March 4, 2018 - The animals are stirring

Meteorological spring arrived on March first and brought with it spring weather and other early signs of the coming season.  The chipmunks are out and running around on top of the snow looking for food and chasing one another to defend their territory.

On lookout duty

Gray squirrels are out all winter but their food supplies must be shrinking as they are spending more time under, around, and on the feeders.  Sometimes they'll hang upside down to eat.

Other times they'll take a seed up to the top in their teeth and put on a safety belt while they dine.

One morning after a slight dusting of snow there was a set of weasel tracks passing right through a major squirrel hang-out spot.

Where squirrel and weasel meet

Weasel tracks

I've had two reports of bear-sightings already, so the bird feeders are about to disappear for the season even though I haven't seen any bear signs around Lake Wicwas.  Earlier in the winter I saw this example of just how committed bears are to getting to something that smells like food.

This deer feeding is station made of strong, hard plastic, but Mr. Bear had no problem tearing a hole through it to sample the contents once he couldn't get in through the top.  

Nice teeth

Roads around the Lakes Region have already been posted which is a good indicator that the sap is flowing.  Sure enough, the row of sugar maples beside Lakeland School has been tapped.

The sap is flowing

Before the rain this weekend there was enough snow to allow snowshoeing and we enjoyed a beautiful trek with longtime friends up to the White Mountain Ledge in the Hamlin Conservation Area.

A beautiful day for a hike

One of the highlights of the trip was hearing two Barred Owls caterwauling with each other in the middle of the afternoon - probably a pair, as barred owls are just entering their mating season which runs through April. But it could have been two males, each trying to outdo the other with the quality of their haunting baritone voice.

Let's hope there are a few more opportunities for winter activities in the cards.  It would be nice to reschedule the snowshoe tour that was cancelled yesterday due to poor ice conditions; by Saturday there were gaping holes around the shoreline and large pools of water collecting on the surface of the ice.

Want even more encouraging signs of spring?  In the warmest locations there are even a few shoots of new green life pushing up through the soil.

Crocuses!

But don't unpack those swimsuits yet - there is still over 20 inches of ice out in the middle of the lake!