2015

Wildlife Adventure Stories in the Snow

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The Wilder Side of Oakland County

The eastern coyote is seldom seen, but tracks tell the winter tale of its wandering.

The eastern coyote is seldom seen, but tracks tell the winter tale of its wandering.

Winter is the perfect time to search for some of the most elusive creatures of Oakland County, especially nocturnal mammals and those species that struggle to avoid human contact. If you think there isn’t much to discover in the dead of winter in the Oakland County Parks, it’s time to think again. Tracks and trails in the snow are clues akin to those scattered about in a good detective novel. Sometimes the tracks and trails leave one with a shock and awe feeling, perhaps wondering, “What happened here?” Continue reading →

ICE: A Clear and Present Danger

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

The glaciers that shaped Oakland County have gifted us with beautiful lakes that support winter recreational activities of every imaginable focus. These lake activities range from high-speed ice boating to the peaceful solitude of a lone ice fisher staring solemnly into a dark hole, waiting for a fish to bite.

Sadly, winter often brings ice related accidents and sometimes fatalities. These tragedies result from a combination of four factors: excitement, poor judgment, poor decision making and inadequate information. The fact of the matter is clear; anyone that ventures onto ice must accept the fact that NO ICE IS SAFE ICE (a mantra of the United States Coast Guard). There is always risk. That is a lesson I learned last winter.

Ice that appears solid may not be; my initial crossing was uneventful.

Ice that appears solid may not be; my initial crossing was uneventful.

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The 2016 North American International Auto Show

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Head of Passenger Car Brands for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Tim Kuniskis with the new 2016 Chrysler Pacifica.

Head of Passenger Car Brands for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Tim Kuniskis with the new 2016 Chrysler Pacifica.

Every year the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) fills Cobo Center in Detroit with its display of shiny new vehicles and technology. Before it became the international show it is today, it was known locally as the Detroit Auto Show. The exhibition was a local car show in 1907 with 17 exhibitors, and has grown to feature more than 60 exhibitors. This year the auto industry is rolling out exciting new concept cars, intuitive technology and stunning designs.

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Wildlife in Photos 2015

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The Wilder Side of Oakland County

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Oakland County encompasses 868 square miles of diverse landscape and has 40 square miles of water. Cataclysmic, earth-sculpting glaciation action 11,000 years ago shaped the landmass we know as Oakland County. Thanks to that sculpting, the county has more than 1,400 lakes, numerous streams, creeks, bogs and wetlands in six major watersheds. The hilly woodlands are dotted with vernal ponds, impressive elevation changes, and hundreds of thousands of big oak trees, thus the name Oakland County. Continue reading →