Ick! A Tick!

Along with warm spring weather come the ticks! During this season, these eight-legged creatures lay their eggs on the forest floor and begin a two-year lifecycle in which they go from egg to larvae to nymph to adult. The larvae, nymphs, and adults all wait for their meals to come to them. They hang onto the tips of grasses and low shrubs, waiting to be brushed, or to fall, onto an animal host.

One tick that you've likely heard a lot about is the deer tick. When deer ticks are small nymphs, they feed on white-footed mice from whom they can pick up Lyme disease. When they become adults, deer ticks feed on larger animals such as--you guessed it--deer. Adult deer ticks are just a bit larger than a sesame seed and can transmit Lyme's disease to a human after being attached for 24 hours.

Another common tick in Wisconsin is the wood tick. These ticks are larger than the deer tick and are about the size of a watermelon seed. Wood ticks are not known to carry Lyme disease.

Did you know? There is a great way to tell male and female wood ticks apart! The females have a white "necklace" behind their heads, and males have white stripes down their backs that look like "suspenders."

Learn more: UWSP Wellness

Tick Prevention: Minnesota DNR

Warblers Return

From wintering sites as far away as Central and South America, warblers are beginning to return to Wisconsin to nest. These small birds (a bit smaller than a black-capped chickadee) travel together at night in large groups. Soon you will see them searching among the tree buds at CWES for their favorite food: insects. These birds are quick movers that flit from tree branch to tree branch.

There are many species of warblers that call this area home in the summer time. At this time of year, black and white warblers and yellow-rumped warblers are making an appearance. Soon after them will follow ovenbirds and yellow warblers. As you look for warblers among the trees, keep in mind that as with most birds, the males are a brighter color than the females.

Did you know? Each warbler species has its own unique song. The black and white warbler sounds like a squeaky wheel, while the ovenbird gives a loud "teacher, teacher, teacher." Play the calls below and see if any of them sound familiar to you.

Learn more: Cornell Lab of Ornithology

​Red-berried Elder Will Soon Bloom

You may have noticed this shrub pushing out leaves in the understory at CWES. Red berried elder (also called red elderberry) is commonly found along many of the trails here. As this plant matures, it developed clusters of little buds that are almost purple in color. Very soon, these buds will open into clumps of tiny greenish white flowers. By mid-summer these blooms will have produced red berries that birds and mammals love to eat. While wildlife can and do enjoy the berries, they should not be eaten by people.

Did you know? The hollow branches of this plant have been used to make flutes, and its wood has been used to make combs in the past.

Learn more: Cofrin Center for Biodiversity

​Chipmunks Have Young

After spending the winter sleeping on and off  in their underground burrows, chipmunks are now searching for leftover seeds and nuts above ground. As new leaves, shoots, berries, mushrooms, and insects emerge, chipmunks are given a smorgasbord of options.

However, looking for a meal not the only thing that chipmunks have in mind! In April these small mammals bred, with males competing for females. In early May, female chipmunks are now giving birth to 2-8 young, which they will raise on their own. Keep an eye out for these little ones in mid-summer when they will be old enough to fend for themselves. Sometimes, a female will breed again and have a second litter in the fall.

Did you know? Chipmunks are solitary creatures, each with their own separate burrow which they improve each year. Chipmunks can fit the equivalent of nine large nuts in their check pouches, and sometimes need to push the nuts back out with their front paws.

Learn more: Animal Diversity Web