B4 — Saturday, March 30, 2019, The Advertiser
Outdoors|
To contact outdoor enthusiast Tom Lounsbury
tlounsburyoutdoors@gmail.com
The amazing wildlife visitors to Michigan’s Thumb Because it was considered as being was then placed in a wire dog crate and nonexistent in Michigan, the wolverine had it was later identified as being a genuine been removed from the state’s endangered Canada Lynx. On Monday, March 18, the species list. Then on the morning of lynx was taken to a rehabilitation center February 24, 2004, the dogs of houndsmen near Howell. On Wednesday, March 20, seeking fox and coyotes struck a trail it was then transferred to the Detroit Zoo just south of Bad Axe, of a very unusual where it can be more effectively cared for animal, and the chase, which would last by professionals who know how to do so. In the meantime, the lynx will be for six hours, was on. The strange studied to determine whether it animal would lead the hounds in had been an escaped or released circles for over six miles before it captive (you’d be surprised at finally climbed a tree near Ubly. what can be purchased on the Arnie Karr, MDNR Wildlife black market), or a definite wild Biologist for the Thumb at that Canada Lynx which may have time, received a phone call around managed to cross over from 2 p.m. stating that a wolverine Canada on a frozen Lake Huron. had just been treed. He headed It is rumored that there might be right out to investigate, but was pretty sure in his mind that the Tom Lounsbury a second Canada Lynx at large in the Thumb, but that has yet to be mystery animal was anything but a wolverine. Once near the site, Karr confirmed. Because the Canada Lynx was designated managed to hitch a ride on the back of a snowmobile to reach the treed animal, as a threatened species in the lower 48 and his timing couldn’t have been more states by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service perfect, because the animal decided to in 2000, what happens to this lynx falls climb out of the tree and resume running as under federal jurisdiction. The majority of the snowmobile approached. This allowed the Canada Lynx population (98%) is found the snowmobile to draw up alongside of the in Canada and Alaska, and the rest (2%) animal and Karr would be able to take the are found only in a hand-full of northern pictures which would officially document states (as well as it has been successfully reintroduced to Colorado in recent years). the first ever wolverine in Michigan. The Canada Lynx is a mid-sized boreal The following morning (February 25, 2004) the wolverine was put back on forest carnivore and its key prey animal Michigan’s endangered species list, and the is the snowshoe hare. During a decline in discovery would immediately get national snowshoe hare numbers (typically every media coverage. The wolverine would end 10 years), Canada Lynx will hunt birds or up spending the remainder of its days in the other small animals in order to survive, and Minden City State Game Area in Sanilac has been known to migrate somewhat in County (actually an ideal location for it), search of food during lean times. Its body where it kept to itself and never bothered size is 30 to 35 inches long and typically anyone. No doubt it was able to obtain the weighs about 15 to 30 pounds, which is necessary protein, especially from road- very similar to its close cousin, the bobcat. killed deer (which isn’t all that uncommon However, it has noticeably longer legs than in the Thumb these days), and wolverines a bobcat, and has distinctly larger paws don’t hesitate to eat carrion to survive. which allow it to more easily stay on top DNA collected from hair samples would of deep snows when pursuing snowshoe determine that the Thumb’s wolverine hares. The Canada Lynx also has a very was a female with a genetic relationship noticeable “ruff” of hair around its face and to wolverines found in the Canadian neck, and ear tassels which stick right up. I’ve seen bobcats in the wild (per Provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. It remains a mystery to this day as to how she Michigan) and I was blessed on two occasions while black bear hunting in ever ended up in the Thumb of Michigan. On March 13, 2010, a pair of hikers northern Ontario, to see a Canada Lynx. In discovered the wolverine’s body in the my opinion, there is no mistaking the true Minden City State Game Area. This identity of a Canada Lynx from a bobcat discovery truly brought closure to what (to my eye after having seen both firsthand, might have remained a mystery as to there is a distinct physical difference). Actually seeing a bobcat in the Thumb, what actually happened to Michigan’s only known wolverine. An autopsy although rare, isn’t unheard of. I saw my would determine that she was 9 years old first bobcat when I was a kid while wadeand had died from old age heart failure fishing on the Cass River near Cass City. (degenerative cardiomyopathy). Her full- I was sitting on a rock in the middle of sized mount can still be seen on display at the river to change lures when a bobcat suddenly materialized out of the willows the Bay City State Park. Recently in early March, I heard that a on shore to get a drink. While it was video had been taken of a Canada Lynx lapping away we made eye contact and it near