Elk Rapids Almanac
Elk Rapids Almanac, January 2026
January
Month of the “Wolf Moon”, time of hungry wolf pack, the howling wind, and a snug house and warm fireside. “Long nights of cold and brittle starlight, of ice and snow and sharp-fanged wind. The snow will come and go, but the ice will persist, and the night cold. And the wildlife of this world will follow its own pattern, mostly unheard and unseen.”
Hal Borland, Twelve Moons of the Year, 1979. From “Outdoor Editorial” essays, a series spanning nearly four decades in the Sunday New York Times.
Month of the “Wolf Moon”, time of hungry wolf pack, the howling wind, and a snug house and warm fireside. “Long nights of cold and brittle starlight, of ice and snow and sharp-fanged wind. The snow will come and go, but the ice will persist, and the night cold. And the wildlife of this world will follow its own pattern, mostly unheard and unseen.”
Hal Borland, Twelve Moons of the Year, 1979. From “Outdoor Editorial” essays, a series spanning nearly four decades in the Sunday New York Times.
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January 15
When it comes to fall bird migration, cardinals don’t head south when it gets cold. While robins are wintering in the tropics, cardinals are here toughing it out in the snow. We enjoy watching the ones that visit our birdfeeder in the snow. The male and female northern cardinals exhibit distinct differences in appearance and behavior. Males are a vibrant red, while females are a more subdued brownish-tan with reddish accents, which helps them camouflage while nesting. Both sexes have a prominent crest and a thick, orange-red bill. Unlike most female North American songbirds, female cardinals sing, often from the nest to communicate with the male about food needs. Males sing more frequently to defend territory and during courtship. (The large bird perched on the feeder may be a red grossbeak or a Common Redpoll. Still checking!) Cheryl Bachman |
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January 23
Some thoughts on the recent state extended coyote hunting season : From the perspective of sheep farmers, we have taken coyote preventative measures long ago. Essentially, every sheep pasture is now enclosed by an electric fence at considerable cost. Any coyote entering the electric enclosure is dealt with, but very few violate this barrier. Therefore, the effect of coyotes on our particular flock of 4000-5000 sheep is not a major issue- unlike prior to fencing. Michigan law has always allowed coyote removal when the coyote is “doing or about to do damage”. From my observations, when coyotes are overpopulated, nature usually brings them back into balance with disease (usually mange). They will also tend to have smaller litters when overpopulated. In contrast, when the coyote population is low, larger and healthier litters seem to be produced. Nature is amazing! Coyote hunting regulations can make for an emotional discussion-but the fact is, hunting has very little effect on coyote populations in our area. Food supply, disease, urban development, etc. have a much larger effect. Mel Matchett Note: Regarding coyote hunting regulations. Michigan has moved to a year-round coyote hunting and trapping season through a combination of a defined hunting/trapping season (October 15 to March 1) and a broader management season (March 2-October 14), allowing year-round lethal control by landowners, with specific rules for different periods, effectively making them huntable most of the time, with a ban on dogs during pup season. A recent policy reversal by the Natural Resources Commission reinstated year-round opportunities after a brief 2024 restriction, responding to hunter and farmer demands for population control. Resources: Coyotes Among Us: Secrets of the City’s Top Predator, Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project, 2026, Stanley D. Gehrt, PhD); https://projectcoyote.org/act/learning-hub/coyote-profile/# |
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Jan 21
Regarding snow salt use in Elk Rapids, we use a mix of 50 percent salt and 50 percent sand for our roads. We get all of that pre-mixed from Antrim County in Kewadin.
Alex Pray, DPW Superintendent
Regarding snow salt use in Elk Rapids, we use a mix of 50 percent salt and 50 percent sand for our roads. We get all of that pre-mixed from Antrim County in Kewadin.
Alex Pray, DPW Superintendent
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January 21
Across much of the United States, winter maintenance relies heavily on salt products to keep roads, parking lots, driveways, and sidewalks safe. While effective for public safety, widespread salt use has unintended consequences beyond the pavement. Most deicing products are made from chloride-based salts. When snow and ice melt, these salts dissolve and move with runoff into streams and lakes or soak into groundwater. Once dissolved, chloride is difficult to remove. As a result, particularly in urban areas, rising chloride concentrations are threatening water quality. Even a small amount of chloride in our lakes, streams, and groundwater can cause harm. To protect our water, follow these responsible salt use tips: 1. shovel first to remove snow before it turns to ice 2. use salt sparingly and scatter salt crystals 3. sweep up leftover salt crystals and reuse 4. switch to other ice melt products when the temperature falls below 15 F 5. share this information and model responsible salt use Heather Smith, Grand Traverse Bay Waterkeeper, The Watershed Center Grand Traverse Bay |