JBtheExplorer
Native Gardener
I recently went camping for a couple nights at one of my favorite state forests. I got a bunch of great photos and saw a lot of great things, so I decided to share them with you all.
One of my favorite things to do there is canoe the lake. Its a crystal clear springfed lake. The entire northern half is very shallow and sandy.
I found many Painted Turtles. They're very common in the lake. They usually don't stay long enough for a photo, but I was able to catch this one with my hand.
I was lucky enough to see a state-threatened Blandings Turtle.
Shortly after canoeing, I walked onto the pier and saw this Common Snapping Turtle.
North of the lake, there is a much smaller body of water that flows into the lake. You can't access it by canoe, but there is a small footpath that has a great view of it. There is also a tent site there that I wouldn't mind camping at someday.
Another one of my favorite things to do is hike the nature trail across the street from the campground. It has some fantastic views. Not to mention, and ice cold spring-fed river flows through the area.
I've always been tempted to get in the river and finally did, even though the temperatures weren't so hot.
Here are some of the many springs that feed the river.
and I found some American Toad Tadpoles in the river.
Monarch.
If you look closely, you will see a Sandhill Crane. They're very common in the area.
...and I always check up on the birdhouse I donated to the trail.
Finally, just as my trip was wrapping up, I was lucky enough to find Wisconsin's most unique snake. The Eastern Hognose Snake. Its completely harmless, and rarely even bites, but it puts on a heck of a show by flattening its neck like a cobra, hissing, striking, and moving its head from side to side. They can even shake their tails in leaves to sound like a rattle snake. If all that doesn't work, they will roll over and play dead, though I haven't witnessed that in person yet. I was really happy to find it and it was probably my favorite moment of the weekend.
I also took some video while there. Here's the nature trail video:
Here's the canoeing video:
Here's the Hognose Snake video:
One of my favorite things to do there is canoe the lake. Its a crystal clear springfed lake. The entire northern half is very shallow and sandy.
I found many Painted Turtles. They're very common in the lake. They usually don't stay long enough for a photo, but I was able to catch this one with my hand.
I was lucky enough to see a state-threatened Blandings Turtle.
Shortly after canoeing, I walked onto the pier and saw this Common Snapping Turtle.
North of the lake, there is a much smaller body of water that flows into the lake. You can't access it by canoe, but there is a small footpath that has a great view of it. There is also a tent site there that I wouldn't mind camping at someday.
Another one of my favorite things to do is hike the nature trail across the street from the campground. It has some fantastic views. Not to mention, and ice cold spring-fed river flows through the area.
I've always been tempted to get in the river and finally did, even though the temperatures weren't so hot.
Here are some of the many springs that feed the river.
and I found some American Toad Tadpoles in the river.
Monarch.
If you look closely, you will see a Sandhill Crane. They're very common in the area.
...and I always check up on the birdhouse I donated to the trail.
Finally, just as my trip was wrapping up, I was lucky enough to find Wisconsin's most unique snake. The Eastern Hognose Snake. Its completely harmless, and rarely even bites, but it puts on a heck of a show by flattening its neck like a cobra, hissing, striking, and moving its head from side to side. They can even shake their tails in leaves to sound like a rattle snake. If all that doesn't work, they will roll over and play dead, though I haven't witnessed that in person yet. I was really happy to find it and it was probably my favorite moment of the weekend.
I also took some video while there. Here's the nature trail video:
