January 20

It’s noontime as I hike south on a railroad track covered with 4 inches of snow toward a bridge, for my third encounter with the Bad River. Temperatures are in the mid- 20’s under cloudy skies and a slight west wind as I reach the bridge, as the ice-covered watercourse flows under me. Looking upstream, I see the 10-ft wide, ice-covered channel was straightened years ago as part of the county drain system. Likewise, I see the narrow plant buffer zones on both banks are out of compliance with the required width for protecting the river water from tainted runoff from the adjoining cropland. To further compound the problem, I hike past a few naturally-eroding drainage ditches, perpendicular to the river channel, that have breached the buffer zone allowing water from the cropland to flow down the steep bank directly into the river. Trudging along the snow-covered bank, I pause to look down at the ice-covered water where I spot some Wild Turkey tracks encased in ice and snow. These birds are not migratory but they often wander to areas with larger trees and closed canopy for increased warmth and food sources. Nearby, I spot a 4-inch opening most likely made as a breathing hole for a muskrat. Further ahead, another opening catches my eye. Based on the surrounding deer tracks, I suspect this was made as their watering hole. Turning around and heading back to the railroad tracks, I stop to notice the tiny tracks and tunnel of a Meadow Vole (stock photo).  Voles, like many other mammals, stay active all winter long. However, instead of hoarding food in secret caches or hibernating after bulking up, this rodent changes from a solitary creature to a communal one. In summer, they are aggressively solitary and will defend their home range from other voles. But in the winter, they huddle together in communal nests. Up ahead, I come upon familiar tracks of an Eastern Cottontail rabbit. Not surprising nearby, I observe some pea-size rabbit scat. Called fecal pellets, these harder, drier orbs are the second of two types of scat. As herbivores, rabbits first defecate softer, greener pellets, called Caecotrops, that they eat and further digest before defecating the hard, brown ones. (stock photo). Nearing the railroad tracks, I stop to pick and sample a bright red hip from a Wild Rose vine. This time of year the hip is soft with a sweet, tart taste and large seeds that I spit out. Native Americans used these hips for food and medicine. They are a good source of vitamin C and were especially important in the winter when other vitamin-rich plants were scarce. 

An hour of hiking

Through nature’s domain

Wandering and wondering

In snowy terrain

An hour to focus

On life in the wild

Eyes wide open

Like a curious child

An hour to admire

All that surrounds me

To respect and revere

Whatever I see

 

D. DeGraaf