The Rhinelander Daily News - Online news and information for the Rhinelander, Wisconsin region

Ced Vig
wisconsin woodsmoke

Consider the postage stamp; its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.

– Joseph Billings

Winter — Brrr!

Snowflakes can be “biggees.” Back in 1887 in Fort Keough, Montana, during a snowstorm, some of the snowflakes that fell were measured at 15 inches in diameter. Some of the snowflakes that fell made splotches in the fields that were larger than “cow pies.”

Have you noticed that cold weather generally follows a snowstorm? That’s because fresh snow reflects more than 80 percent of the sun’s energy directly into space. It also radiates heat back into space during the night hours.

One of the biggest snowstorms in our part of the world took place in the Twin Cities on Halloween in 1991 — 8.5 inches fell followed by about 20 inches the next day. Wow!

Montana winters must be tougher than Wisconsin’s. During the month of January, 1969, the city of Harve had below-zero temperatures for nearly 400 consecutive hours.

If it’s not snowing, you might be able to get a glimpse of the full moon, the Wolf Moon, due to appear on Jan. 26.

Bison or buffalo

I’ve frequently wondered if a buffalo and a bison were the same critter. I’ve found the answer. They aren’t the same! Buffaloes are Old World animals, such as the Cape Buffalo of Africa and the Water Buffalo of India. The bison of North America is distinctly different — it’s an animal highly adapted to the prairie living that’s found in the United States and Canada. At one time it was estimated that there were as many as 60 million bison in the United States. By 1885, the bison were nearly wiped out of existence by hunters, soldiers and sportsmen.

Why do woodpeckers peck on trees?

Woodpeckers are named for the method in which they find food: pecking, hammering and digging in wood to reach insects, grubs and even sap. But woodpeckers also use their bills to excavate holes in which to live and nest. They also hammer on tree trunks to advertise their territory and presence to other woodpeckers. Woodpeckers’ territorial drumming increases in frequency in the early spring months, before the breeding season. Listen outside during a spring morning and you’ll surely hear a woodpecker drumming, unless you live in an area with no trees.

Why does a male cardinal attack our window every spring?

Many reports come in every spring about crazy birds fighting with windows. In most cases a bird is seeing its reflection in the pane of glass and assuming the other bird to be a rival or intruder. The real bird attacks the reflected bird to drive it away but is never successful in doing so. This may continue for several weeks until the real bird tires out or until something, such as a screen, is placed in front of the window to break up the reflection. Once the bird can no longer see its rival, it will go about its business.

Feathers!

A tundra swan’s plumage contains more than 25,000 feathers.

Herons and egrets were once shot by the thousands so that their ornate feathers could be used to decorate womens’ hats. The shooting of most migratory birds, except ducks and geese, is now illegal.

Snowshoer

Not only has the snowshoe hare acquired an all-winter coat, but he also boasts a pair of snowshoes on his hind feet that enables him to run on the snow and become the fastest moving critter in the winter woods. His snowshoes are five inches long and three inches wide. On these shoes are new, stiff, long hairs forming a matting, much like the webbing in a manufactured snowshoe. This matting is excellent insulation material and permits the hare to sit on its hind feet for hours without the snow melting or clinging to its hind feet.

What a pair of strong legs the snowshoe hare has! Its muscles can propel the animal through the woods at a speed of 300 feet in five seconds. From a standing position, the muscles can hurdle its four-pound body 10 feet.

Ced notes

I like this: The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

Wild bears do not have cubs every year — only every other year — and they can’t bear cubs until they are 4.5 years of age.

Don’t waste gas and money idling your car in the driveway this winter. Instead, idle it for only a brief period, then drive it slowly for a few minutes. Doing this lubricates the engine better and improves your gas mileage.

Apple pie without sharp cheese is like a kiss without a squeeze. Speaking of kisses — Bob Hope said “People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy.”

That little red-breasted nuthatch that’s at your suet bag today has a most peculiar habit. The female plasters balsam pitch around the entrance to its nest, generally a cavity in a tree trunk.

According to a research study at the University of Virginia, not everyone practices the policy that honesty is the best policy. The study shows that the average American tells one or two lies a day. A person is said to stretch the truth to appear kinder, smarter, or more gregarious.

Here’s a bit of history: At the age of 21, John Curran was Rhinelander’s first settler. He set up the first business in Pelican Rapids — that’s what Rhinelander was first named.

Otters are active under the ice. Don’t be surprised if you should see one emerge from a hole or crack in the ice when you’re out there ice fishing. Although they spend much of their time in the water, they do come out and travel about the countryside searching for food. When they capture a fish, they bring it to the ice surface to eat, leaving the remains of the meal for crows and eagles.

We have both wolves and coyotes in the Northwoods. There’s one way to differentiate between a coyote and a wolf when running. The coyote carries its tail below the level of its back — a timber wolf holds its tail up when running.

A tail is important for many birds and animals — without its tail a fish or an alligator couldn’t move forward in the water.

Perch are biting in many of the northern lakes. Perch are short-lived fish. Seldom does one live more than seven years. A one-pound perch is a large one. Wisconsin’s largest perch weighed three pounds and four ounces. As a sport fish they are more prized for their flavor than their fight.

Many of our readers are good coffee drinkers. The age group over 55 are the largest coffee drinkers — 79 percent of that age group enjoy their coffee.

P.S.

May your New Year in the Northwoods be a pleasant one!

Tell us what you think...

Comments »

The comments above are from readers. In no way do they represent the views of the Rhinelander Daily News.