Happy April! Wait, that can’t be right. If you head outside right now it certainly feels like the beginning of spring, but surprisingly we’re in the middle of winter. While it’s a nice break from the cold snap that we recently had, I’m trying not to get too used to it. Soon, the snow will (hopefully) arrive and just maybe it will start to feel like a true winter in Wisconsin.
As we prepare for winter to get back into gear, let’s get outside and see what’s happening right now!
Catch of the day!
The warmer weather makes ice fishing a whole lot more fun! I took my son out on the ice the other day and we had a blast. He caught the biggest bluegill of the evening and was very excited to show it off. It was fun just admiring the fish and seeing how beautiful they are when the sunlight hits their scales. It’s hard to deny the beauty of a brown or rainbow trout, but take a second to look at our various species of panfish and you might be surprised at how colorful and intricate their patterning can be.
After snapping a couple pics, we sent the fish back on its way and hoped it didn’t tell its friends so that we could catch another.
Hoar frost outside of small rodent den
Despite the warmer temperatures and lack of snow, if you were to head outside early in the morning, you might get a chance to see some hoar frost. While out at Westport Prairie one morning, I noticed that every once in a while there would be a tiny patch of frost hanging onto the grass. If you get up close for a better look, you might notice that the frost looks a little different. It seems spikier and has a unique look.
If you get even closer, you might notice that the frost leads to a tiny hole in the ground. The hole is the den of a small rodent like a deer mouse or meadow vole. The frost outside of the den is created when the water vapors from a rodent’s breath makes its way out of the den and comes in contact with the cold air. This type of frost is called hoar frost and I encourage you to go find some!
Rodent keeping warm
Speaking of rodents in winter, I was out walking our newly planted 7.5-acre prairie planting when I came across a large clump of prairie seed. This clump of seed was tossed by hand during our prairie planting. Often, when you include the seed from plant species like thimbleweed in a planting, it can create large clumps that causes the seeds to stick together. Thimbleweed feels similar to sheep’s wool and can be difficult to separate out. It has always frustrated me just a little because I really like getting an even distribution of seed.
When I approached the clump of prairie seed, I reached down to grab a small handful so that I could spread it out. To my surprise, someone had taken residence in this cozy, insulated blanket of seed! It startled me more than I’d like to admit. I took a picture because I knew no one would believe me, put the fluffy seed roof back onto the mouse house, and went on my way.
It’s easy to find cool things in nature, you just need to get outside! I hope you make the time to do so yourself and I’ll see you next month for another nature update.