Gunflint Trail - Grand Marais - Minnesota
|
Moons and Phenology This place is wild! Every day (and night) something new and different happens. Between the animals, birds, seasons, plants, flowers, fish, and sky, there is always something wild to see, hear, do and photograph on the Gunflint Trail. We have so many events going on around here, it would be impossible to list them all. But, for those of you who like to travel with an event as well as a destination in mind, we present a partial list of Gunflint Trail Wildlife Events. Our native neighbors, the Ojibway, gave names to the various moons, making every lunar cycle its own season. The names of the moons you see here are from Frances Densmore's book Chippewa Customs (Minnesota Historical Society Press, 1979). JanuaryBig Spirit Month (perhaps those same big spirits making all that noise under the ice?)Oblong holes at the base of trees are the workings of Pileated Woodpeckers searching out Carpenter Ants. While -50F is not out of the question, neither is the nearly annual "January Thaw" where temps may soar as high as 40F. Bull moose shed their antlers. Listen and look for wandering flocks of northern finches including Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Pine Siskins, Common Redpolls, White-winged and Red Crossbills. FebruarySnow-Crusted Month (when the sun shines on the snow it makes a nice crust for faster travel by snowshoe)Watch out for moose kneeling on the Gunflint Trail. They are licking road salt, which they crave. Long troughs in the snow signal otter "slides". This is how otters travel: lope, lope, lope, sliiiiiide. This is a great time to look for the pink, red, white, or green Northern Lights, also called the Aurora Borealis. Sundogs, mini rainbows on each side of the sun, signal ice crystals in the high atmosphere. Snowfleas, looking like pepper on the snow, may emerge on mild days. MarchBroken Snowshoe Month (so called because last month's crusted snow broke the netting on the snowshoes)Still lots of snow available for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, skijoring, and winter camping. Gray Jays in their bulky moose-hair lined nests are already sitting on eggs! Lake Trout season ends outside the BWCAW on the 15th of March; inside the BWCAW on the 31st. Listen for wolves, as this is a peak howling month. The first bird migrants return, including American Crows, Bald Eagles, and Snow Buntings. AprilMaple Sugar Making Month (literally, the name means "boiling month" - a delicious time to get together with friends)Loon scouts do fly overs looking for open water. Ice starts pulling away from the shore. Spruce Grouse are in full display. They puff out their feathers, erect their red "eyebrows", fan their tails and strut for all they're worth. By the end of the month rivers are flowing full and the smaller lakes are starting to lose their ice. MayFlower Month (wildflowers of all varieties begin peeking up everywhere you look)Warblers return from the tropics. Twenty-six species of "winged jewels" migrate and nest in the Gunflint Trail area. That's half of all North American species! Quaking Aspen leaves are the first to emerge, lending a bright green wash to the landscape. Moose have their calves and White-tailed Deer have their fawns. Lake Trout are still in shallow water. Fish for them right after ice-out or opener, whichever comes last. JuneStrawberry Month (they ripen quickly and are sweet and prolific - don't miss a chance to gather some up)Pink Lady slipper (also called Moccasin Flower) is in full bloom in moss beds under Jack Pine. Bald Eagles have made an incredible comeback and are now a common sight on most Gunflint Trail area lakes. Wildflower watching is at its best during the last half of the month. Mosquitoes and Black Flies at their peak abundance - but remember: Black Flies are the main pollinator of blueberries, and mosquitoes feed many other critters up here. Our two turtle species, the Snapping Turtle and the Western Painted Turtle, are laying their eggs on land. Fishing is good for the "Big Four"; Northern Pike, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass, and Lake Trout. JulyBlueberry Month (but the translation covers berries, fruits, and seeds - a sweet harvest)July is blueberry month - the first two weeks especially Songbird nesting ends mid month. The "plunk" of the Green Frog can be heard in almost any bay. Moose are often in the water to feed on water lilies and to escape the flies and mosquitoes. AugustRice Moon (time for the annual wild rice harvest - a social event that yields a favorite staple food)Berries abound, including Pin Cherries, Chokecherries, Raspberries, and Thimble berries. Yummy! Fungus is among-us in August. Fly Amanitas, puffballs, Chantrelles, Russulas, and more. Big high pressure systems usually mean gorgeous days with some fast-moving evening thunder boomers. Star-gazing is unbelievable up here - if you can stay up late enough! SeptemberShining Leaf Moon (no doubt a reference to the glorious fall light that is peculiar to this northern climate)Plan a trip to the Gunflint Trail for fall colors. The peak of the leaf turn is usually the last week of the month. Wild rice is ripe and the ducks are loving it. Moose bulls and white-tail bucks are scraping velvet off their antlers. Loons raft up in big flocks on the bigger lakes before heading to the Gulf of Mexico for the winter. OctoberRaking (or Combing) Month (much activity at this time of year as everyone prepares for the winter months ahead)The Tamaracks turn smoky gold in the wet bogs. Moose season opens. Decreasing day length and cold snaps remind Black Bears that it is time to hibernate Duck season opens as the first flocks of Ring-necked Ducks from Canada move south. Sunny warm October days can't be beat! NovemberIt Freezes Moon (and it often snows, too - with a little luck, you'll be on skis and snowshoes this month)Deer hunting season is timed to the rut of the White-tails. This month usually brings the first snows of winter and you can usually start skiing by Thanksgiving Ice-up comes on many lakes around mid-month. Snowshoe hares turn white. DecemberLittle Spirits Month (the winter spirits are waking up, bringing with them abundant snows and a spectacular season of activity)Look for shed Deer antlers while out snowshoeing or cross country skiing. Grouse season closes on December 31st. The ice booms loudly on cold nights as it thickens. Spruce Grouse grow extra scales on their feet to act as snowshoes. Our special guest contributor Sparky Stensaas is a renowned naturalist and author of two fun and informative books on north woods wildlife, Canoe Country Wildlife and Canoe Country Flora. We thank him for this terrific phenology calendar. |
| Find your adventure: |
 | Gunflint Trail Video |
1.800.338.6932
Information Center 1.218.387.3191
Contact us by email
info@gunflint-trail.com
© 2006 Gunflint Trail Association
Information Center 1.218.387.3191
Contact us by email
info@gunflint-trail.com
© 2006 Gunflint Trail Association