No kidding! I was camping down in Red River Gorge in Kentucky. I was chopping on a tree stump next to our camp with my hatchet. After dark, I was in our tent and noticed small glowing bits along the side of our tent. I thought they might be the "glow worms" I have heard of. Turns out they were small chips of wood that flew off that stump I was chopping on. The newly exposed wood on the stump was glowing an errie greenish color too. I tried bringing some wood chips back to show but they stopped glowing. I'm assuming it's some kind of fluorecent bacteria or fungus in the wood. Or is it supernatural! Anyone else ever see this phenomena?
Glow-in-the-dark wood
- Thread starter BXmark
- Start date
MarkV
Super Member
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2000
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- 5,670
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- Cedartown, Ga and N. Ga mountains
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- 1998 Kubota B21, 2005 Kubota L39
Bxmark,
There would not happen to be a bottle of spirits involved in this trip, would there?/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
MarkV
There would not happen to be a bottle of spirits involved in this trip, would there?/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
MarkV
Knight9
Veteran Member
BXMark,
I believe this is called Foxfire and is the result of a bioluminescent fungus in the decaying wood. When the wood dries the fungus dies and the light stops. Digging out, or chipping out fresh wet wood chips would do expose the fungus giving the glow of light.
Kevin
I believe this is called Foxfire and is the result of a bioluminescent fungus in the decaying wood. When the wood dries the fungus dies and the light stops. Digging out, or chipping out fresh wet wood chips would do expose the fungus giving the glow of light.
Kevin
Bill_Ryan
Bronze Member
You didn't happen to be camping near a nuclear power plant or nuclear waste disposal site, now did ya? Were there any old storage drums standing around near the campsite?
Anyway, pretty cool experience. Nature never ceases to amaze me. Mother nature is dazzling lady.....
Bill
Anyway, pretty cool experience. Nature never ceases to amaze me. Mother nature is dazzling lady.....
Bill
StoneHeartFarm
Veteran Member
Kevin,
Foxfire is what we called it here too. I've only seen one or two instances of it. (But that's probably because I'm rarely running around in the woods after dark without a flashlight.)
Never seen the whole stump glow, just small patches.
SHF
Foxfire is what we called it here too. I've only seen one or two instances of it. (But that's probably because I'm rarely running around in the woods after dark without a flashlight.)
Never seen the whole stump glow, just small patches.
SHF
Gomez
Gold Member
Yep. And as others posted, it's usually in decaying wood. So the fungus description would make sense. Another interesting phenomona is the bioluminescent plankton that can be seen when fishing offshore.
mwagoner
Member
Mark, Isn't the Gorge a beautiful place to camp and hike?
I used to go there at least twice a month but haven't been for several years now. I looked at your profile but you don't list where you are from, do you live in KY? I am in Lawrenceburg, KY.
Matt
I used to go there at least twice a month but haven't been for several years now. I looked at your profile but you don't list where you are from, do you live in KY? I am in Lawrenceburg, KY.
Matt