Lexington, and experts determined the disappeared like a wisp of smoke. I kept animal in the video was definitely a Canada this encounter to myself because I knew Lynx. The last known sighting of a Canada nobody would believe a “tall tale” from a Lynx in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula was kid, so why bother. Then a few years later, near Oscoda in 1917 and one (per photos) my late father was the Tuscola County Drain Commissioner and was on hand when a in 2010 in the Upper Peninsula. On March 16, 2019, a Sanilac County dragline cleaning a ditch not far from Caro, farmer near Ruth, discovered an animal flushed out a bobcat. I’m also aware of a killing his ducks and geese and was sure bobcat being illegally killed near Caseville it was a lynx, which actually displayed about 20 years ago (it is illegal to kill a big an odd, calm behavior at relatively close wild cat in our zone which includes bobcat, range and didn’t appear to be very afraid lynx and cougar), as well as about a dozen of him as it walked away. The farmer years ago when a MDNR Conservation contacted a licensed nuisance animal Officer was dispatched to help a trapper professional who trapped the animal alive release a bobcat from a leg-hold trap at on Sunday morning, March 17. The animal Fish Point near Unionville, which had to be
(Facebook photo)
A photo posted March 17 on the Facebook page of Applegate trapper Jordan Cook showed Cook and Stacey Pattee posing near a lynx in a cage. State officials say the cat was trapped that day. State officials are evaluating the health of the federally endangered cat with its signature tufted ears.
an interesting and challenging experience. The recent discovery of a Canada Lynx in the Thumb however, is absolutely mind boggling to me. But then, so was the wolverine! I am eagerly looking forward to what findings might come about on the Thumb’s newest wild (maybe) visitor. As of Friday, March 22nd, the female Canada Lynx is doing quite fine at the Detroit Zoo and is receiving excellent veterinary care. She was slightly dehydrated when she arrived and had a cut near a paw which was stitched up, and is receiving fluids and antibiotics. Examination of her teeth estimate she is less than a year old, body weight is 18 pounds, and she has a total length of 4 feet. A blood sample was also taken and sent to the U.S. Forest Service to analyze the DNA evidence which will determine what region this lynx originally came from. This is definitely a major investigative step into a mystery which, like Michigan’s only wolverine (also discovered in the Thumb), may never be solved.
Baraga State Park set for $1.2 million campground upgrades https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/
Baraga State Park, located in Michigan’s upper peninsula, will be making major renovations and service improvements throughout the upcoming summer, which will require temporary camping closures to portions of the 56-acre park, situated along the Lake Superior shoreline on Keweenaw Bay. “The project will be completed in two phases,” said Dan Dowdy, supervisor of the Baraga State Park Management Unit. “We understand this will cause some disruption for campers and we appreciate in advance the patience of park visitors as we make these substantial upgrades.” Baraga State Park has 114 campsites, a mini-cabin and a teepee. Beginning May 1, the north side of the campground will be closed for construction, reopening June 28. The south side closure will begin July 15 and continue through the end of the camping season. Construction is expected to be completed by Nov. 1. Park improvements will include an upgrade to the electrical system, resulting in new 20/30 and 50-amp services, site renovations to include camper pads, more pull-through sites and the addition of 14 full-hookup sites offering 50-amp service, plus water and sewer. “The new campground design will result in the availability of 95 sites that will accommodate larger recreation vehicles and electrical pedestals,” Dowdy said.
In addition, the park’s sewage wet well and pumping station will be upgraded. Funding for the $1.2 million project is being provided from the state Park Improvement Fund, which is derived from user fees such as Michigan’s Recreation Passport (required for vehicle entry to state parks) and park camping and lodging fees. Baraga State Park, established in 1921, is the oldest state park in the Upper Peninsula. Some of the current infrastructure is 50 years old and has reached or surpassed its expected lifespan. The demands on these aging park features are increased during busy camping seasons, especially during holiday or event weekends. “Staffers at Baraga State Park are very excited to see the final product and be able to offer extended services to our park visitors,” said Kelly Somero, Western U.P. recreation programmer. “Our park is already a great place where visitors have made lifelong memories for decades. These new campground upgrades will help ensure folks will be making memories here for decades into the future.” U.P. Engineers and Architects Inc. is the professional consulting firm producing engineering and design, with Moyle Construction performing the work. For more information on camping in Michigan, visit Michigan. gov/Camping.
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