Season Watch Newsletter: 12/2/22

Happy December! This newsletter features animal tracks, hunting outlooks and traditions, and bald eagles.

FEATURE: Hunting Traditions in Northern Minnesota

This episode of the Strong Women podcast features Heather Hansen and a discussion of why she decided to start hunting! Though I'm not (yet?) a hunter, I saw a lot of myself in this piece: a distaste for violence balanced with the desire for sustainability, happier lives for harvested animals, and a deeper connection with the land. It's a short interview, but it left me thinking!

Listen in!

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STUDENT AND LISTENER REPORTS

Our students have been busy this week. They've identified animal tracks, learned about hibernation patterns in Minnesota's mammals, and even learned about spider diapause (loosely, the insect version of hibernation)!

Hear our students' voices!

JOHN LATIMER'S WEEKLY REPORT

This week, John's eagles have been bringing sticks to their nest. He gives a brief summary of their nesting activities over the last 40 years, as well as their usual behaviors during November! Other notes include a enterprising wood frog, a sneaky Red-Eyed Vireo nest, and some easy-to-spot Black Locusts.

Listen to John's report!

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More dates and locations will be announced. Desperate to get in on the fun? Send me an email, and we'll set up a zoom meeting!

Save the date: 1/16: Phenology in the Classroom. Lac qui Parle Valley High School. Registration information TBA!
2/11/23: Phenology in the Classroom and on the Radio. Back to Basics Conference, Pine River MN. Register here (opens 1/2/23).

SARAH'S RECOMMENDATION

While many of Minnesota's weasels turn white in the winter, the American Mink does not! These inquisitive little critters are relatively common near water, and they are phenomenal predators. Enjoy this video of a company of young mink fishing! (This channel is fascinating: long story short, this guy trains mink to hunt cooperatively with dogs! Together, they control pest populations of rats and muskrats. It's an absolutely bonkers business plan, but hey, it seems to work!)

Enjoy!

Meadow Vole (Microtus pennsylvanicus). Ojibwe: amikowaabigozhiish.

Fill your soul, go chase a vole!

Northern Community Radio

KAXE/KBXE

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Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR). The Trust Fund is a permanent fund constitutionally established by the citizens of Minnesota to assist in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state’s air, water, land, fish, wildlife, and other natural resources.