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plentiful and aside from coywolves and hunter --_442fc76d-8d12-449f-8b32-b21f2bfbcb73_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Those pictures of the snow are really something else! I HOPE we're all out= of it SOON!! =20 Bev from Glace Bay =20 From: fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: [NatureNS] Winter in the Highlands (long) Date: Fri=2C 27 Mar 2015 10:49:27 -0300 =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= Hi All=2C Winter snow levels have finally reached their peak up here in the hig= hlands so I thought I'd send in a report of my impressions on how wildlife = are doing after all these late winter storms.=20 There is a base of snow on the ground now of about 6'+/- depending on= where you are. Snow drifts along tree lines=2C filling ravines and up on t= he barrens are much deeper=3B up to 10'-12'+ deep. There is a crust on top = of the snow at the moment hard enough to support my weight without snowshoe= s - in most cases. A second much stronger crust (easily supports a moose) l= ies at the 3'-4' depth range. This crust was formed in late February and is= extremely hard. Wildlife with some exceptions appears to be doing pre= tty well despite the deep snow and in some cases that depth may even be a b= enefit to them=3B as moose=2C deer and snowshoe hare can now easily browse = tree branches that normally would be out of their reach. Moose and Dee= r: I've seen the occasional moose or deer and lots of tracks throughout the= winter and those animals that I have observed appear in good condition. Br= owse is plentiful and aside from coywolves and hunters=3B moose and deer ha= ve no real predators in this area. The only cause of death this year=2C for= moose and deer=2C aside from predation=2C is accidental death from falling= through ice on lakes and rivers or into gorges by straying to close to sno= w overhangs along ravine edges. My wife saw a doe and young fawn a few days= ago and both looked in good health. Snowshoe Hare and Red Squirrel: = There are healthy populations of both these species this winter (particular= ly hare) and tracks/sightings are plentiful. The return of snowshoe hare in= large numbers is particularly appreciated as they are one of the main food= sources for coywolves and other predators like bobcat=2C lynx=2C large owl= s and hawks. Coywolves=2C Fox=2C Bobcats and Lynx: Coywolves are more= often heard than seen but with the abundance of snowshoe hare I imagine th= ey will do well this winter. I haven't seen any sign of either fox=2C bobca= t or lynx this winter but that is not that unusual here. Mice/Voles/S= hrews etc.: I haven't seen mice/vole/shrew tracks in the snow in months=3B = which is very troubling. They are prey for many small predators and practic= ally the sole diet of Northern Saw-whet Owls. I imagine the mice/voles/ shr= ews are doing fine under the snow. It's the predators that will suffer. = Owls=2C Hawks and Eagles: Large owls=2C hawks and eagles should do well= because there are abundant hares=2C squirrels and grouse about. Northern S= aw-whet Owls=2C and earlier arriving smaller hawks like American Kestrels= =2C will on the other hand=2C I think=2C have a very hard spring. Hopefully= they will delay breeding until much of the snow is gone. Other Bird= s: There have been lots of birds around the house feeders all winter but aw= ay from feeders it's been very quite. I did a two hour walk a few days ago = and saw or heard not a single avian species. The only evidence I saw of bir= ds were a few grouse tracks. I expect early arriving spring migrants that d= epend on insects or are mostly ground feeders (robins=2C sparrows=2C blackb= irds etc.) will have a very tough time until the snow is gone. It's= been a long winter and I look forward to seeing and walking on bare ground= again. If anyone has questions or corrections about any of my opinions on = how local wildlife may be surviving here I'd be happy to try and answer the= m. I've linked to a few recent photos for your amusement. All the best.