"More Signs Of Spring"

Despite the recent 13 inch plus dump of wet, heavy snow followed by record setting warm temperatures, signs of spring are emerging everyday.

This post will mention just a few of these events we have been looking forward to witnessing.

Near Ice Out on Wacouta Bay

With our most recent winter providing us with very little snow cover and some significantly cold nightly temperatures, I wouldn't be at all surprised if a large percentage of the bay froze to the bottom. After all, most of the bay is less than a couple feet deep at normal river levels.

So on March 20, the ice was quite rotten and just about ready to leave.  The ice at the Head of the Lake has been gone for quite some time.

Turkey Vulture

I have observed over the past several years, the return of turkey vultures in our area taking place within a few days plus or minus the first day of spring on March 20th.  Last year they arrived early on March 15th.  This year, they were one day late.  Amazing how they can be so predicable no matter the weather.

The First Towboat

Records kept by the Army Corp, indicates we can expect the first towboat to get through Lake Pepin some time the 3rd week of March.  This year their arrival took place on March 22.  The towboat featured in this photo was one of four that traveled by Wacouta that afternoon.

Eastern Chipmunk

Eastern chipmunks are typically woodland creatures existing in complex underground burrows that have food storage chambers. In addition, they are relatively light hibernators during the winters.  On March 23rd, we observed our first chipmunk of the spring checking out seeds underneath our bird feeders.

If you look closely, you will notice chipmunks have specialized cheek pouches on either side of their mouth cavity. These pouches are used to transport seeds, nuts and berries to their food stashes underground.  This chipmunk must have had a burrow nearby because it would return for resupply on a frequent time schedule.

Pocket Gopher

Growing up in a small rural community in southeast Minnesota in the late 1950's and early 60's, there were very few opportunities for a teenager to earn money other than a paper route or mowing lawns.  To supplement that income, I decided to run a pocket gopher trapline.  Back in those days, farmers hated pocket gophers because of their destructive activity.  Most of that damage took place in pasture lands and hay ground.

Hence, farmers and respective townships declared open warfare against gophers by offering bounties. The payoff was 10 cents from the farmer and  ten cents from the township.  

Due to the fact almost all gopher activity takes place underground, One hardly ever observes their activity.  On March 24th as I was hiking along the Rattlesnake Bluff Trail, I was fortunate to observe the first evidence of their activity this spring.

Eagle Nesting Activity

With the unusually warm temperatures in the morning of March 26th,  I decided to paddle my solo canoe for the first time this year up into the now ice free Wacouta Bay. While touring around the bay, I observed 4 active eagle nests.

The last week of March and early April is when the eaglets hatch in our area.

New Beaver Dam

You have heard the saying "Busy As A Beaver."  Since the river level has been unusually low for over a year, beaver lodges have not had enough water to allow them to be habitable. 

I discovered on my canoe tour this family thought it best to construct a new dam to back up the water.  Since late last fall, this dam has been built at the mouth of Bullard Creek.

Beaver

Beavers are known to have very poor eyesight.  To compensate for their limited vision, they have remarkable senses of smell and hearing.  Their sense of smell is considered of most importance.

Beaver

The next experience I will share backs up that fact.  As I was paddling along the north shore of the bay, I noticed a beaver swimming about 75 yards away.  I continued slowly and quietly paddling until I was within 25 yards. As I stopped paddling, it started to swim through some thick aquatic vegetation right next to a patch of willows. It must have had a hunch that something wasn't just right.

Beaver

Fortunately, the wind was blowing from the beaver to me. I sat quietly in my canoe with my camera at the ready.

I was able to take 3 photos as it moved closer to me.  The last photo was taken at a distance of 6 feet away.  With a violent slap of it's powerful tail, water splashed into my canoe and my memorable experience ended.