This time of year a walk in the woods shows what’s been going on during the winter months. The snow and ice tell stories of people and animals some in search of food others in search of fun.
Category Archives: Outdoor Wisconsin Winter
Water garage
In days of old Wisconsin allowed boat houses at the shoreline and sometimes even on pilings IN THE LAKE as this grandfathered structure demonstrates. It’s the ultimate in fishing convenience just open the door and toss out your line!
Hit the beach
Smooth sailing
Zero ain’t so bad
It can’t all be outside
O degrees and still paddling
If you ever questioned the insulating ability of down these swans, geese and ducks should squash any doubts. A group of 40-50 trumpeter swans takes what winter has to give at the mouth of the Willow and St Croix rivers near downtown Hudson Wisconsin.
Belly power
In September I spotted a litter of North American river otter kits slinking through these woods from one small lake to another. Their mother had used an abandoned beaver lodge for their den. Based on these slide marks it looks like three of the kits are still hanging together using their back legs and belly to scoot through the snow toboggan style.
Picking up a few extra calories
With good snow on the ground and nights in the sub zero range woodpeckers like this Pileated work the suet cage stocking up on much needed fat calories to insulate against those cold winter nights.
Stocking up for winter
Up north we’ve had a few nights below zero freezing the lakes enough for winter activities like ice fishing and snowmobiling. This American red squirrel spent the morning running along the deck rail chasing nuthatch, grosbeaks and chickadees away from “his” stash of nuts and seeds.