Wildlife
Along Highway 61 it’s not unusual to see bald eagles, but it never fails: Someone exclaims “Eagle!” and we crane our necks to see the regal bird. My favorite sight was a massive eagle’s nest in a mature aspen. Occasionally, an eagle poked up from among the sticks. I always mused about what dinner was that day, or how many hungry beaks the eagles had to feed.
Lakota, a 15 1/2-year old wolf at the International Wolf Center, was euthanized last Nov. 7. A consultation with the Center’s veterinarian, Dr. Chip Hanson, led to the assessment that Lakota’s metabolic system was declining; she had stopped eating and was unable to deal with ambient conditions. While anti-inflammatory medication provided some relief, her condition continued to decline. Wolves in the wild may live eight to 10 years; captive wolves sometimes live as long as 14 to 16 years.
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In the winter in Duluth, I am often asked, "What are all those ducks in the harbor?" The answer, for the most part, is "mallards," but they’re usually joined by at least a few of a more interesting species: the American black duck.
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Raccoons are Moving North
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The raccoon is a common Minnesota resident. It is easily identified by its stout gray/brown body, striped tail, pointed nose, and of course its characteristic black mask.
Until recently, raccoons were not often seen in the northeastern Arrowhead region of Minnesota. A warming climate and, to a lesser extent, expanding farmland are speculated reasons for the move northward.
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On May 9, the International Wolf Center, in Ely, MN, welcomed two male wolf pups to join 8-year-old arctic wolves Malik and Shadow and 4-year-old Great Plains wolves Maya and Grizzer as part of the interpretive facility’s ambassador Exhibit Pack.
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Bright Woodland Singer: Purple Finch
Late winter is finch time. When the cone supply runs out in other areas, flocks of finches sometimes show up at this time of year. One of the most common finches is the purple finch. The name of this species (like so many others!) is a bit misleading. Not purple at all, male purple finches are suffused with a dusky rose color over bold brown-and-white streakiness. Females lack the rose color.
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Late winter is finch time. When the cone supply runs out in other areas, flocks of finches sometimes show up at this time of year. One of the most common finches is the purple finch. The name of this species (like so many others!) is a bit misleading. Not purple at all, male purple finches are suffused with a dusky rose color over bold brown-and-white streakiness. Females lack the rose color.
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The North American porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, is Minnesota’s second largest rodent surpassed only by the beaver. Like the skunk, this is an animal best given some space if encountered in the wild.
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Earl Orf of Shoreview is a lifelong birder who enjoys photographing birds in the Northern Wilds.
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The International Wolf Center in Ely houses four live ambassador gray wolves for observation–Malik, Shadow, Grizzer and Maya. Another wolf, Nyssa, died suddenly in 2005, causing the remaining wolves to make adjustments in their social order.
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Our first chances to see snowy owls come with the first cold blasts of Canadian air in early winter. Then, in open areas, like airports, industrial complexes, and farm fields, or along the North Shore of Lake Superior, snowy owls begin turning up. They are true tundra birds, nesting as far north as only a handful of other species. Most of them stay north of us, even during the coldest winters.
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The snowshoe hare gets its name from the size of its thickly furred hind feet and its habit of spreading its toes wide when jumping. This allows the hare to travel on the top of the snow to quickly escape predators.
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