February 2 Mr. Sun
On January 29, the sun rose only 15 minutes earlier than it did on January 1. Yet in the same four-week period, the sunset moved 34 minutes later. That’s more than twice as much light gained at the end of the day as at the beginning of the day! Why this imbalance? Why does it feel like I keep waking up in the dark even as the days get longer? The explanation may send your mind spinning in circles. We set our clocks so that noon occurs when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, in theory. In reality, noon on our clocks is only the average time that the sun would be highest in the sky. Due to the tilt of the earth’s axis and the elliptical shape of its orbit, the sun travels across the sky at different speeds and angles depending on the time of year. This means that on most days, the sun is not quite synchronized with clock noon. This month, when the winter solstice (shortest day) has recently occurred, the sun is still ascending in the sky at noon. More of its time above the horizon occurs after 12:00pm on a standard clock than before. So even though we may be accumulating an equal number of daylight minutes before and after the sun reaches its highest point in the sky, more of these minutes will accumulate after noon on our clocks, resulting in sunset times that get later faster than sunrise times get earlier. Confused? I am. But I hope you’ve been enjoying the increasingly brighter afternoons. –Katharine Chute
January 23 Frost Cracks
This week the bitter cold of winter has finally arrived at Wolf Ridge. With overnight lows reaching -19°F, some interesting music has been coming from the woods. What sounds like a loud explosive rifle shot is actually the bark of sugar maple trees cracking, creating what is known as a “frost crack”. These long vertical fractures can be found on the southerly facing side of tree trunks, where the day’s sunlight heats the bark and wood directly under the bark. This causes the bark and inner wood to expand slightly. When the temperature quickly drops at nightfall, the outer bark cools and contracts more quickly than the inner wood. This rapid and uneven contraction of the wood is what causes the bark to split open in an audible crack that echoes for miles through the wintry northern woods. -Sarah Onstad
December 23 Feast for the Eyes
In a winter world of dazzling new white snow, pale blue skies, and tree silhouettes, the bright red of the highbush cranberries just out my window make a startling and cheery sight. Some years, the late-ripening berries (they are best after the first frost) are discovered and eaten by birds well before Thanksgiving, but this year they are still on the tree, adding a certain holiday flair to my view. When the birds do discover them, the cranberries will "disappear" in just a few hours, a sign that the seasons are cycling around yet again.
-Carrie Anderson
November 22 Welcoming Winter
Though winter doesn’t officially begin until December 21st, it descended upon Wolf Ridge in various ways this week. The first snow to cover the ground and stay for more than a day fell early in the week. It was followed by the first day in which our maximum temperature stayed below 32°F. As the lakes freeze and hills get covered in snow, we adjust our classes to winter’s will. The ice on Wolf Lake is finally too thick for even the heartiest of voyageurs to conquer, and the snow on Marshall Mountain will challenge geologists to find the rocks which were once below the crust of the earth. -Anne Gottwald
November 18 Mystery Mammal
Program naturalist Peter Harris and I went for a walk on Tuesday, November 8th, searching for current phenological happenings. Naturally, I was hunting among the trees, demonstrating my botanical bias, when I saw some movement in the mountain ash shrubs in front of the West Dorm. “An animal!” I whispered. Being a botany nerd, all I knew so far was that it was bigger than a squirrel and smaller than a bear. Good thing Peter was there for identification help. Our friend the Pine Marten, Martes americana, was leaping around the roof of the West Dorm very curiously. We quietly followed him all around the building until he ran down the side and scampered away. But why the roof? My suspicions are that he was hunting a squirrel or small mammal, or possibly nibbling on our Jack-O-Lantern leftovers on the balcony. I’m keeping a close watch, hoping to catch this sneaky mustelid in the act. -MJ Bach
November 4 Close Encounters
The beavers of Sawmill Creek have been especially active this week as they busily prepare their dams and food caches for the frigid, winter months ahead. These semi-aquatic rodents are crepuscular, meaning they are most active at dawn and dusk. Naturalists have reported seeing up to eight beavers at a time, all cutting, gathering, and storing wood. The beavers have also been making their presence known to the visiting students, walking within two feet of a group of speechless 5th-graders earlier this week. The only thing that forced me to pull myself away from all the beaver activity last evening was my feet, frozen and wet, from having taken one step too many to get a closer look at these hard-working creatures. -Danny Pirtle
October 31 Hairy Scary Leaves!
Following the dazzling show of fall colors, the last couple weeks have been marked by what I've been calling "The Great Opening-Up". As the many maples, birches and other deciduous trees and shrubs shed their leaves, distant landmarks suddenly seem closer. Lake Superior is visible from new vantage points. A pair of sharp eyes can easily mark the flash of a student's magenta coat amongst the wooded understory. Tasked this week with the Wolf Ridge weather and phenology duties, I have been especially attentive to the sugar maples to note the last tree to go completely bare. The average date that this is typically witnessed at Wolf Ridge is October 13th. However, this year, I've noted several individuals that have stubbornly refused to relegate their leaves to the composting mat of the forest floor. Intrigued, I took a closer look a number of the leaves and noticed they were "hairy!" Scary! Many of the leaves had been inundated with tiny, spindly projections. After my shock and on further research, I found that these are galls of the tiny mite, Vasates aceriscrumena, which have a special affinity for sugar maples. In the spring, the overwintering females will crawl out of their hiding places in bark cracks onto the expanding leaf buds tofeed. Their feeding will cause the leaf cells to form spindle-shaped galls, where they will lay the eggs of the next generation. Young mites will mature in the gall (more)
and exit mid-summer, eventually seeking shelter on the branches under bark flaps for the winter. There is no noted harm to the leaf and infestation can vary from year to year. Now, I'm not one to draw conclusions between late tree-droppers and spindle galls; association doesn't equal causation. Nevertheless, there is something fitting to receiving a dose of the new and frightening in the midst of the spooking season - Happy Halloween from the Ridge!
–Will Tanner
October 26 Salmon Run
I recently went fishing at the mouth of the Baptism River in Tettegouche State Park to catch pink salmon on their way up the river to spawn, but realized quickly I was a bit too late. After spawning these fish die and their carcasses line the river, creating a convenient food option for bald eagles and osprey. As I began casting for these fish, I saw hundreds of salmon carcasses accompanied by a handful of hungry eagles. The run had finished up a few days earlier and I had no luck, but this phenology event was a sign of things to come. Soon, just before the rivers freeze, the larger salmon species in Lake Superior, the coho and king salmon, will start their spawning runs and serve as a last meal before the remaining raptors in the area migrate south for the winter. If you find yourself at the mouth of a river on the north shore the next few weeks, keep your eyes peeled for these fish working their way up stream. –Dan Behrens
October 21 Liz and the Fish
I went for a nice chilly dip in my wetsuit today. Not in Wolf or Raven lake, but in the Wolf Ridge fish tank! It was time the 700 gallon tank had a thorough cleaning, and what better way to do it than from the inside out! I had to stuff a large rock into my wetsuit to help keep me underwater and get to all those hard to reach areas. The fish and I gave each other some distance, but I enjoyed my time with a curious white-bellied sucker. When asked about my thoughts on living in the tank, I responded with a simple "blub blub blub." –Liz Doane
October 10 Waves of Color
The fall colors at Wolf Ridge have come in dramatic waves over the last three weeks. The paper birches were the first major change in the forest's green summer colors. The sugar and red maples were soon to follow displaying their amazing red colors that made mapping out their groves easy from the many lookouts along the ridges. Strong winds and rains on Friday have stripped away the majority of the colors of the maples and birches. But the fall color show is not over! The quaking aspens Populus tremuloides are the last act. Their trembling, vivid saturated yellow leaves are peaking now and paint the landscape in wide swathes in and around Wolf Ridge ELC. –Michael Petersen
October 5 Arctic Travelers with Spurs?
