2017

Wandering Through Winter with White-Tailed Deer

Oakland County, MI Government 5 Comments

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

Wandering through winter is the way of life for the white-tailed deer living in our midst. They need not wander far. For snowy days, temperatures below freezing, and winds that howl across open meadows and fields rarely present a danger to the thousands of deer that live in Oakland County. Deer have evolved a four-step basic strategy for surviving winter that is really rather simple: go about a slightly altered routine, don’t over exert, sleep near your best food supply, and just wait for spring. They can do this thanks to physical traits and behavioral patterns that slowly changed as autumn faded. Continue reading →

Seven Lakes State Park: A Pre-Solstice Wintery Adventure

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

The arrival of the winter solstice opens the way for a new season of embracing the ways of nature on the trails and in the parks that add to the quality of life of Oakland County. The nature that surrounds us becomes even more amazing – we’ve got enticing trails, drifting snow, frozen streams, babbling brooks, crackling ice, whispering winds, and of course, tracks in the snow that help unravel the mysteries of wild creatures living in our midst. If a destination is chosen with forethought, there’s the added benefit of enjoying soothing solitude for hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing on the wilder side of Oakland County. That was my plan last Friday. Continue reading →

Discover the Best Holiday Light Displays in Oakland County

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

Thank you for your interest in the Oakland County Holiday Lights Map! There is no map for the 2019 Holiday Season.

Continue reading below for highlights from the 2017 Map:

Helping you find the best of the best Oakland County holiday light displays 

One of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit is to enjoy all of the beautiful, glimmering holiday lights that fill the streets of Oakland County, Michigan. Whether you want to show off your decked-out property, or take a drive and visit the best of the best holiday light displays, the new Oakland County Crowdsourced Holiday Lights Map is here to deliver. How does it work? Individuals can submit their Oakland County holiday decorated properties to the Oakland County Crowdsourced Holiday Lights Map and once approved, the homes & businesses will show up on the map for users to visit in person.

Oakland County Holiday Lights Map 2017

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To Migrate or Not? That is the Question.

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

The classic image of bird migration at the approach of winter is the sight of Canada Geese flying high above our lakes, parks, towns and cities in V-shaped flocks. As winter fades, local television newscasters sometimes bubble with excitement at an alleged sign of spring’s return, robins on a snow speckled lawn. They salute the American Robin as the first returning bird of spring when robins are reported stalking about sunny suburban lawns searching for worms between patches of melting snow. These romanticized images of bird behavior and migration are less than accurate. Continue reading →

The 25th Annual Oakland County Business Roundtable

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

The Oakland County Business Roundtable met for its 25th consecutive year last week at Baker College in Auburn Hills. The Oakland County Business Roundtable Annual Meeting was created by Oakland County Executive, L. Brooks Patterson, and is a partnership between business, education, community leaders, and government working together to improve the business climate and quality of life in Oakland County. The Oakland County Roundtable’s five committees are Economic Development, Workforce and Education, Oakland Next, Transportation and Mobility, and Quality of Life.

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