It’s the first week of March, and Mother Nature has been restless across the country. But is it spring? Don’t ask the robins. Robins have been here all winter, perhaps dreaming they will find a worm soon, and they might. Continue reading
THE BIG DAY IS ALMOST HERE! Crowds will soon gather around televisions for the final countdown. When will he appear? What will he do? Punxsutawney Phil, the furry weatherman from Pennsylvania has been slumbering in his hibernating den since late autumn. But on February 2nd Phil will stop procrastinating and make a statement at Gobblers Knob in front of an array of cameras. As crowds surge forward for a better view, he will yawn once or twice, and then without further ado will predict the weather. If he sees his shadow, he dives back into his den and we have six more weeks of winter. If there is no shadow, he lounges topside and that signals that spring will soon embrace the countryside. It’s a great tall tale, and Phil always has a 50% chance of being right. Continue reading
Addison Oaks County Park is a beautiful 1,140 acre matrix of wildlife. It’s a landscape rich with woodlands, wetlands, meadows and miles and miles of trails, many of them equestrian friendly. Last weekend Addison Oaks hosted the second annual Equestrian Camp Out in partnership with the Addison Oaks Trail Riders: equestrians committed to the maintenance and expansion of bridle trails in and around Addison Oaks County Park. Continue reading
THE WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Massasauga rattler sunning on the Indian Springs Metropark hike-bike trail.
The Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake is a true pit-viper; the only venomous snake found in Oakland County. They are well camouflaged, docile and secretive and would rather escape than strike when threatened and that may explain a fact noted by emergency medical professionals: on the rare occasion when a rattlesnake strikes it almost always occurs on the dominated hand of an intoxicated male. “Hey Joe, Watch at this!” may just summarize the foolish bravado behavior that precedes most encounters between two species, homo sapiens and Sistrurus catenatus catenatus. Humans are not on the menu, but these highly skilled ambush hunters use their heat -seeking pits to target small rodents and frogs.
