This semester, Nature Up North has been helped by two St. Lawrence University students participating in a "Community based learning" course. Among other things, Julia and Ilana helped us to put out some game cameras in early March. We went out today to retrieve the game cameras. Knowing that the St. Lawrence University Kip Tract is primarily forested wetland, and that the trails are flooded, we donned chest waders just to walk the trail and get the cameras. We were successful in collecting 3 of the 4 cameras; one that we had placed near the bank of the Little River was under water!

So fun! We took a leisurely walk with the Nature Up North team and discovered many plants that make great additions to your salad and even dinner! The Wild Sorrel makes a zesty addition to salads, and the Broadleaf Plantain I sautéed with a little olive oil, salt and pepper for a yummy side dish with scallops.

Our game cameras captured a pair of otters on the banks of the Little River near the Kip Tract back in February!

At the in-laws for Christmas, I've seen river otters fishing on the on the ice on the Raquette River nearly every day for the past week. Unfortunately, attempts to catch them on the trail cam have so far included two raccoons, a squirrel, and, of course, the family golden retriever.

Took a beautiful snowshoe with 3 lovely labs this morning and am thankful for our beautiful north country. A great way to start Thanksgiving day. Lots of snow - though rain predicted for this afternoon. Very few tracks in the snow (other than those the dogs were making) but I did see a porcupine "half pipe" semi-filled in with snow. Also caught this buck on a game camera during the snowstorm the other day.

A religious education class from the Unitarian Universalist church in Canton spent their Sunday morning exploring the natural world with a hike on the St. Lawrence University Kip Tract. We saw several different critters, talked about how to identify a few different trees, looked closely at fungi, and listened to the wind and the quiet as we got further from the road. This was a great way to experience the 7th principle of Unitarian Universalism, "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part."

Edwards-Knox Central School Trail Camera (On Loan From Nature Up North)

Edwards-Knox Central School Trail Camera (On Loan From Nature Up North)

Caught this beautiful bear on my game camera. This is only the second time I've caught one this way, just about a year ago. Weird color is due to camera setting. But no mistaking who the visitor is!