It’s been a fun start to the winter season. I guess the official start of winter hasn’t arrived yet, but we have been living it for weeks in the Northland. It’s here. I’ll share some recent photos of some lynx, grouse and even a moose and a snowshoe hare. You may still have a little time to order up a calendar for a Holiday Christmas gift, so I’ll include the link here. Thank you for all the orders this year.
A cow moose with a healthy looking winter coatMrs. Moose looking out from a logging area. Note the yellow USFS “Payment Unit” sign on the tree. This marks a logging boundary. Moose love the young, new browse that comes up in these logged areas. It’s a favorite hangout for the moose. Peek-a-boo The moose can almost disappear when it wants too!
The Canada lynx has been cooperative for pictures already this season. I really only see these cats with any regularity in months with snow on the ground. They favor the snowshoe hare, and I have found them hunting for their hare on roadways quite often. I think the long view and room to maneuver make roadways a favorable hunting terrain for the lynx. I was fortunate to encounter a lynx recently. It was fun to watch it stalk red squirrels and rest along the forest edge. It was quite curious and afforded me a few fun photos.
A Canada Lynx watches the forest for movement. Always on the hunt for snowshoe hare and red squirrel. Lynx Tracks in Superior National Forest – MinnesotaThe track of the Canada LynxThe snowshoe hare in winter camo mode. The hare is the primary food source of the Canada lynx. December 2022Canada Lynx – December 2022Relaxing under a pine, yet always alert and listening…The PAWS and the strides of the slinky Canada Lynx – Minnesota !A Canada lynx in late summer coat for comparison. An August coat on a Canada lynx. A noticeable difference between the seasons. Relaxing after a morning meal. I’ve noticed on more than one occasion that the lynx will lie down and take it easy for a while right after eating. Probably saving up for the next chase. A group of spruce grouse on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – The lynx may occasionally dine on grouse in winter. Sneaking through Superior National Forest – Note the giant back paw! The eyes are always watching.
Thank you all for taking a look! You can order prints and browse more photos on my site at this link. Have a great Christmas and Holiday Season and we’ll chat again soon! Tom
Fat tires on the back roads of Cook County, Minnesota 🌲
It’s been a fun summer for wildlife and landscapes in Minnesota’s Arrowhead region. I have spent a lot of time working on the Gunflint Trail and the rest of my time exploring and photographing the rest of Cook County, mostly on the backroads and at the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Here is a selection of photos that may or may not have been shared on my social media pages. We still have plenty summer left, so I’ll update and do another post a little closer to fall. Thanks for stopping to take a look. As always, you can browse more photos for viewing and for purchase at my Gallery Site by using this link. Photo Gallery
Morning fog on a canoe country lake as a camper enjoys coffee by the shore.
I have had numerous moose sightings this summer. I think I have already seen more moose this summer than I did all of last summer. This young bull ate in a swampy river area for 30 minutes one cool morning at sunrise as fog moved across the water.
Bull moose showing small antler nubs starting
Turtles have been abundant. Early summer, our painted and snapping turtles can be seen along roadsides near lakes, swamps and rivers as they lay their eggs. It is a time to use caution, but it is a great opportunity to see turtles somewhat close. Of course, do not disturb them as they are digging and laying eggs. Give them and all wildlife a respectable amount of space. Pictured here are a couple Snapping turtle shells and an odd, deformed painted turtle. The painted turtle has a condition known as kyphosis. Kyphosis is a condition that causes an abnormal, convex curvature of the spine. It happens in humans as well as turtles. I had never witnessed this condition in our painted turtles.
Snapper shell
Prehistoric looking snapping turtle
Painted Turtle with kyphosis
Painted turtle with kyphosis
Working this summer in the mid Gunflint Trail area has provided a few fun wildlife sightings. The early morning commute was good for a handful of great, yet brief moose sightings. This red fox greeted us many mornings at our jobsite on a BWCA entry point lake. Some mornings, it would be sitting in the grass nearby when we arrived.
Red Fox near a BWCA entry point lake. Our red fox friend was often willing to pose for a photo before it moved on. Cabin Reflections off the Gunflint Trail
I have had numerous wolf sightings and encounters this summer as well. They are always pretty shy, but this one cooperated for photos
Gray wolf – Superior National ForestGray wolf in the tall grassThis gray wolf wasn’t too impressed with me taking it’s photo. 🙂
More moose! This healthy looking cow moose gave me a few minutes of photo opportunities. She looked pretty flighty at first, but she calmed down and allowed me to take a few photos and some video as she chewed on the grass and brush one morning near the edge of the BWCA wilderness.
Cow moose and a sideways glance
Canoe country sunset at Sawbill Lake – Boundary Waters
And a few more summer photos from the past few weeks in the forest. Still plenty of summer left, so I will be back with more in a few weeks. In the meantime, keep following on Facebook and Instagram for more weekly photos from Minnesota’s wildest, most beautiful area. The woods and lakes and shores of Superior National Forest.
Bald eagle eyeing up lunch in Superior National ForestMorning light and morning fog in canoe countryLupine, morning fog and morning light on an inland swamp
Thomas J. Spence Images 