Elk Rapids Almanac - November 2020
November - the Beaver Moon Month, is described in Hal Borland’s Twelve Moons of the Year, and in traditional Native American culture. Included among the joys of November, Borland describes the fall blooming native Witch Hazel shrub/tree, Hamamelis, and It’s bright yellow, twisted spider-like flower, small and best seen up-close, when the leaves fall away and the blossoms come into their own. Its branches have long been used for dowsing, or “witching”, for water. It is used as a demulcent, the extract being used to rub on sore and strained muscles. A lovely specimen is currently blooming in at least one Elk Rapids backyard.
November 5 - While sitting in a neighbor’s yard about 7:30 p.m., we suddenly heard a strange eerie burst of noise lasting several minutes, like lots of kids shrieking and squealing, and then again an hour later. Checking with neighbors in following days, others had recently heard similar squeals and yips. After referring to several you-tube recordings, we agreed we were probably hearing coyotes in the nearby wooded areas. -Neighbors near the Preserve area, in the village.
Note: Even two or three coyotes can sound like lots of animals. Coyotes weigh between 25-50 pounds, carry their bushy black tipped tail downward or below the level of their back, have a diet of small prey like rodents, rabbits, fruits, (the occasion cat), can live 6-8 years, and are most often seen during mating season, which occurs in Michigan mid-January-March. They are commonly found throughout Michigan, and nation-wide, in rural to urban areas; active day and night, around sunrise and sunset; abundant in areas where adequate food, cover, and water are available. They are wild animals and should not be approached. They are occasionally spotted in Elk Rapids, especially by early morning walkers. Info at: www.michigan.gov/dnr/
Note: A gathering of coyotes is called a band of coyotes.
November 16 - Bobcat. While deer hunting this week, I had the good fortune of having a buck walk towards my blind. However, it stopped and dropped down for a nap behind a tree. I waited patiently and when it rose to move again, something else caught my eye. It was a bobcat strolling along the trunk of a downed tree. The deer and bobcat spotted each other and went their separate ways. Seeing a bobcat in the wild was a first and the highlight of my day. -Tom Baird
November 17 - Rabbits. After a spring of many rabbits, our neighbors noticed that by mid to late summer there were no more. There was a mink sighting in our neighbor's yard and we heard that six young minks were spotted at Dam Beach. Could it be that the mink, fox, and coyote are being well fed? -Ellen Baird
November 19 - Eagle sightings. After a bit of a hiatus, the eagle sightings have increased again. On the morning of Sunday, November 15, my husband, Tom, and I walked the beach at Palmer Wilcox Shaw Nature Preserve. Just as I said, "Keep a lookout for the ....", an eagle left its spot on a nearby evergreen and soared north along the shore. Also, we happened to be stopped at Dexter and Dam Beach Road this week at the same time an eagle flew along the river at the Upper Harbor and headed northwest. Such a majestic sight! -Ellen Bair
November - the Beaver Moon Month, is described in Hal Borland’s Twelve Moons of the Year, and in traditional Native American culture. Included among the joys of November, Borland describes the fall blooming native Witch Hazel shrub/tree, Hamamelis, and It’s bright yellow, twisted spider-like flower, small and best seen up-close, when the leaves fall away and the blossoms come into their own. Its branches have long been used for dowsing, or “witching”, for water. It is used as a demulcent, the extract being used to rub on sore and strained muscles. A lovely specimen is currently blooming in at least one Elk Rapids backyard.
November 5 - While sitting in a neighbor’s yard about 7:30 p.m., we suddenly heard a strange eerie burst of noise lasting several minutes, like lots of kids shrieking and squealing, and then again an hour later. Checking with neighbors in following days, others had recently heard similar squeals and yips. After referring to several you-tube recordings, we agreed we were probably hearing coyotes in the nearby wooded areas. -Neighbors near the Preserve area, in the village.
Note: Even two or three coyotes can sound like lots of animals. Coyotes weigh between 25-50 pounds, carry their bushy black tipped tail downward or below the level of their back, have a diet of small prey like rodents, rabbits, fruits, (the occasion cat), can live 6-8 years, and are most often seen during mating season, which occurs in Michigan mid-January-March. They are commonly found throughout Michigan, and nation-wide, in rural to urban areas; active day and night, around sunrise and sunset; abundant in areas where adequate food, cover, and water are available. They are wild animals and should not be approached. They are occasionally spotted in Elk Rapids, especially by early morning walkers. Info at: www.michigan.gov/dnr/
Note: A gathering of coyotes is called a band of coyotes.
November 16 - Bobcat. While deer hunting this week, I had the good fortune of having a buck walk towards my blind. However, it stopped and dropped down for a nap behind a tree. I waited patiently and when it rose to move again, something else caught my eye. It was a bobcat strolling along the trunk of a downed tree. The deer and bobcat spotted each other and went their separate ways. Seeing a bobcat in the wild was a first and the highlight of my day. -Tom Baird
November 17 - Rabbits. After a spring of many rabbits, our neighbors noticed that by mid to late summer there were no more. There was a mink sighting in our neighbor's yard and we heard that six young minks were spotted at Dam Beach. Could it be that the mink, fox, and coyote are being well fed? -Ellen Baird
November 19 - Eagle sightings. After a bit of a hiatus, the eagle sightings have increased again. On the morning of Sunday, November 15, my husband, Tom, and I walked the beach at Palmer Wilcox Shaw Nature Preserve. Just as I said, "Keep a lookout for the ....", an eagle left its spot on a nearby evergreen and soared north along the shore. Also, we happened to be stopped at Dexter and Dam Beach Road this week at the same time an eagle flew along the river at the Upper Harbor and headed northwest. Such a majestic sight! -Ellen Bair
Witch Hazel