastern U.S. Regional lore maintains that the severity of each coming winter can be predicted by examining the size of the brown band of the Woolly Bear Caterpillar:
According to legend, the severity of the upcoming winter can be judged by examining the pattern of brown and black stripes on woolly bear caterpillars–the larvae of Isabella tiger moths. If the brown stripe between the two black stripes is thick, the winter will be a mild one. A narrow brown stripe portends a long, cold winter.
This specimen from September shows no black bands at all, suggesting that the winter of 2007-08 will be one of the warmest on record and we’ll all be grilling hot dogs and burgers in January. You can find a couple of curious videos of these giant freaks of nature here.
Here’s a normal sized one, sleeping:
[Quote from here. First image from a site with an unfortunately inappropriate name that we won’t post on this site. Second image from here.]
Tacky Raccoons 
Years later, this post and comment thread still gives me joy. Glad to see you’re still sailing the blogosphere, Bunk.
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Hi Bunk! Well, I respect the respectful hunter, me, most of my hunting is done with a 35mm (still old school!) and having learned what I have about these big woolies, I say “Save The Giant Woolly Bear Caterpillars!!!” Unless someone is lost and having no choice but to survive in desperate need of food or warmth. Hey Bunk Happy Spring 2013!
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otterh– This post is still No.1 on the google for “giant woolly bear caterpillar.” Another one that garnered some fun comments was Climategate Summarized. Both made me smile.
dan J– To save any endangered species, all we need to do is classify them as food, unless of course they’re inedible; in that case we classify them as clothing. Fortunately these caterpillars fall into both categories and, until they proliferate to the point of becoming household/garden pests, we can enjoy the warmth and sustenance that the fuzzy big lunks offer us.
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What does a giant woooly bear catapillar eat?
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cindy–
Excellent question.
Since the Giant Wooly Bear Caterpillar is closely related to the annelid family, it gets much of its sustenance by burrowing for microbes underneath the desert surface, much like a Blue Whale [balaenoptera musculus] in the ocean.
Its front appendages are well adapted for digging, and the caterpillar may live subterranean for days or weeks. During these long burrowing/feeding periods it keeps its mouth open, enjoying all the nutrients it can find, before it resurfaces in search of carrion.
Hope that helps you.
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it’s been a while i know, but i just thought i’d let you know that i imported a few, and tried the recipe with garlic and butter, just recovered actually, hence the delay in getting back to you, i think the garlic was off. Also they took an awfully long time to arrive, it seems they escaped on the plane on the way over, and it took an age to find them, one of them camouflaging itself against the bars on the pilot’s spare jacket, then there was the quarantine, i’m surprised the little devils survived. The good news is, i have some more on the way, and am going to try to breed them to sell the fur, and the meat separately, not sure what the butcher will have to sayt about it, but here’s hoping..
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The movie “Tremors” comes to mind.
Nothing is really that far fetched is it?
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Joe–
So sorry to hear your misfortune, but don’t blame the garlic. When preparing “Pillar Patties” you must dress the carcass properly, and ALWAYS remove the cloaca in its entirety. Wear rubber gloves and afterwards disinfect the preparation area with bleach.
Never eat any part of the cloaca.
As for the rest of your story, I think you’re pulling my chain a bit, but it’s true that the Giant Woollies are masters at camouflage. Even at close range you might not spot them, but their breath often gives them away. Best description I read compared Giant Woolly Bear breath as a mixture of wet puppies and raisins.
cindy–
Awesome. Only two degrees:
Giant Woolly Bear Caterpillar–>Tremors–>Kevin Bacon.
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i thought that was realy for about five min untill i read the comments
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Storm. I am very serious about the cloaca, as I am about everything.
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Alpacapillar anyone?! Hahaha
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Alli Zb– 😀
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Hey, my friend and I seen this in class and we are wondering if you still wanna see them on a tree ;-;
My email is mkanxietyxxxxxx.com
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