Be Thankful – Opt Outside!

lake with some snow on it with snow-covered trees on the shore

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY Fall and winter hiking is an exhilarating experience, especially after a blanket of fresh snow. Don’t let the chilly weather hold you back; unless perhaps you are visiting snowbound Buffalo. The important thing is to be thankful that you have the opportunity to “Opt OutSide.” Make the day after Thanksgiving, … Continue reading Be Thankful – Opt Outside!

October Adventures in Oakland County

Fungi growing on tree

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY October has been a golden month; a time for hiking, cider making, leaf peeping, and endless adventure within Oakland County and beyond. I will miss those days that were punctuated by earlier sunsets, later sunrises, and clear, star-studded night skies. Mother Nature teased us a few times with snowflakes, hail … Continue reading October Adventures in Oakland County

The Dawn of Autumn in Oakland County

Eastern gray squirrel

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY Every autumn we sense the excitement of the beginning of a new season. Autumn is the time for nature-embracing explorations into the natural world as nights cool, fantastic forest fungi appear, and mosquito-free trails beckon. I know the time of autumn draws near as energized Eastern gray squirrels gather acorns felled by … Continue reading The Dawn of Autumn in Oakland County

Cormorants in Oakland County and Beyond

Cormorant on beach with outspread wings

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY Double-crested Cormorants are one of the most fascinating and peculiar-looking birds of Oakland County. Their sightings occur most often in May during northward migrations and again in early September as they head south from their colonies located along the shores of our Great Lakes. Many that are now passing through … Continue reading Cormorants in Oakland County and Beyond