I saw this female Lapland Longspur as I was walking to the science building. This bird breeds in Artic Canada and is a migratory bird. It winters in the southern United States. We see many different types of migrating birds in this area because many birds use major waterways as their "map" to go south. Birds from Canada fly down until they find Lake Superior and follow it south to their winter home. –Nickie Swenson
September 26 Fun Fall Forest Find
Looking like something straight out of a sci-fi film, Actaea pachypoda is a native perennial of Minnesota that is most likely identified by its red skin-like stalk and shiny white berry. Stare at it long enough and they start to look like miniature eyes but if you are tempted to take a taste... beware! This "white baneberry" contains a toxin that can cause cardiac arrest and illness if consumed by humans. Frost will eventually mark the end of these doll-eyed berries and in the spring the plant will re-emerge as a dense, elongated cluster of white flowers. –Andrea Wakely
September 15 Coat of many Colors
On an evening perambulation to Sawmill Creek, I happened upon a doe and her fawn. I noticed the mottled colors on the doe’s back, signaling the changing seasons. During the summer, a deer’s pelage is red and dense to ward off insects. As the days get colder, a deer will shed this summer fur in favor of a gray winter coat comprised of hollow hairs, which trap air and act like the insulation of a down jacket. –Elsa Hansen
September 12 Cloud From Pagami Fire
This cloud of smoke from the Pagami Creek fire rose high into the atmosphere, creating a "pyrocumulus cloud" that looks similar to a thunderhead. The cloud was visible for many miles throughout the Arrowhead due to its height in the sky. Wolf Ridge had a great view of the cloud from our high observation deck over Sawmill Valley, despite being over 30 miles away. Follow this link for more information about the Pagami Creek Fire, including links to outside web pages with current updates. - Liz Doane
September 9 New Staff!
Human beings have seasonal cycles too! One BIG sign of fall at Wolf Ridge is the arrival of our new graduate student naturalists for the sschool year. They spend two weeks here, before schools arrive, getting to know the north woods and each other, and learning the classes they will teach beginning after Labor Day. The "graduation" from staff training is tonight. Congrats! - Carrie Anderson
June 22 Star-Studded Clearings
There's something magical and comforting about the first night I see the blinking Morse code of fireflies. The light-emitting beetle's flashing is a sure harbinger of summer as these interesting insects thrive in warm, humid conditions. Check these links to learn more about fireflies in Minnesota and around the world. - Carrie Anderson
May 9 Bring on the Green!
After a long winter plants are beginning their reawakening. Some of the first green leaves that I have seen peeking out of the ground belong to Marsh Marigolds. These wildflowers like moist areas and are very commonly found near streams and wetlands in the early spring time. Here on the Wolf Ridge campus they can be found in the wetlands near Raven Lake. The Marsh Marigolds should be blossoming soon, so look for their bright yellow flowers. - Matt Skogen
- photo from http://
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May 5 New Guy on Campus
Last week when fellow naturalist, Chris and I were checking his sugarbush (maple syruping) trees, we found sticky, maple syrup on the top of the tap. Looking up the maple tree, we saw dribbles of maple syrup coming down on to the tap from a hole half way up the tree! Hmm, who is stealing the sap? The Yellow Belly Sap Suckers are back at Wolf Ridge and tapping the maple trees to attract some insects or other goodies to eat. Sap Suckers are in the Woodpecker family and are known for drilling holes in maple trees and eating the sap and insects drawn to it. Adults have black and white striped bodies and wings with a black head and red forehead. They have a yellow breast and white belly. Males will have red throats and females have white throats. Look for these sap stealers around Wolf Ridge! - Ivy Berg
April 2 Rivers of Ice
One of the most unique occurrences seen on the North Shore takes place deep in the canyons cut by perennial streams draining into Lake Superior. It is rare that such rivers can get, and stay, consistently cold enough to freeze with up to 2 feet of ice. These frozen water courses serve as highways for not only deer and wolves, but for adventurous cross country skiers as well. The ice is maintained by the chilly temps of winter, however, now that the earth's natural tilt has brought about springtime with it's warmer temperatures we are seeing all kinds of changes on the rivers. Cycles of melting and freezing bring about new and interesting ice formations. Slowly increasing water levels can flood over the ice creating new and beautiful surface textures. And soon we will be seeing an immense change as the ice really begins to break up as the rivers flood with the spring melt. Keep your eyes posted for the river's new look, but always exercise caution when traveling on or near river ice, especially this time of year! - Christopher Schuler
March 21 Sappy Times!
