Stories

White-footed mice, with their sleek fur and white underbellies, have taken refuge among the stacked logs, seeking warmth and shelter from th

Amidst the serene winter landscape, a small, vibrant figure appears—a flash of red against the white. It’s a young red squirrel, his russet

They are an industrious bunch, each bird deftly snatching up a peanut in its beak before flying off to stash its prize.

The pileated woodpeckers in our back yard are a mated pair, their bond formed through a shared life cycle that plays out across the seasons.

The chickadee lands on a branch near the back door, its bright eyes scanning the scene with keen intelligence.

Perched on the feeder is a tiny bird with a striking appearance—a red-breasted nuthatch.

I realize I have come face-to-face with a red fox. The creature, with its vibrant red fur and bushy tail, is a stunning sight against the ba

There, crouched regally on a moss-covered log and intent on something in the downed trees, is a bobcat.

Silhouetted against the darkening sky, a flurry of small, darting shapes emerges. Brown bats, their wings beating rapidly, swoop and flutter

Fascinated, I watch as a raccoon scrambles from the top of the feeder to the tree trunk with surprising agility in the moonlight.

But those who fish the Rifle river, or any river, in September know a different story. The air is crisper, the river quieter.

It doesn’t take long before I see the first Monarch flutter by, its distinctive orange and black wings standing out against the blue sky.

Their eerie, haunting calls echoed only briefly through the stillness, a sound that was both beautiful and melancholy. A perfect reminder th

Despite its many benefits, goldenrod is often mistakenly blamed for causing allergies. The real culprit behind late summer and early fall ha

At first, I was puzzled by this change in color. The brown birds at my feeder looked so different that I wondered if I was seeing an entirel

That’s when I saw it – a large snapping turtle, half-submerged in the shallows, basking lazily in the morning sun. Its shell was encrusted w

The turkey moved with purpose, and soon, I realized why. It had discovered a patch of wild blueberries, the tiny berries hidden among the gr

Each July and August I collect seeds from the tickseed, which indeed do look like ticks, and then start them indoors each spring and plant t

Leaning over the edge of my kayak, I peer into the depths and spot numerous small depressions scattered across the sandy bottom. These are t

This post is part of a project in the works; " An Ogemaw County Year". The blog and eventually the book will encompass nature noticing,...