New Hampshire Nature Notes
by Eric Orff

I know, I know it is only February but spring seems to be just around the corner. In the last couple of days what little ice that was coating the edges of the Suncook River from my view here has all but gone. The local farmer's cut corn fields lay nearly bare in the afternoon sun yesterday. Oh to think that spring is at hand. My lawn remains mostly snow covered so a glance a little lower on the horizon brings me back to reality. Yes it is actually mid winter.

 

But what a tease December was with no snow and temperatures running as it turned out 11 degrees above average for the month. Though we've had a couple of blasts of snow in January it was mostly under three inches and hardly enough to snow blow. In fact my wife and I shoveled and scrapped away most of it. A half hour job compared to an hour of snow blowing. Monday is expected to be in the mid 50's as well as Wednesday. So much for making more ice.

 

But there has been enough snow locally to chase the turkeys away from the local fields. No doubt they have found a bird feeder or two close by that is satisfying their winter needs. Maybe with the most bare fields about I'll see them again soon. Deer too have vanished. Though I doubt to some winter deer yarding area. I spent three decades of my career at Fish and Game checking winter deer yards. Winters like this keeps them spread out and not yarding. It takes about 18 inches of snow to yard them up. Not to say that won't happen this winter. It just hasn't happened yet.

 

I hear some of the local ponds are safe enough to ice fish. That is great. But down on the coast Great Bay remains ice free as well as the usual fishable tributaries. And Winnipesaukee is nearly all ice free from what I hear. The lack of snow has meant that not a single snowmobile has gone by my house this winter. Trail number 15 goes right by the front of my house. It certainly is a tough winter for those businesses that count on ice and snow to make a living. Sport shop owners and snowmobile dealers are no doubt hurting.

 

I've spent the last four weeks for the National Wildlife Federation "moosing" the presidential candidates. That is presenting them with a toy moose and asking them what their plan is to address Climate Change. What an honor it is to be able to interact with the candidates here in New Hampshire. For so many years I just took it for granted. But the last three election cycles I have been way more involved and certainly appreciate that opportunity.