The seasons have just changed and spring has now begun. That means it is time to think about collecting maple sap again. At Wolf Ridge, metal buckets and blue sap collecting bags have shown up in our woods as we prepare our sugar bush for collecting sap. The sugar maples have begun flowing, but only slowly for now. The trees run best when the temperatures get above forty during the day and go back to below freezing at night. When enough of this has been collected, it will be boiling time and some real maple syrup will be the end result of all the effort. - David Stieler
March 3 Bending Trees
On President’s day, 60 to 70 mile per hour winds smashed against the rocky coast of Lake Superior’s north shore, spraying immense waves of the lake’s fresh water onto the trees and shrubs growing near the cliff’s edge. This water immediately froze in the frigid temperatures, and layer after layer of ice began to form, transforming this once humble looking tree stand into an enchanted winter forest! The plants, a collection of spruce, fir, and other small shrubs have adaptations that allow their branches to bend under the weight of the immense ice deposits without breaking. This allows the plants to survive in such an area where blistering ice waves are a harsh reality. - Andy Petran
- photo by Andy Petran
March 1 Foxy Tree Climber
Our fresh dusting of snow has revealed the vibrant activity in our Northern Woods. Among pine martin, abundant wolf, deer, and coyote, there are also fox tracks. Ever seen a grey fox in a tree? These canids are the only member of the dog family that are able to climb trees, and they will to escape predators like the coyote, or to hunt. Grey foxes grab tree trunks with their long clawed front paws and scramble up, hopping from branch to branch once up or lurking in the branches to ambush prey. Gray fox are found in the southwestern and central part of Minnesota.
- Melody McKnight
- Photo from
http://www.blueplanet
biomes.org/grey_fox.htm
February 10 Snap, Crackle...Popping Tree?
Lately it has become quite common to walk through the silent woods only to have a violent crack fracture the quiet. No need to be alarmed however, it is merely an indication of changing temperatures as the forest wakes from its wintertime nap. The phenomenon to which I’m referring is described as a frost crack.
In winter and early spring, water in the phloem (the inner bark) and in the xylem (wood), expands and contracts under often significantly fluctuating temperatures. Rapid expansion and contraction of water within the wood and bark, particularly under rapidly falling night temperatures can result in a frost crack with its tell-tale explosive report.
Although frost cracking itself does not necessarily damage the wood of a tree; the tree can be more susceptible to disease and decay following the rupture. Cracks shrink and heal in summer, only to reopen again during subsequent winters. -Krysta Post
February 8 Rolling Ravens
The time is nigh for spring courtship, and some of the earliest displays this spring can be seen by Corvus corax, also known as the Common Raven. These large and intelligent birds have recently been seen performing daring aerial stunts in order to impress one another. On January 12th, one was observed executing a double roll just over campus. While it is not clear if any nearby ravens took notice, it certainly left an impression on the naturalists and students who witnessed the maneuver. Research on these displays has shown that they are most often an extended combination of half rolls, rolls, and double rolls accompanied by vigorous vocalizations. Look to the skies and you may be lucky enough to see these incredible displays firsthand! - Brian Minor
- photo by Jim Williams
January 24 Make Your Own Snow!
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Oh, the weather outside is frightful…so what do you do when the temperatures dip to sub-zero? You do what any self-respecting naturalist would do…make snow! As part of the Weather Forecasting class this past Friday we boiled water as a group and took it outside into the frigid temperatures. It was then tossed up into the air as high as possible and, to the delight of everyone involved, instant snow! So how does it work? Hot water evaporates more quickly than cold water. Therefore, when the hot water comes into contact with the cold, dry air it rapidly evaporates, enabling the cold air to freeze the tiny water droplets faster. Thus creating an instant winter wonderland of snow for one and all…enjoy the video! -Danny Blackman
January 12 No Two Alike?
Are all snowflakes really different? Unlike many beliefs from childhood that when put to the test result in no, the answer to this age-old query is yes! Snowflakes form differently in different conditions and since no two conditions can ever be identical (statistically speaking) no two snowflakes can be the same. We currently have two feet of snow on the ground here at Wolf Ridge. Even while on the ground snowflakes are constantly reforming—combining with others, melting and refreezing. -Angie Ziobro
