We are not alone

Looking at the windblown snow is fascinating as my mind wanders looking at the seemingly random lines and shapes. Yesterday I was looking at much more specific shapes, tracks made in the woods. Winter allows us to see our neighbors: wolves, otters, bobcats, and the ubiquitous deer. I wandered through Fish Lake Natural Area, west of Hickerson Rd, and came across both bobcat and wolf tracks in the woods, a humbling experience while wandering through the dense brush.

As I review the blog statistics for 2010 I also realize we are not alone in cyberspace. There were over 1360 new visits from people in 38 states at the blog this year. The vast majority were from MInnesota and Wisconsin, Illinois was a distant third place in visitation. A total of 3880 visits were recorded on the blog. This blog was created by Kathy J. and it has been a great outlet for me to share Crex.

We thank you for reading.
Dale

New addition to Crex

I got to meet the new Crex educational Screech Owl today in between programs that Ali Thomas was giving to Grantsburg school children. This little owl acquired West Nile Virus as a hatching and as a result she's flightless. She never lost her down feathers until she was 2 years old and by the time her flight feathers finally came in her pectoral muscles were not strong enough to allow for flight.
She came from the Raptor Education Group, Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, WI. and is now being kept by Mary Wicklund.  She will be a valuable addition to the educational program at Crex.
Click here to learn more about the Eastern Screech Owl

Kathy J.


 

Last Stolte Drive?

Red Breasted Nuthatch





I drove Stolte Rd yesterday looking for tracks and the northern hawk owl that visited last year. It was not around but who knows, it might return. The tracks on the road were surprising! A pack or three coyotes were hunting along the road all the way to Dueholm. No wolf tracks were seen. With the number of coyotes I wonder if the wolf pair is spending time elsewhere. They seemed to be moving along at a leisurely pace. While snowshoeing later in the day Sandi and I found a wintering hole of either a fox of coyote. A camera trap is planned to identify the owner. This morning's storm may put an end to leisurely driving on Stolte since it is not plowed north of the Dueholm overlook.
Dale

Wandering Bear

This young bear came through Crex this spring. I have been trying to find its origin since photographing it. No one in MN or WI is missing a bear except maybe Fort Ripley in MN. The researcher there was missing a couple collared bears when I talked to him this summer. If this is a Wisconsin bear it might come Stevens Point or from a research project that is no longer operational. Dave MacFarland who leads the bear studies in Wisconsin has seen the photos and talked to researchers but has had no luck identifying the collared bear's researcher. That leaves the likelihood that it may have wandered 90 air miles to Crex from Ft. Ripley.

Perhaps it will be around next year or the collar will be found.
Dale

Wolves and Deer

I have been watching this doe and 2 fawns for the last six months on a trail cam positioned at a wolf scent marking location. On multiple occasions the deer and wolves pass the camera within hours of each other. A red fox has also had the audacity to leave its mark at the scent post, a very brave guy given wolves known antagonism toward foxes. Because of the recent freezing rain the camera was covered in ice and had to be pulled for a few days. Wolves are now patrolling the roads and two were seen this week on Hickerson Rd. on Fish Lake Wildlife Area.

With the onset of winter and conclusion of hunting season I hope to place cameras at various locations with the goal of getting new species such as a bobcat and better fisher images (if only they would hold still).
Dale

A hint of the sun

I spent yesterday afternoon in the Amsterdam Sough area where a local trapper was setting traps for mink and fisher. As a visitor to the area I forget the economic resource Crex properties are to many residents. This gentleman had memories of trapping beaver through the winter for the pelts and to help feed his family of six. He commented on the high cost of gas and how it cuts into his profit margin. Thank goodness I don't have to worry about my photography profit margin.

With the overcast light black and white images were the only photo opportunities and I stopped several times to create various compositions of the pines and snow.


On the way back to the cabin there was about 15 minutes of sweet light, just enough to remember what the sun looks like and get a couple shots.

Dale