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Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis)
Almost everybody who comes to the Border Country will encounter the Gray jay. That is because they are not shy and will swoop down to visit campsights to find food.

What do gray jays look like?
A gray jay has a white belly, forehead, breast, and neck. The rest of its body is gray. Young jays are slate colored gray all over. Gray jays look fluffy because they have long insulating feathers to keep them warm in the cold winter months. Gray jays are about 10-13 inches long.

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What do gray jays sound like?
They have a variety of different calls some are harsh and high pitched. They are generally quiet and quite tame. If you hold food out for a gray jay then very often it will come take it from your hand!

Where do gray jays live?
These jays live in northern coniferous forests. They are found all over the Border Country. They live in small groups and are rarely seen alone. ]]> http://wildernessclassroom.com/superior/2006/11/post_2.html http://wildernessclassroom.com/superior/2006/11/post_2.html Great Lakes Animal of the Day Wed, 01 Nov 2006 03:27:59 -0600 About 6,800 gallons of water is required to grow a day's food for a family of four.

White-tailed deer are one of the most commonly seen wild animals in the US. They have been able to survive even though humans have taken over much of their land. Deer are part of the Cervidae family which also includes moose and elk.

Where do white-tailed deer live?

White-tails are found all over the U.S. except for the far Southwest. They live in wooded areas as well as farmlands.

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What do white-tailed deer look like?

Deer vary in size and females can weigh between 90-211 pounds, while males are between 150-310 pounds. Their average height is about 3 feet tall. In the summer, their fur is reddish brown or tan. They shed their summer coat and grow a winter coat which is grayish brown. Each individual hair is hollow. This is important because the hair acts as an insulator trapping the body heat that the deer generates. The hollow hair also makes it easier for deer to float. As their name suggests, white-tailed deer have a tail that is white on the under side and brown on top. Deer have large eyes and long ears.

Perigrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus

The Peregrine Falcon is a medium-sized falcon about the size of a large crow: 38-53 cm (15 to 21 inches) long. The English and scientific species names mean "wandering falcon", and refer to the fact that some populations are migratory. It has a wingspan of about 1 meter (40 inches). Males weigh 570-710 grams; the noticeably larger females weigh 910-1190 grams.

The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest creature on the planet in its hunting dive, in which it soars to a great height, then free falls at speeds in excess of 420 km/h (260mph) into either wing of its prey, so as not to harm itself on impact. Although not self-propelled speeds, due to the fact that the falcon gathers the momentum and controls its dive, capture and landing, technically there is no faster animal.

There will be a slideshow/pizza party at North House Folk School in Grand Marais, MN on Thursday, November 2nd.

Come on down to North House on Thursday evening to eat some delicious pizza and learn more about their two months of travel on the Big Lake. We’ll provide the dough and sauce, and stories—you bring your favorite toppings, cheese, and spirit of adventure. If you have any questions give us a call at 312-505-9973.

Muskrat
Ondatra zibethicus

The Muskrat is a large aquatic rodent native to North America, and introduced in parts of Europe. Adult body length is usually between 25-40 cm long, with a strong, laterally compressed tail 20-25 cm long. The body is covered in thick, brown waterproof fur. They have partially webbed hind feet and small able hand-like front feet. The weight is up to 1700 g.

Muskrats live in wetlands: ponds, lakes, marshes and river banks. They are very good swimmers, using their tail for propulsion in the water. They are found in Alaska, Canada, the United States and northern Mexico. Extensive burrow systems are dug in the ground adjacent to the water with an underwater entrance. In marshes, lodges are constructed from cattails and mud. They also build feeding platforms in wetlands. It is common to find Muskrats living in beaver lodges, too. Muskrats help maintain open areas in marshes, which helps to provide habitat for aquatic birds.