=20 Fritz McEvoy = Sunrise Valley=2C CB (near Dingwall)=20 =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= =0A= Fritz has files to share with you on On= eDrive. To view them=2C click the links below. = = = = New folder folder = = = --_442fc76d-8d12-449f-8b32-b21f2bfbcb73_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <html> <head> <style><!-- .hmmessage P { margin:0px=3B padding:0px } body.hmmessage { font-size: 12pt=3B font-family:Calibri } --></style></head> <body class=3D'hmmessage'><div dir=3D'ltr'>Those pictures of =3Bthe sno= w are really something else! =3B I HOPE we're all out of it SOON!!<BR>&= nbsp=3B<BR>Bev from Glace Bay<br> =3B<BR><div><hr id=3D"stopSpelling">F= rom: fritzmcevoy@hotmail.com<br>To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<br>Subject: [Na= tureNS] Winter in the Highlands (long)<br>Date: Fri=2C 27 Mar 2015 10:49:27= -0300<br><br>=0A= =0A= =0A= <div dir=3D"ltr"><div> <table class=3D"ecxshareSkyDriveTable" style=3D"w= idth: 100%=3B height: 100%=3B"><tbody><tr><td style=3D"padding: 0px=3B"> = <div id=3D"ecx_rte_preskyattach" style=3D"height: 100%=3B = font-family: Calibri=2Csans-serif=3B font-size: 12pt=3B">=0A= =0A= =0A= <div dir=3D"ltr">=0A= =0A= =0A= <div dir=3D"ltr">=0A= =0A= =0A= <div dir=3D"ltr">=0A= =0A= =0A= <div dir=3D"ltr">=0A= =0A= =0A= <div dir=3D"ltr">=0A= =0A= <style><!--=0A= .ExternalClass .ecxhmmessage P {=0A= padding:0px=3B=0A= }=0A= =0A= .ExternalClass body.ecxhmmessage {=0A= font-size:12pt=3B=0A= font-family:Calibri=3B=0A= }=0A= =0A= --></style>=0A= <div dir=3D"ltr">Hi All=2C<br> =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B Wint= er snow levels have finally reached their peak up here in the highlands so = I thought I'd send in a report =3Bof my impressions on how wildlife are= doing =3Bafter all =3Bthese late winter storms. <br> =3B = =3B =3B =3B =3B There is a base of snow on the ground now of ab= out 6'+/- depending on where you are. Snow drifts along tree lines=2C filli= ng =3Bravines and up on the barrens =3Bare much deeper=3B up to&nbs= p=3B10'-12'+ deep. There is a crust on top of the snow =3Bat the moment= hard enough to support my weight without snowshoes - in most cases. A seco= nd much stronger crust (easily supports a moose) lies at the 3'-4' depth ra= nge. This crust was formed in late February and is =3Bextremely hard.</= div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B Wildlife with=  =3Bsome exceptions appears to be doing pretty well despite the deep sn= ow and in some cases =3Bthat depth =3Bmay even be a benefit to them= =3B as moose=2C deer and snowshoe hare can now easily browse =3Btree br= anches =3Bthat normally would be out of their reach.</div><div dir=3D"l= tr"> =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B<u> =3BMoose and Deer</u>: = I've seen the occasional moose or deer and lots of tracks throughout the wi= nter and those animals that I have observed appear in good condition. Brows= e is plentiful and aside from coywolves and hunters=3B moose and deer have = no real predators in this area. The only cause of death this year=2C for mo= ose and deer=2C aside from predation=2C is accidental death from falling th= rough ice on =3Blakes and rivers =3Bor into gorges =3Bby strayi= ng to close to snow overhangs along =3Bravine edges. =3BMy wife saw= a doe and young fawn a few days ago =3Band both looked in good health.