What is a Pooter?

A pooter is a serious tool for discovering important things about the forest ecosystem. The pooter has a funny name and is made up of parts that don't seem too scientific. The pooter, if used correctly, lets you capture tiny creatures in the forest without harming them.	What exactly is a pooter? Nobody knows exactly where the word pooter was invented (though some claim Edmonton, Alberta) or when (though it's at least 20 years old) or why it's even called a pooter. Could it be the sound it makes when used or does it come from the colloquialism to pooter about, meaning to investigate?

Materials needed to make your very own pooter: a wide-diameter plastic drinking straw a small square (2.5 cm²) of nylon taken from a discarded pair of ladies hosiery 3 cm of masking tape (approx. 2.5 cm wide) scissors	Method: Cut the straw across, one-third the length from one end. Cut a 2 cm slit into one end of the longer piece of straw. Place the nylon square over the slit end. Insert the short piece of straw into the nylon-covered, slit-end of the longer piece of straw. Push the nylon in so that only the edges of the nylon appear at the joint. Tape the joint, catching the exposed nylon under the tape. Looking through either end of the straw, you should note that the nylon has now formed a net across the straw at the joint.

How to Use the Pooter:

Find a creature that you would like to examine more closely (must be smaller across than the opening of the pooter).
Put the end of the pooter furthest from the joint into your mouth.
Place the other end of the pooter to within a few centimeters of the creature in question.
Gently such in so that the creature is vaccumed into the straw and up against the nylon net.
Place your finger over the pooter opening to ensure that the creature doesn't come out.
Place the pooter over a container, remove your finger from the end and gently tap the straw to release the creature.
Voila! You have captured a creature and are now an experienced pooterist!

VERY IMPORTANT! Return your creature, unharmed, to the place where you captured it.

Where to find creatures that you can poot!

Look closely among the fallen leaves on the forest floor. Take a handful of these leaves and maybe some of the rotting leaves underneath and place them on a white sheet. Do you see anything moving? You might need a magnifying glass. Be patient and look carefully and you should soon see beetles, ants, worms, spiders, millipedes and centipedes, among others.
Find a rotting log laying on the forest floor. Carefully look on, around and under the log and you will ne surprised to find all manner of life. Carefully pull back any remaining bark. What can you see? Pry open small cracks in the log. You should find insects, spiders and worms galore!
When you collect a specimen with your pooter draw it making sure to include all the legs, body segments, wings and antennae that you can locate.