Since Retiring: May 2025

Necedah NWR 2025 - 5-11-25 - 5-17-25

One of the reasons we headed North earlier than last year was to do the Eastern Massasauga surveys. It paid off when we got to help with a couple of surveys this week. The first day we wore ourselves out, going as fast as we could through the mushy, mossy, cranberry bogs. The first snake of the day was gravid. It was pretty neat feeling her eggs as she was being held in a tube. Who would have ever thought we would get to touch, (or even want to touch), a rattlesnake?

On our way back to the refuge, we had a very photogenic badger come out of it's den. Our first Eastern Massasauga and first Badger sightings got the week off to a great start!

5-12 Pics:

On our second survey day, we were more laid back and took our time. I was shocked to find a Massasauga basking on top of the moss. I am even more shocked at how calm, cool, and collective I was. There was a time that I would have gone running and screaming when I saw a snake. Lauren had to remind me to call out so the pros could come and work her up. She is now pit tagged and sporting green rattles, so she will be easily identified as a recapture.

5-14 Pics:

Another highlight of the week was watching Brad fly the new drone, Witchy Women. That is an awesome machine!

5-13 Pics:

The first porcupine of the year was caught at HQ parking lot. Chewy #25-01 has been relocated to Quill Hill. The Chewy saga continues.

5-15 Pics:

We had hot, howling winds on Friday, followed by a rainy, cold day on Saturday. The cold weather is here for a few days. We are experiencing our 4th winter this year.

5-16 Pics:

Necedah NWR 2025 - 5-4-25 - 5-10-25

We had a coon move in this week. So needless to say, the feeders are being put up at night.

We found one of the smallest Blanding's Turtle this week crossing HQ road.

We had another awesome experience of a close encounter of the wolf kind.

We found some large bear tracks over by the bunker.

The Porcupine sightings are becoming more prevalent. We saw 3 of them hanging out in trees across from the visitor center.

Momma Hummingbird has moved back into Camp Chewy. Hopefully, she will have a nest here again.

We stayed up way past our bedtime this week doing a woodcock survey. We heard 6 of them. We probably would have heard more if the frogs and whippoorwills were not so vocal.

We got the pleasure of seeing not 1, but 2 American Bitterns this week driving along the refuge.

We wrapped up the week going on a Woodcock hunt. It was a new experience for us, hunting woodcocks with dogs. We found 2 broods and banded 3 chicks. It's been a great week in the Northwoods!

Back to Necedah - 4-27-25 - 5-3-25

We left Crossroads Sunday morning and made it back to Necedah National Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday. The first night we camped at Enid Lake. The birding was pretty good and so were the views.

The second overnighter was at Rend Lake. We again were entertained by the birding and had a beautiful sunset.

We spent the last night at Princess Wenona RV Oasis. The cooler weather and the wind kept us inside, so nature chasing was not part of the plan.

We made it back to our 2^nd home on Wednesday. Camp Chewy looks much different than when we left. The mechanical clearing has opened up some of the woods and enhanced our chance of critter watching.

We took a short ride with Angie then spent the rest of the afternoon getting everything in place. We had birds at the feeder shortly after we put it up. They seem to be as happy that we are back as we are.