All Ears: Michigan Whitetailed Deer
June 4, 2011
The Michigan DNR says that White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are the smallest of the three members of the deer family found in Michigan – the others being elk and moose.
“White-tailed” refers to the distinctive white tail that when raised is a flag and provides a flash of white, signaling other deer when there is danger. Deer are graceful and swift runners (up to 35 miles per hour), but do not generally run long distances, preferring to seek the nearest shelter whenever possible. Male deer are called “bucks”, females “does” and baby deer “fawns”. These deer tend to live in female-led family groups of up to 25 deer and may live to ten years or more.
Their size ranges between 125 to 225 pounds, although really healthy bucks may be even larger. Their coat is a reddish-brown color in the summer, but becomes much more gray in the winter. This change helps to hide them as the colors of their environment change. Their tubular or hollow hairs provide insulation, allowing them to lie on snow without melting it, as well as creating enough buoyancy for swimming.
Check this out background big and in Andrew’s giant and cool Whitetail Deer slideshow.
North light
June 3, 2011
North light, photo by R.J.E..
June in Ludington. More about the North Pier Light (a wintry view at that).
Don’t miss the Michigan June Calendar on Absolute Michigan. Lots of fun stuff to do when you’re not soaking up a Michigan sunset!
Check it out bigger and on the map. More from R.J.E. on Michigan in Pictures.
And yes, we have sunsets.
Yesterday & Today at Agate Falls
June 2, 2011
Agate Falls 1939 and Agate Falls, photo by Marty Hogan
Dear Everybody
having a swell time
tried a different lake today and caught some nice bass.
-Nick
Marty posted this postcard of Agate Falls that Nick mailed at 1pm on the 14th of July,1939 to Kenosha along with a modern-day look. No word on if Nick’s last name was Adams. ;)
GoWaterfalling.com says that Agate Falls is a pretty waterfall that is relatively easy to get to on your way to or from Bond Falls. They write:
Agate Falls is a Michigan State Scenic Site 6.5 miles east of Bruce Crossing on MI-28. There is a roadside park (Joseph F. Oravec roadside park) just past the bridge over the Ontonagon River. Unfortunately the provided trails and overlooks are somewhat limited. With some effort you can scramble down to the river to get some very good views of the falls, which seems to be popular with local fishermen, or scramble up the river banks to get to the old railroad bridge over the falls. The bridge is now part of a snowmobile trail.
Marty’s Agate Falls slideshow has several more photos including the roadside sign.
Also see Michigan Wild & Scenic Rivers: Ontonagon River on Michigan in Pictures.
Eastern Hog-nose Snake
June 1, 2011
Eastern Hog Nose Snake 2, photo by ShaneWyatt.
The Michigan DNR page on the Eastern Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon platirhinos) says this is a:
A thick-bodied, slow-moving snake with a flattened, upturned “nose.” Color is variable some have dark spots and blotches on a yellow, orange, or brown background, but other specimens are solid black, brown, or olive with little or no visible pattern. Easily identified by defensive behavior. Adult length: 20 to 40 inches.
A snake of open, sandy woodlands – found in the wooded dunes of western Michigan. The upturned snout is used to burrow after toads, a favorite food. When threatened, hognose snakes puff up with air, flatten their necks and bodies, and hiss loudly. (This has led to local names like “puff adder” or “hissing viper.”) If this act is unsuccessful, they will writhe about, excrete a foul smelling musk, and then turn over with mouth agape and lie still, as though dead. Despite this intimidating behavior, Hog-nosed snakes are harmless to humans.
You can see a lot of pictures at the UM Animal Diversity Web and definitely check out Hog Wild on the Herping Michigan blog.
Shane writes that it was pretty intimidating to see the snake flair like a cobra and start hissing at him. Check it out bigger and see some more shots in his eastern hognose slideshow.
More Michigan snakes on Michigan in Pictures!
