Mystery of Nature

While putting away my lunch dishes one day last week, I saw this HUGE caterpillar inching its way up the dog pen netting. So, I took this close-up shot. I have no idea what it is, but it’s a total freak of nature. Any ideas?

And … what’s a caterpillar doing in September? I thought they were springtime creatures. Do you think it hibernates in its cocoon?

Oddly enough, we saw the same type of caterpillar in an early scene of the movie “Into the Wild” over the weekend.