From 60 to snow in a week and a half . . .

The first snowfall of 2016 came last night. Seems like it's too soon after the nice weather we've had this fall.

Birch Lake Apple Robbers

For most of the summer we've been trying to figure out what was going after the apple trees. Every morning we'd pick up the apples -- some partially eaten, some just on the ground. We tried bird netting, aluminum pans hanging from the branches, short strings of bells and nothing seemed to stop the nightly invasion.

Joe got his camera set up in the right place a few nights ago. Looks like we have a few raccoons in the neighborhood.

Birch Lake History Book

The history book is back from the printer and it's great! John, Carolyn and Polly did a terrific job. It's filled with pictures, maps and stories from around the lake. The copies are selling for $29.95. You can contact Carolyn or Polly at the email addresses listed on the newsletter or you can send an email to birchlakehistory (at) gmail.com and someone will contact you.

Birch Lake History Book

The history book should be in tomorrow - Sept 2. You can contact Carolyn or Polly to get a copy. Their contact information is in the last newsletter or you can get it from the directory.

Can't wait to see it!

Invasive Terrestrial Plants of Wisconsin

The Invasive Plants Association of Wisconsin defines an invasive plant as "one that invades native plant communities and impacts those native communities by displacing or replacing native vegetation." They are "plants out of place" in forests, prairies, and along roadsides. They lack the natural controls found in their native locations and soon spread and take over native plants with the assistance of wind, deep underground runners, or animals carrying their seeds as they move through habitats.

The various terrestrial invasive species have made their way to the roads that follow the shoreline of Birch Lake. West Birch Lake Road has been affected more so than East Birch Lake Road. Property Owners can help prevent the spread of these invasive terrestrial plants by removing them from their property especially along the road-side edge.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers a free on-line PDF version of their Field Guide to Terrestrial Invasive Plants of Wisconsin at http://goo.gl/0fRiiP. 

Bobbie put together some information about the invasives found along East and West Birch Lake Rd.

You can see the information by clicking on the "Pages" to the right.

She's Back!!

The snapper is back. She was up by our mailbox a couple of days ago -- digging holes and laying eggs.

The Loons Are Back

Just in case you had any question -- the loons have been back for at least a week. I walked out on the dock the other day and one of them popped up --

Ice Out 2016

Here's a picture I took last night when we got home from a fish fry. There's still a little ice on the other side of the lake but this shoreline is pretty well cleared out.

This morning I woke up with the dog staring at me wondering how I could sleep through all the "noise". I'd left the window open and the ducks and geese on the lake were so loud. I think I even heard a loon. Here's a picture of just a few that were directly in front of our house.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week

Catherine Higley, Vilas County Invasive Species Coordinator, sent the following email --


"It's Invasive Species Awareness Week!

Linking economics and ecology is becoming ever more important in the world of conservation - check out this article on Invasive Species and economics from The Wildlife Society: 

Economics of Invasive Species Management"


The Wildlife Society has some other interesting articles if you go to their home page.

Iron County Native Plant Sale

I received an email about the Iron County Native Plant sale.You don't have to be an Iron
County resident and you can pick up your plants in either Hurley or Mercer. Proceeds go to
children's education programs.

Iron County Plant Sale -- Here's a link to their main webpage. When you get there you can
go to the their Plant Sale Brochure to get more details.