Deer and snow
Today was Ted’s first meal at a time when overnight temperatures are below freezing and some of our lakes still have over 30 inches of ice. A couple bears have been spotted in the Ely area so far, and the bears at the North American Bear Center are not to be outdone. Although Lucky, who has the most northern genes, is still sleeping in, our two Southern Belles have started their year by frolicking in the snow and climbing the cub tree already. But big Ted said it is time to eat! Biologist Spencer Peter complied with a bowl of bear trail mix with sides of sunflower seeds and blueberries as he caught in this 10-second video https://www.facebook.com/NorthAmericanBearCenter/videos/977862496267565
Eastern ChipmunkToday started with a snowstorm that made everything look like winter, including this deer (above) peering through snow-covered branches. As the day progressed, the first chipmunk, an Eastern chipmunk, was out running through the fresh snow. By the end of the day, most of the new snow had melted, uncovering little green sprouts of grass being nibbled by a new woodchuck. This is not the woodchuck we saw a few days ago with a bit of its ear gone. With two woodchucks living here, chances are good we can watch young woodchucks grow up here this summer.
A new bird, bigger and more brilliant than the redpolls, joined their flock and ate shoulder to shoulder with them like it was one of them. I’ve been amazed at how peacefully redpolls compete for seeds while being touched by their competitors on all sides. I wondered what other birds do that. This was the first time I’ve seen purple finches join them. Something spooked the flock before I could click a picture of this male that later let me get a picture of him back alone shelling a sunflower seed.
 Dark-eyed junco |
 Woodchuck |
 Purple finch |
Also feeding by itself was another new arrival, a dark-eyed junco.
Gooseberry falls
For my April 9 birthday, Donna drove me to the north shore of Lake Superior so we could look for nature and see the raging waters of Gooseberry Falls. All fun.
Thank you for all you do,
Lynn Rogers, Biologist, Wildlife Research Institute and North American Bear Center