On an April 15 field trip to take a tour at the historic iron mine in Soudan, a group of students arrived from Ely prepared to travel down a 2,341-foot shaft to the last level of the mine that was developed before the mine closed in 1962.
Just before their arrival as the tour guides awaited their arrival for one of the first tours of the season, one of the residents that had spent the winter underground was looking for food around the cage and skip, an ore car, crusher building, drill shop and dry house.
This adult woodchuck often referred to as a groundhog and two months ago if coming out in Philadelphia, would be “Phil” on Groundhog Day.
But as the last patches of snow melt here, all signs of spring are being recognized and shared.
In the past week, redbacked and blue-spotted salamanders have been seen. American woodcock and ruffed grouse males have begun displaying.
Pollen is in the air and turning puddles of water yellow. Buds on maples and willows stand out. Each day temperatures are just above or below freezing. Sunny or cloudy, the hours of sunlight are increasing.
Black-capped chickadees are singing and a great blue heron flight past carrying a stick to add to a nest. Ants may be showing up in the house.
Winter bird feeders are put away except for one with finch mix to use up and feed a few dark-eyed juncos and redpolls. The outcome is a rescue of a redpoll that hits a window and a junco that finds its way inside and looking out through a window ledge.
Fletcher brought in a hanging basket that had unknowingly provided a winter resident, until it came out.
Question: is it a frog or a toad? Answer: Gray Treefrog? Reminder: the area will be loud with frogs calling and they will be moving to pools of water with the salamanders for mating.
Monarch butterflies have been seen as far north as Nebraska and Illinois and a hummingbird in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On warmer days, overwintered adult moths and butterflies will appear here soon. Keep discovering and reporting signs of spring.
The students who arrived at Soudan have examined the display of the underground miles of shafts, raises, drifts, and the stopes all created during the 80 years the mine operated.
Next, after hefting some hematite ore and watching the film depicting the mine, miners and their history, they each get their hard hats and take the ride down to the 27th level in the mine.
Areas and equipment that were damaged by flooding have been repaired to better condition than ever provide a ¾ mile train ride through the drift to one of the last stopes mined in the five years before the mine closing in 1962.
Back to the surface where the cloudy day has turned to cloudless, sunny, blue skies. It’s still spring here and talk turns to bats that spend winter hibernating in the mine and like other species prepare for summer and being out having young, nursing and finding food in the Northwoods. Hopefully, a rich supply of insects will await them in the coming months.
Any April day can provide a juxtaposition on the past, present, and future connections growing into stories with time and more experiences. Is it spring here, on April 15 and under these conditions for the woodchuck? Can you find spring inside or underground?
- - - Mike’s photo and report of a blue-spotted salamander resulted in others and discussion of blue-spotted and red-backed salamanders, central newts, spotted and tiger salamanders, and various frogs, toads and snakes that are seen or heard during the warmer months. Please contribute to what we can learn.