= </div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B&nbs= p=3B<u>Snowshoe Hare and Red Squirrel</u>: There are healthy populations of= both these species this winter (particularly hare) and tracks/sightings ar= e plentiful. The return of snowshoe hare in large numbers is particularly a= ppreciated as they are one of the main food sources for coywolves and other= predators like bobcat=2C lynx=2C large owls and hawks.</div><div dir=3D"lt= r"> =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B<u> Coywolves=2C =3B= Fox=2C =3BBobcats and Lynx</u>: =3BCoywolves =3Bare more = =3Boften heard than seen but with the abundance of snowshoe hare =3BI i= magine they will do well this winter. I haven't seen any sign of either fox= =2C =3Bbobcat or lynx this winter =3Bbut that is not that unusual h= ere.</div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B= <u> =3BMice/Voles/Shrews etc</u>.: I haven't seen mice/vole/shrew track= s in the snow in months=3B which is very troubling. They are prey for many = small predators and practically the =3Bsole diet of Northern Saw-whet O= wls. I imagine the mice/voles/ shrews are doing fine under the snow. It's t= he predators that will suffer.</div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B =3B = =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B<u> Owls=2C Hawks and Eagles</u>: Large = owls=2C hawks and eagles =3Bshould do well because there are abundant h= ares=2C squirrels and grouse about. Northern Saw-whet Owls=2C and earlier a= rriving =3Bsmaller hawks like American Kestrels=2C =3Bwill on the o= ther hand=2C I think=2C have a very hard spring. =3BHopefully they will= delay breeding until much of the snow is gone.</div><div dir=3D"ltr"> = =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B<u> Other Birds</u>: The= re have been lots of birds around the house feeders =3Ball winter but a= way from feeders it's been very quite. I did a two hour walk a few days ago= and saw or heard not a single avian species. The only evidence I saw of bi= rds were =3Ba few =3Bgrouse tracks. I expect early arriving spring = migrants that depend on insects or are mostly ground feeders (robins=2C spa= rrows=2C blackbirds etc.) =3Bwill have a very tough time until the snow= is gone.</div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B&nb= sp=3B =3B =3B It's been a long winter and I look forward to seeing = and walking on bare ground again. If anyone has questions or corrections ab= out any of my opinions =3Bon how local =3Bwildlife may be surviving= here I'd be happy to try and answer =3Bthem. I've =3B linked to a = few recent photos for your amusement. All the best. <br> =3B =3B&nb= sp=3B =3B =3B =3B</div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B =3B = =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B=  =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B&nb= sp=3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B = =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B  =3B = =3B Fritz McEvoy</div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B =3B =3B =3B&nbs= p=3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B = =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B=  =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B&nb= sp=3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B =3B = =3B Sunrise Valley=2C CB (near Dingwall)</div><div dir=3D"ltr"> =3B<br>= </div>=0A= </div>=0A= </div>=0A= </div>=0A= </div>=0A= </div>=0A= </div> </td></tr><tr><td class=3D"ecxShareSkyDriveSection" s= tyle=3D"padding: 30px 0px=3B"> <div style=3D"color: rgb(= 102=2C 102=2C 102)=3B padding-bottom: 10px=3B font-size: 14px=3B">Fritz has= files to share with you on OneDrive. To view them=2C click the links below= .