Nature Education

A Walk on the Wildest Side

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

Cold misty rain was falling, sections of the trails were slippery, and mosquitos were ferociously feasting on any exposed flesh they could find. Before you get discouraged, it was atypical to encounter so many mosquitos; however, at times they even swarmed the lens of my camera, which allowed for some interesting photos. Certainly not my favorite conditions for hiking and exploring nature’s way, but I trudged on ignoring the fact that I had become an involuntary blood donor. I think the mosquitos were equally pleased that I kept hiking.

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An Early Morning Meander

Oakland County, MI Government 2 Comments

One need not travel far to embrace nature’s way and come home with a smile. That’s what I did this morning to beat the heat and possible storms expected later in the afternoon. As for the words “this morning,” I am referring back to Wednesday, August 9 – a day when the afternoon temperatures flirted with the 90-degree mark. With those thoughts in mind, I armed myself with a mug of iced coffee, my camera, and a notepad and headed off to the 2.2-mile-long River Loop Trail of Independence Oaks County Park expecting to be the only trail user. I could not have been more wrong. I probably encountered two dozen people on my intentionally slow-paced trek and suspect they had the same idea to hike early to beat the afternoon heat.  

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The Wilder Side of Groveland Oaks

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

Groveland Oaks County Park is an extremely popular summer destination for recreational vehicle users who wish to camp with the luxury of creature comforts, want full hookup campsites, and like being close to camping neighbors to chat and perhaps dine with. If you are seeking solitude and just the music of nature or looking for a pristine location for your backpacking tent, Groveland Oaks is not the place to go. 

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BEAR CREEK REVISITED

Oakland County, MI Government 1 Comment

Bear Creek Nature Park is a very attractive, easily assessable user-friendly park that’s almost hidden away in plain sight in the glacially sculpted rolling hills of Oakland Township. Unlike parks managed by our Metroparks and Oakland County Parks, permits are not needed to visit Bear Creek which is managed by Oakland Township Parks and Recreation. For more information on Bear Creek Park and other parks managed by Oakland Township Parks and Recreation, click here.

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Season of the Snapping Turtle

Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

Snapping Turtles are on the move, and sometimes those movements take these lumbering giants across yards and roads, especially when on their egg-laying missions. This is that time! I know that for a fact since I had the pleasure of assisting a roadside snapping turtle just last week. Another car stopped as well when they noticed me kneeling next to the turtle. I needed close-up photos thus the roadside kneeling. A gentleman and his young son got out to watch and warned me it might bite. I acknowledged that and showed them the proper way to move the turtle when they asked if I was going to carry it by its tail. Carrying by the tail would most likely seriously injure the turtle.

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