Wilder Side of Oakland County
There is nothing shy about the Eastern Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), the smallest of our native tree squirrels. Now as summer fades, it’s full speed ahead for this rusty-red fur, white belly, endless energy, tail-flicking creature of the trees! Armed with an attitude of conspicuous confidence and extremely loud chatter, these colorful characters do not hesitate to charge at invading gray squirrels twice their size saying, “My tree! My nuts! Back off!”
During September and October, Addison Oaks and Groveland Oaks campgrounds are hosting Halloween festivities for ghosts & goblins of all ages! DJ dances, trick-or-treating, campsite decorating contest, gourd and face painting, hayrides, and tons more fun Fall activities.
Wilder Side of Oakland County
Some of the most amazing wildland plants of Oakland County go unnoticed along trails and pathways as we hurry about in the frenzy of late summer activity. One of these plants is a late-blooming beauty, a three to four foot tall delicate native wildflower of moist soils, sun-dappled stream banks, and wetland edges. This one holds an explosive secret! This is the story of the Spotted Jewelweed (Impatiens Capensis), a wildflower with a much loved, yet misleading, nickname “Touch-me-not.”
Wilder Side of Oakland County
Photo courtesy of Wendy Pellerito, Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy
Hungry snakes, branch-hopping birds, ravenous red squirrels and bigger frogs eat them. Nature-savvy adults smile at them in gardens. Little kids are mesmerized when one of these sticky toe padded predator with beautiful eyes crawls up the exterior of a window on a late summer evening to peer inside.
The Eastern Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) is a very common frog of Southeastern Michigan and is found in all 13 Oakland County Parks. Seeing them, however, is not as easy as hearing their loud trill. They are masters of camouflage with the ability to change color from bright green to shades of gray, and molted patterns of grays and greens. Their cryptic coloration gives them the ability to hide in plain sight and wait for a big bug, juicy beetle, or even a smaller frog to pass within strike-and-slurp range. Continue reading
WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY
Heat and humidity has accelerated the growth of fall mushrooms in the woodlands of Oakland County. Many species are very attractive; some are delicious while others are deadly or hallucinogenic. One sweet smelling species is now emerging in Oakland County that will land you in the Emergency Room with very serious intestinal distress, faster than one can say, “Oops, I thought it was a Chanterelle.”