</div> <div class=3D"ecxshareSkyDriveImages" style= =3D"padding-bottom: 10px=3B"> <span class=3D"ecxshareSkyDriv= eItem"> <a style=3D"font-size: 0px=3B text-decoration: none=3B" = href=3D"https://onedrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=3D84a49fb62355cd6d&=3Bp= arentid=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21313&=3BparId=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21312&= =3Bauthkey=3D%21AESw6OYF-zUK0aA&=3Bithint=3Dfolder%2c&=3Bresid=3D84A4= 9FB62355CD6D%21309" target=3D"_blank"> <img width=3D"104" he= ight=3D"104" style=3D"border: currentColor=3B padding-right: 5px=3B padding= -bottom: 5px=3B" src=3D"https://by3301files.storage.live.com/y2mN9cvieZvdAP= 5BuI1fUL5pmni4-YmLLgGdTwRDalHen7JcnyaFFbrnRbJ63jf_OqehExcHPD6EKvYLVvN1UIM2e= mQiCUGQwfE9R3-K8h8m8A/house%20in%20sunrise%20valley%20-%20march%2025%2c%202= 015.jpg?psid=3D1&=3Bck=3D0&=3Bex=3D720"> </a> </spa= n> <span class=3D"ecxshareSkyDriveItem"> <a style= =3D"font-size: 0px=3B text-decoration: none=3B" href=3D"https://onedrive.li= ve.com/redir.aspx?cid=3D84a49fb62355cd6d&=3Bparentid=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%= 21313&=3BparId=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21312&=3Bauthkey=3D%21AESw6OYF-zUK0= aA&=3Bithint=3Dfolder%2c&=3Bresid=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21310" target=3D= "_blank"> <img width=3D"104" height=3D"104" style=3D"border:= currentColor=3B padding-right: 5px=3B padding-bottom: 5px=3B" src=3D"https= ://by3301files.storage.live.com/y2mQ37eJJC0OKWvpZorCIVHWWe6aXFe0_lReefTZiPt= GYZ02vywgDnnPpAQtBad5DYHft11Ggs1U856yGVp1TSh2Mt8GR-7RpQXWCl3GfTm5tQ/Road%20= Near%20Cape%20North%20-%20march%2026%2c%202015.jpg?psid=3D1&=3Bck=3D0&am= p=3Bex=3D720"> </a> </span> <span class=3D= "ecxshareSkyDriveItem"> <a style=3D"font-size: 0px=3B text-decor= ation: none=3B" href=3D"https://onedrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=3D84a49fb6= 2355cd6d&=3Bparentid=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21313&=3BparId=3D84A49FB62355= CD6D%21312&=3Bauthkey=3D%21AESw6OYF-zUK0aA&=3Bithint=3Dfolder%2c&= =3Bresid=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21308" target=3D"_blank"> <img w= idth=3D"104" height=3D"104" style=3D"border: currentColor=3B padding-right:= 5px=3B padding-bottom: 5px=3B" src=3D"https://by3301files.storage.live.com= /y2mOE7NPgSPIuWYTW9R27YEBeFBu4bWW3wugodZhrkCBTqrn_7jZHA5MjfyE5dL7FBxzbOLrtn= nsDAbPgg5b_ksqITVmEBXDrhpj0QPjUhyQ3I/view%20out%20my%20kitchen%20window%20-= %20march%2025%2c%202015.jpg?psid=3D1&=3Bck=3D2&=3Bex=3D720"> = </a> </span> </div> <div class=3D"ecxshareSkyDriveD= ocs" style=3D"clear: both=3B"> <div class=3D"ecxshareSkyDriv= eItem" style=3D"padding-bottom: 10px=3B"> <img style=3D"display:= inline-block=3B cursor: pointer=3B" src=3D"https://a.gfx.ms/ftype/v4/folde= r.png"> <a style=3D"color: rgb(0=2C 104=2C 207)=3B padding-r= ight: 20px=3B font-size: 10pt=3B text-decoration: none=3B" href=3D"https://= onedrive.live.com/redir.aspx?cid=3D84a49fb62355cd6d&=3Bparentid=3D84A49F= B62355CD6D%21313&=3BparId=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21312&=3Bauthkey=3D%21AE= Sw6OYF-zUK0aA&=3Bithint=3Dfolder%2c&=3Bresid=3D84A49FB62355CD6D%21195= " target=3D"_blank"> New folder folder </= a> </div> </div> </td></tr><tr style= =3D"height: 100%=3B"><td style=3D"padding: 0px=3B height: 100%=3B"> = <div id=3D"ecx_rte_postskyattach" style=3D"height: 100%=3B font= -family: Calibri=2Csans-serif=3B font-size: 12pt=3B"></div> = </td></tr></tbody></table></div> </div></div> </div><= /body> </html>= --_442fc76d-8d12-449f-8b32-b21f2bfbcb73_--
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