The Holidays are a magical time. Decorating the house, picking out the perfect Christmas tree, and spending time with friends and loved ones all add joy to this special time of year. Take time to double check decorations and ensure that you’ve taken proper precautions to prevent fire and emergencies inside, and outside the home. Whether the house is all ready for the Holidays, or there’s still plenty to do, use these tips to make sure your home and family stay safe. Continue reading
Beavers are the largest, yet least seen, rodents found in Oakland County. Even though these creatures can weigh more than 50 pounds with their massive flat tails, it’s difficult to spot them because they are mostly nocturnal and semi-aquatic. They are without a doubt, the best dam builders in our county. During late autumn, beavers busy themselves preparing for winter by strengthening their dams, adding extra mud and sticks to their fortified lodges and most importantly, stocking their underwater pantries. Wildlife biologists like to call those winter food caches Beaver Freezers. Rarely does a human get to see these underwater food storage sites; for usually as the ice begins to freeze, it quickly turns opaque and snow blocks any view. Not this year. On the second day of January, I had the unusual opportunity to inch my way carefully out over crystal clear ice and capture images of the top of a beaver freezer in one of the 13 Oakland County Parks.
The eastern coyote is seldom seen, but tracks tell the winter tale of its wandering.
Winter is the perfect time to search for some of the most elusive creatures of Oakland County, especially nocturnal mammals and those species that struggle to avoid human contact. If you think there isn’t much to discover in the dead of winter in the Oakland County Parks, it’s time to think again. Tracks and trails in the snow are clues akin to those scattered about in a good detective novel. Sometimes the tracks and trails leave one with a shock and awe feeling, perhaps wondering, “What happened here?” Continue reading
The 2016 Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Rochester drew record-breaking crowds with over 50,000 attendees last weekend. The ice carving competition, ice tree, and outdoor activities kept attendees entertained all weekend. 177 volunteers from the Oakland County Parks and Recreation department helped the festival run smoothly, and provided many entertaining activities. Continue reading
Exercise increases endorphins, relieves stress, provides energy and brightens a bad mood. If you’re looking for a reason to get active this winter, Oakland County has tons of outdoor activities for the whole family. Let our interactive map help you find a trail, hill or park to get outdoors and shake off those winter blues. Don’t let the cold weather keep you inside, get up and get healthy this winter.
