December 8

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was cloudy with a temperature of 30 degrees and a slight northerly wind blowing light snow flurries. Standing at the crest of the hill, I looked west over a white landscape as three inches of fresh snow blanketed the ground. Descending the hill, I paused at Mallard Marsh and counted five deer running through Bobolink Meadow. Entering North Woods, I noticed some water remained in one of the vernal ponds. I followed the trail west where I observed a fox squirrel scampering up a tree. Next, I scraped some snow away to expose some leaf litter and realized how important leaf decomposition is to the cycle of nutrients in a forest ecosystem. I exited the woods and noticed how the white snow as a backdrop made it easy to spot normally inconspicuous invertebrates such as one of several beetle larvae. Also, I spotted half-a-dozen tiny Winter Crane Flies-some flying around and some sitting on the snow. I continued to circle Succession Field where I saw two kinds of spiders crawling on the snow. Entering South Woods, I first stopped to observe the raccoon carcass after brushing off some snow. These nocturnal mammals are good climbers, are curious and intelligent. Their hearing and sense of 
touch are excellent. They forage for food in or near 
water or around the edges of crops. These omnivores feed on crayfish, insects, mollusks, rodents, bird eggs, fish, young rabbits, carrion and garbage. As plants become available in summer, they feed on fruits and grains. Like bears, raccoons do not truly hibernate. They sleep in dens during extremely cold weather, but can be 
aroused and their metabolic rate and heart rate remain nearly normal. After following the trail along the edge of Swanson Swamp, I exited the woods and headed toward Artist Overlook where I could see Remi’s footprints in the snow as I followed him down the path. Following south trail, I circled around to the east side of Sora Swale where I was surprised yesterday to see a partially submerged deer carcass. I suspect it was either killed by a hunter or died from Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease. Caused by a midge bite, this disease drastically raises the body temperature. Often the deer seeks a pond to cool off where it becomes weak and dies. Continuing on to Frog Fen, I turned north, climbed Reflection Hill and scanned Grebe Pond where I recalled seeing lots of Muskrat activity this past week. So, I headed down the hill, turned south at the Classroom and walked down to the edge of the pond where I was pleased to see three muskrats swimming near their lodge and one perched on a log eating cattail. Finally, we passed the Classroom Building and returned to the van for our trip home.

I walked a league and o'er the moor;

I walked and walked as ne’er before,

And on to walk from dale to hill

And on again to claim the thrill.

Behold! that walking does for me:

The senses heightened, mind of glee,

While rolling vistas pass me by

To swell the ear, enthrall the eye.

Mark R Slaughter