Spring in the north, or as it is lovingly known to many, the mud season. It’s the time of year when you have to leave a bucket of water on the porch to wash the dog’s feet before he’s allowed back in the house. It’s the season when you think about washing the car, but realize that it will remain clean only for a few hours, so it’s not really worth it. But, it is also the time when we start to remember what summer is like, and when the forest begins to wake up again.
Look at the trees right now. Buds are swelling on birch trees, ready to burst into leaves any day. Aspen trunks are turning green, getting a head start on many trees by doing some early photosynthesis in their bark. Willow shrubs of many varieties are sporting springtime pussy willow flowers – one of the first flowers of the year that people cut and put into vases on the table.
It’s pretty early yet for any real green up, but the mosses that the melting snows have exposed are very green indeed. It’s a good time to look for snow fleas.
Snow fleas aren’t fleas at all, but are tiny black springtail insects, scarcely an eighth of an inch long. They live in soil the year round, but as the snow melts, they wander upward for unknown reasons. Maybe, like people in the spring, they just like the sun. They’re able to do this because their bodies have a natural antifreeze, making them able to be happily active even in subzero temperatures.
In the spring though, they move upwards and accumulate by the tablespoon-full in footprints and other holes in the snow, looking just like dirt until they begin to spring away from a probing finger. Of course, snow fleas aren’t the only animals that seem to enjoy spring.
Chickadees are singing up a storm, a nice clear-whistled “deedee” that for us translates to “spring is here,” though to a chickadee it may mean something more like “go away unless you’re a female.” Bigger animals than chickadees are feeling the season as well. Deer, coyotes, and wolves all seem to be on the move right now, frequently crossing the roads.
Deer in particular are drawn to roadsides where the snow melts fastest, exposing grass and other food. They are losing their winter coats, and some are starting to look quite scraggy with tufts of gray brown winter hair sticking up all over them. Coyotes and wolves, especially lone wolves, may be drawn to roads because of the smorgasbord of road kill left on the roadsides by the melting snow.
Our ski and snowmobile trails are deteriorating fast, but you may be able to squeeze in a few more rides. Be careful though, and watch for areas where you could damage the trail and make a lot of work for summer trail crews. Those same areas could damage you too, especially if your skis come to a sudden stop when they hit bare dirt. You might be better off with snowshoes in the morning when the snow is still frozen.
Later in the day, you’ll be dealing with what our timber people call “mashed potatoes”—wet sloppy snow that doesn’t seem to work very well at supporting a snowshoe. Snowshoes are still preferred over boots for much of the forest though; there are still some really deep spots out there.
Our roads are feeling the impact of spring as well. Shoulders are soft, and there could be some localized mud pits too. It’s not uncommon this time of year to have culverts become exposed, and then possibly wear through creating a dangerous trap. Watch out for these and other hazards – conditions change hourly in the spring, so drive with caution.
Park with caution too. Some people have pulled off and parked on what seems like a nice firm shoulder in the morning, only to find their truck hopelessly mired in the afternoon mud as the day warmed and the shoulder thawed. Of course, soft shoulders aren’t the only place you can get stuck. If while driving you come upon a washout with water over the road, don’t drive through it. What may look like solid roadway only a few inches under the surface may not be firm enough to support a vehicle and your trip through a wet spot could become a long wait for a tow truck.
Despite all the possible hazards, it is still a good time to get out and get muddy. Warming temperatures and sun just beg us all to get outside, so be sure to pack a towel or two and get out there.
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