Great Lakes and Land

On April 17^th, 2009, a Black Bear (Ursus americanus) came to visit us at Fence Lake. Tim found bear paw tracks on his pickup truck. Why would tracks be there? Well, a couple of years ago Tim had a couple of carrot and apple bags in the back of his truck, which were left over from his white tail deer hunting. He also had some real estate signs, and other assorted items in there as well. When I left for work I noticed the signs scattered about on our drive-way. I mentioned that someone must have stopped by and played a trick on us by tossing the signs around. (We have friends that love pranks of this kind). I mentioned this to Tim later in the day. He laughed and said, “No it wasn’t any of our friends, but a bear.” The bear had eaten the bag apples, and the bag of carrots was also gone. Tim found the carrot bag where it had been dragged up our road, on his way to work. That year the bear also destroyed several of my bird feeders. My guess is that this recent visit from Mr. Bear was to see if Tim and Linda had left more treats for him this year. Bears must have incredible memories. Did you ever wonder how you can train a 300 pound wild bear how to ride a bike? Linda 04-23-09

Spring has sprung in the upper peninsula of Michigan

Its April 16^th and as I open the door of my truck to get the mail and what do I hear? Peepers. Yes natures orchestra has summoned that very famous chorus of peep frogs that play the first song of Spring. Forgotten is the time you went to check the mail in the middle of March wearing your shoes without socks and the blinding snow scattered the mail into the trees and the snow filled your shoes while retreiving the mail. You can remember it was a brisk walk back to the house. But thats history, the peepers are out and you can see faint green sprouts sprouting in the ditches, ducks looking for nesting spots in the river, and geese flying in formation. You still see patches of snow in the woods and as I am writing this a misquito buzzed my ear. A robin is pecking around a dirt pile looking for the early worm. One thing for sure, a U.P, winter makes a believer out of anyone when Spring arrives. The air never smells so fresh and the great awakening begins. Old man Winter is in his bed but is not asleep as yet, but he is very tired and will be asleep soon.The bluegills will be on their beds soon and what a treat to catch “slab” gills and then have a fish fry. Skunk cabbage, trillium, and cowslips are starting to sprout and the curtain is rising signalling natures encore. If you have never experienced Spring in the U.P., you are missing one of natures great scenes, only to be followed by Summer which portrays a new cast of characters in the second act. Remember “the best things in life are free”.

Frequent winter visitors to my bird feeders at Fence Lake included chickadees, goldfinches, red-poles, nut hatches, and lots of sparrows of many kinds. We also saw an increase in woodpeckers. We spotted both Downy and Hairy woodpeckers all winter. One pileated woodpecker (the largest of Michigan’s woodpeckers) has made mince meat of several large dead trees on my hill side. It is digging for insects and grubs in the tree trunks, and creating large rectangular nest holes. He’s especially busy noisily drumming away each morning as the sun comes up. I suppose, to attract an “early rising” mate. He is the size of a crow and has fancy white stripes along the sides of his head and neck. He also has bright red feathers on the top of his head. Who can resist a red head??? I hope he finds his mate soon, so we can get a little more early morning sleep! Linda 04-16-09