Wild animals in the wild Upper Peninsula

Chipmunk approaches...

 OK, I’m exaggerating a little.  You won’t see any really wild animals like bear, moose or wolves on this blog.  But you will see wild animals. 

 Lately, since my adventure in the Chipmunk Kingdom at the end of March, I’ve been kind of obsessed about luring a cute little fella toward the lap.  Yesterday it almost happened!

 All you need for luring purposes are a) a pile of sunflower seeds, b) a chipmunk who is half-way tame or so wild it’s never seen a human and c) infinite patience.

 Be prepared to sit really still until your fella gathers enough courage to sneak close to the seed.  It will depend on how hungry he might be.

Wild chipmunk lured toward camera with sunflower seeds

 Luck was in my favor yesterday!  The chipmunk swallowed his fear and proceeded toward the sunflowers–and the human.  It stuffed its little cheeks before scampering away.  Then it returned.  By then, it felt halfway comfortable and allowed the camera to sing its little pre-photographing tune. 

 It stuffed its mouth for maybe three minutes, perhaps inches from my sleeve.  I’d say that’s a success, wouldn’t you?

Chipmunk stuffs cheeks with seeds; pauses to assess camera and human

 Also yesterday I visited my friend Doris.  Her husband, Howard, had some luck sucker fishing that morning.  He was cleaning his catch in the open door of his garage.  He had a successful morning!  He had a twinkle in his eye when he displayed his one tiny little smelt.

 “Have you got your camera?” he asked.  I scampered into the car, faster than a chipmunk, to retrieve it. 

 It looks like he will have plenty of bait to catch the big Lake Trout or Salmon on the bays this summer.  If  they are biting.

Howard filets and cleans sucker bait; holds up tiny smelt catch

 (My own husband is headed out to the very same fishin’ hole tomorrow to catch his bait for the year’s fishing.  The sucker must be coming in the rivers now…)  For the purposes of this blog, I am counting fish as a wild animal of the Upper Peninsula.

One smelt; many sucker

 And finally–for your consideration–the wild white-tailed deer.  Actually, these ladies are halfway tame; they think they own our yard.  They think WE are the wild ones.  Can’t you just hear them thinking, “What ARE those humans doing next?”

 I like trying to stalk as close to them as possible.  It involves moving very slowly, stealthily and carefully moving forward, pausing, moving again.  It is not a task for an impatient mind.

(Editor’s note:  Barry just read this blog and insists that he walks ten feet from the does every night and talks to them and they rarely move.  He said to tell you that they are pregnant and due to give birth in May.)

Deer in yard

 Hope you’ve all enjoyed this tour of the wild animal kingdom.  If you’re looking for REAL wild animal photos–Fisher, Pine Marten, Bear and Moose–(and didn’t see them on last year’s blog) please click here.